The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

5.3.2.2.5 Forest-environment Payments
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FORESTS AND WOODLANDS (Land Managers Options and Rural Priorities)

Article 36(b)(v)

Measure Code (225)

Rationale for Intervention

Appropriate forest management delivers wide-ranging economic, social and environmental outcomes. As stated in the Scottish Forestry Strategy, these outcomes include mitigation of climate change, improved soil, water and air quality, enhanced landscapes, and protected and enhanced biodiversity (including Habitat Action Plan objectives). Forest management also has an important role in the historic environment and cultural heritage. However, in Scotland, the minimum legal obligations extend only to the Licensing of tree felling and the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. Forest Environment Payments are justified where management actions which benefit the environmental condition of woodland exceed these basic legal requirements.

Low impact systems, that do not involve larger-scale felling, are identified for their role in addressing these objectives, including a priority of meeting Climate Change Programme targets by increasing long-term carbon retention in woodlands. A biodiversity priority is to restore and improve the condition of native woodlands and associated open habitats in line with the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for habitats and species. Consequently, many native woodlands need to be brought into active management in order to bring them into or to maintain them in favourable condition. In many instances the presence of wild deer have a negative impact on the regeneration of woodland and the biodiversity of ground flora. In addition, many of our forests and woods are subject to high levels of access and recreation because of environmental as well as their social value to the community.

First rotation even-aged plantations lack the structural and species diversity associated with semi-natural woodlands. However, as these plantations mature the environmental quality can be greatly improved by early intervention felling to restructure both the age and species composition. Restructuring, by felling a proportion of the crop before the optimum financial age, results in a loss of increment and thus revenue compared to felling at time of financial maturity.

Small woodlands make an important contribution to the character, biodiversity and amenity of the landscape. However, these woodlands are often under-managed and their condition can deteriorate over time because they are under-valued and/or the financial cost of management acts as a deterrent.

This measure contains two options. Option A applies to woodlands over 1 hectare in size. Option B applies to smaller woodlands under 30 hectares in size.

Option A: Sustainable management of forests and woodlands (Rural Priorities)

Aims and Targets of the measure: To support the management of forested land of high environmental value, in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management. Specifically, native woodlands, areas subject to high public pressure and areas managed using low-impact silvicultural systems. It also aims to improve the environmental value of plantation woodlands through the restructuring of their age and species composition.

The measure will be available to a potential beneficiary with a forest holding of 1 hectare or greater who is managing it in accordance with an approved Forest Plan. This Forest Plan will require compliance with the UK Forestry Standard that sets out the standards for sustainable forest management in the UK. In addition to the basic requirements of a Forest Plan, the potential beneficiary will be required to delineate and provide sufficient information on the environmental condition and the environmental outcomes to be delivered in each of the following areas of forested land:

• Areas of native woodland consisting of woodland types that are recognised Habitat Action Plan priorities (in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy) and which are under active management towards or to maintain favourable condition.
• Areas designated and agreed for positive management under low-impact silvicultural systems ( LISS).
• Areas of woodland that are subject to a high level of access and recreational use, and where sufficient evidence of addition costs associated with environmental management can be provided.
• Areas of even-aged plantation undergoing restructuring felling during the period of the plan.

In the case of areas of native woodlands and areas designated as LISS, the beneficiary will also be required to produce a deer management plan (as a component of the Forest Plan) and to reduce deer numbers in these areas in order to maintain or enhance their environmental value.

An annual payment will support the management of the areas, listed above, in accordance with the prescriptions set out for each, in the approved Forest Plan, such that management delivers the required environmental outcomes.

Definition of beneficiaries

The financial beneficiaries are the private owners or occupiers of forested land (or associations thereof).

Level of support

Support for areas undergoing restructuring felling will not exceed the maximum permissible under the regulations i.e.EUR 200/ha/year. The payment rate is €189.80/ha/year for a period of 4 years. It is a contribution to the income foregone calculation, which has been subject to examination for its accuracy by expertise that is functionally independent from the compilers.

In the case of all the other areas subject to support, beneficiaries will be required to provide a costed action plan and this will need to exceed the minimum permissible under the Regulations i.e.EUR 40/ha/year in order to be eligible for support. The maximum rate of support will be €40.88/ha/year but this will extend to €81.76/ha/year where areas of high level of public access overlap with either native woodlands or areas of LISS. In addition, where the removal of domestic livestock results in agricultural income foregone, additional support of €59.86/ha/year will be provided for eligible areas. As the Forest Plan is approved for 10-years but with a review after 5-years, the annual support payment, other than that for restructuring felling, will likewise be approved for 10-years but with a review after 5-years.

Option B: Management of small woodlands (Land Managers Options )

Objectives

The aim of the measure is to support the sustainable management of small woodlands, particularly on farms, and bring them into active management in order to increase their value as part of the land holding business and the associated landscape.

Scope and actions:

The measure will be available to a potential beneficiary with a forest holding of 30 hectares or less and are managed in accordance with the standard for sustainable small woodland management. This requires the following:

• An assessment must be carried out on the condition of all the woodland and any operations that are required during the 5 years of the agreement must be identified and recorded in the form of a plan.
• All woodland must be adequately protected from damage by domestic and wild animals. This also applies to natural regeneration of native species within the woodland.
• Any non-native vegetation within the canopy or shrub layers of native woodland must not be allowed to threaten the condition of the woodland.
• Operations in and around woodland should not have a significant adverse impact on habitats and species of national or regional importance or on features of cultural importance such as known archaeological sites.
• Management, and operations such as felling, should be carried out such that the overall character of the landscape is maintained.
• Public access through woodland is managed in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
• Occupiers keep woodland free of inappropriate materials and waste, which is within their control.

Definition of beneficiaries

The financial beneficiaries are the private owners or occupiers of forested land (or associations thereof).

Level of support

The level of support has been set at the minimum permissible under the regulations i.e. €40.88/hectare/year. This has been derived on the basis that this is a contribution to the standard costs of the operations that will be required to manage small woodlands in accordance the standards for sustainable management. In addition, where the removal of domestic livestock results in agricultural income forgone, additional support of €59.86/hectare a year will be provided for the eligible areas.

The payment will involve a 5-year agreement.

Quantitative Indicators and targets

$ Non-lead indicator on water quality (objective 21 pollution by nitrates and pesticides) will be proxied by % of water body length that is of good status for phosphates and is under development
* To be confirmed once double counting removed
# All impact indicators will be estimated based on output and result indicators. Quantitative data will be supplemented by qualitative judgement on change. Biodiversity: As measured by farmland bird species population, complemented by additional data on other species. High nature value farmland: Indicator is not developed. The alternative indicator to be used is hectares of land cover under farmland, woodland, urban, other. Water Quality: Gross nutrient balances will be measured at a sample of farms. Supplemented by information on nitrates and phosphates. Climate change: Increases in production of renewable energy will be supplemented where appropriate with information on net carbon savings.

« Previous | Contents | Next »