Draft 3 Topics - Scale, Intensity and Risk
Scale, Intensity and Risk
Where a Principle or Criterion in the P&C V5-1 requires the consideration of Scale, Intensity and Risk (SIR), FSC gives SDGs the option to develop additional variations of indicators and verifiers for low, medium and high impact organisations.
During consultation on Draft 2 of the Standard, the SDG released a discussion paper on a potential approach to SIR. A number of detailed submissions dealing with the SIR discussion paper were received and have been considered. Additionally, FSC International has since released a second consultation draft of FSC-GUI-60-002 V1-0 EN Scale, Intensity and Risk (SIR) Guideline for Standard Developers which has also been considered in the development of this draft.
The below approach for determining SIR has been included in Draft 3. However, an alternative to determining the scale in Native Forestry (Table 1a) is also being considered and will be looked at as part of forest testing this draft. Stakeholders are welcome to provide comments on both.
Determining SIR Categories:
A FMU may be separated into two or more subunits for the purposes of SIR. For example, low SIR may apply to plantations within an FMU, and high to native forest within the same FMU.
The SIR ranking determined under Path 1 (native forest) and/or path 2 (plantation forest) is to be used in the Criteria and Indicators within the standard where SIR is relevant.
Path 1 - Native Forest SIR rating
Table 1a: Native Forest Scale Rating
Step 1: Based on the average operation size (that is discrete, contiguous harvest unit or coupe) and the average annual harvested area identify a ‘scale rating’ for your FMU.
|
Scale Rating |
Average Operation Size |
||||
|
Average Annual Harvested Area (Calculated over previous 5 years as a percentage of the FMU) |
1-10 ha |
10-50ha |
50-75ha |
>75ha |
|
|
> 20% |
Medium |
High |
High |
High |
|
|
15 – 20% |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
|
5-15% |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
|
|
1-5 % |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
|
Table 1b: Native Forest Intensity Rating
Step 2: Using the table below, based on the average rotation age and the percentage basal area removal in the harvest area identify an ‘Intensity rating’. The percentage basal area removal should be based on the most intensive type of harvesting practiced within the FMU, unless it can be demonstrated that the highest intensive activities are infrequently undertaken (e.g. the occasional clearfell harvest in a largely selective operation).
|
Intensity Rating |
Proportion or Tree Removal |
||||
|
Rotation Age |
<25% BA Removal |
<25-50% BA Removal |
<50-75% BA Removal |
<75-100% BA Removal |
|
|
<25 years |
Medium |
High |
High |
High |
|
|
25 – 50 years |
Low |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
|
50-75 years |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
High |
|
|
75 + years |
Low |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
|
Table 1c: Native Forest SIR
Step 3: Using the table below, and the ‘Scale’ and ‘Intensity’ Ratings from Steps 1 and 2, determine an overall SIR rating.
|
Overall SIR |
Intensity Rating |
|||
|
Scale Rating |
Low |
Medium |
High |
|
|
High |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
|
Medium |
Low |
Medium |
High |
|
|
Low |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
|
Path 2 - Plantation Forest SIR rating
Table 2: Plantation SIR
Using the table below determine a SIR rating for plantation operations. The intensity of active management activities should be based on the type of harvesting largely practiced within the FMU (ie greater than 50% of harvesting activity).
|
Overall SIR |
Intensity of active management activities |
||
|
Scale Rating |
|
<25% BA Removal |
>25% BA Removal |
|
Large >50,000ha |
Low |
Medium |
|
|
Medium 1,000 – 50,000ha |
Low |
Medium |
|
|
Small <1,000ha |
Low |
Low |
|
Alternative Table 1a:
Step 1: Based on the average operation size (that is discrete, contiguous harvest unit or coupe) and the average annual harvested area identify a ‘scale rating’ for your FMU.
|
Scale Rating |
Average Operation Size |
||||
|
Average Annual Harvested Area (Calculated over previous 5 years) |
1-10 ha |
10-50ha |
50-75ha |
>75ha |
|
|
>3000 ha |
Medium |
High |
High |
High |
|
|
1000 – 3000ha |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
|
100 -1000ha |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
|
|
<100 ha |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
|