dumfries and borders · cultural differences east and west of the watershed along the dumfries and...

St rategic P lan

Dumfries and BordersForest District

Strategic Plan 2009-2013

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Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3

About Dumfries and Borders Forest District ........................................................................................ 4

Section one: strategic context .....................................................................................................13

Context ............................................................................................................................................................14

Strategic priorities for Dumfries and Borders Forest District ........................................................17

Forest policy context...................................................................................................................................19

Section two: how Dumfries and Borders Forest District contributes to the

delivery of the scottish forestry strategy ...................................................................................20

Key theme one: climate change ..............................................................................................................22

Key theme two: timber ..............................................................................................................................27

Key theme three: business development .............................................................................................32

Key theme four: community development .........................................................................................38

Key theme five: access and health..........................................................................................................43

Key theme six: environmental quality ..................................................................................................48

Key theme seven: biodiversity .................................................................................................................53

Section three: delivery and monitoring.....................................................................................60

Appendices: ................................................................................................................................63

Appendix one: supporting maps ............................................................................................................64

Appendix two: evaluation of achievements (1999-2006) under previous strategic plan ....70

Appendix three: glossary for forest policy context diagram ..........................................................85

Appendix four: local thematic plans, management plans and guidance notes ......................87

Appendix five: portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate .....................................91

Contents

2 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013

Strategic plan 2009-2013

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

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Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Introduction


Introduction

Woodlands can improve heal th ier l i fes ty les and br ing a boost o f urban development across Scot land



This strategic plan will also provide

direction for implementing a repositioning

policy that will ensure that the nature and

distribution of the national forest estate

better reflects its role and purpose.

This plan has been amended to reflect the

feedback from a formal consultation process

during 2008. The summarised consultation

responses and the Forest Enterprise

Scotland response are both available on the

Forestry Commission Scotland website.

Dumfries and Borders Forest District

Introduction

Introduction

The Scottish Forestry Strategy was launched in October 2006 as the Scottish Government’s framework for taking forestry forward through the first half of this century and beyond. This strategic plan defines how Forestry Commission Scotland, through its operating arm, Forest Enterprise Scotland, will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy on the national forest estate lying within Dumfries and Borders Forest District. This is a five-year plan starting in 2009 and finishing in 2013.



http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6pelhd

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http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-6aggzw




The strategic plan is divided into three sections:Section one: strategic context

This section explains how this strategic plan relates

to other Forestry Commission Scotland policies

and strategies, taking a lead from the Scottish

Forestry Strategy and the strategic plan for the

national forest estate.

Section two: how Dumfries and Borders Forest District contributes to delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy

This section describes the context and specific

actions that will be undertaken on the national

forest estate in the district under each of the seven

themes of the Scottish Forestry Strategy:

• climate change

• business development

• timber

• community development

• access and health

• environmental quality

• biodiversity

Section three: delivery and monitoring

This section gives an overview of how Dumfries

and Borders Forest District will effectively and

efficiently deliver the strategic plan. It includes

sections on:

• the operating principles that underpin

all Forest Enterprise Scotland policies,

operations and activities

• delivery mechanisms, including

repositioning the national forest estate

• the monitoring and implementation process

Impact on environment and equality

The results of environment and equality and

diversity impact assessments of the strategic

plan are available on the Forestry Commission

Scotland website.

Review

A review will take place towards the end of the

period of delivery of the plan. If significant changes

are made to the Scottish Forestry Strategy we will,

if necessary, prepare a new strategic plan for the

national forest estate. The baseline figures detailed

in the monitoring section of the strategic plan

for the national forest estate will be updated and

reported on annually, with contributions from each

forest district.

Introduction









Dumfries and Borders Forest District covers some

57,000 ha of the national forest estate in the south-

east of Scotland. It was set up on April 2009 as

a result of the amalgamation of Ae and Scottish

Borders forest districts. Maps of the district and

the forest blocks are given in Appendix one.

The district can be divided broadly into four areas:

coastal zone (8,500 ha) – the lowland

areas adjacent to the Solway Firth

Tweed valley (8,300 ha) – around Peebles

upland zone of forests and open hills

west of the watershed (23,000

ha) - wetter and windier

east of the watershed (17,200

ha) – cooler but less windy

There are distinct climatic, ecological and

cultural differences east and west of the

watershed along the Dumfries and Galloway

and Scottish Borders boundary.

The great spruce forests of the Southern Uplands

and English border area lie at the heart of the

district. These forests have a high strategic

timber value, situated close to the mills in the

south of Scotland and north of England.

In recent years there has been an increased

recognition of the key role that forests have

in tourism development and delivery through

provision of the 7stanes centres for mountain

biking and other outdoor activities.

Natural environment

Climate

There is a marked difference in the climate

from west to east in the district. In the west, the

influence of the Gulf Stream is stronger bringing

a mild and wet maritime climate. The east it is

generally a bit drier, colder in the winter, but less

windy. Windiness is a major factor in limiting

management options such as the ability to thin

crops, practice alternative silvicultural methods

and extend rotations to allow restructure to be

effective. There is significant variation in windiness

across the district from the sheltered forests of

the Tweed valley to the more exposed forests

of the upland areas, particularly to the west.

Introduction

About Dumfries and Borders Forest District




Water

More than half the district lies in the catchments

of rivers flowing into the upper Solway Firth tidal

flats. The majority of the forests to the east lie in

the Tweed catchment and the remaining areas to

the north west drain into the Clyde. A map of water

catchments in the district is given in Appendix one.

Many of these rivers are important fishing and

breeding grounds for salmon and sea trout, and

are significant in the local economy. A number

of the towns, particularly those built around

water-powered mills, are prone to flooding, and

the quantity as well as the quality of the water

is becoming and increasingly important issue.

Acidification

In some areas, the type of geology (acidic base

rock with soils of limited buffering capacity) and

coniferous plantations have been associated

with acidification. The risk is mapped at

10 k2 level with two critical load squares

affecting the district, at Craik and Wauchope.

However, the geology and underlying soils

effectively buffer the impact and there is no

evidence of significant freshwater acidification

attributable to forestry. Further decreases in acid

deposition are expected as improved control

of emissions at source is implemented.

Geology and landform

The dominant solid geology of the area is

sedimentary Silurian mudstones and shales. In

the west, granite intrusions underlie the hills of

Dalbeattie, Kinharvie, Criffel and Screel, while

elsewhere small igneous intrusions provide useful

seams of harder road stone material. Glaciation

formed the Southern Upland massif with its gently

rounded plateaux, convex summits and deeply

incised gullies and cleuchs. Glacial deposits overlay

the lower valleys and coastal plain followed by

the formation of lowland raised bogs that are now

among the most significant in western Europe

Soils

Underlying geology, glaciations and climate all

influence the formation of soil, resulting in a wide

variety of soils underlying the district’s forests.

The dominant soil types are peaty soils, peaty

gleys and brown earths. Detail soil maps for

over 90% of the district are available to support

management decisions, such as species choice,

ground preparation technique, and fallow period.

Introduction





Landscape

The district has a wide spectrum of landscape types:

• coastal forests on raised bogs and

steep sided granite hills

• upland forests on the rolling hills and deeply

incised valleys of the Southern Uplands

• the Tweed forests of the upland river valley

• The district manages forests that lie

in the East Stewartry and the Nith

Estuary national scenic areas.

Biodiversity

The district’s forests spread from the coastal

fringes to the upper slopes of the southern

uplands. There is a significant range of natural

habitats, including woodlands, estuarine raised

bogs, peat mosses and upland heaths, some of

which are designated as sites of special scientific

interest or special areas of conservation. There

is further variation between the areas west of

the watershed between Scottish Borders and

Dumfries and Galloway and those to the east.

Native woodlands are poorly represented

as a result of a long history of clearing and

sheep grazing. Only 1% of the district is

designated as either areas of semi-natural

woodland or plantations on ancient woodland

sites. Although these remnant habitats are

small they are nevertheless significant.

A significant proportion of the Solway Mosses,

one of the most important raised mire

complexes in western Europe covering over

1,000 ha, lies in the national forest estate.

Large-scale conifer forests give rise to a developing

conifer ecosystem and biodiversity interest,

which together with the associated semi-natural

habitats support a diverse range of species.

Important forest species in the district include red

squirrel, otter, bat species, raptors, black grouse,

nightjar, great crested newt and juniper, along

with a number of nationally and internationally

protected butterfly species included in the Forestry

Commission Scotland biodiversity strategy.

Introduction





Cultural environment

Historical context

The historical factors that have shaped the

forests of the district are typical for much of

Scotland. They include deforestation, climate

change, sheep husbandry, and the development

of agriculture resulting in a mixed rural

economy of farmland, forest and moorland.

The early introduction of sheep by monasteries

and the Border warfare of the 15th and 16th

centuries had a significant impact on the

survival or otherwise of native woodland.

Some plantations were established in 17th and

18th centuries, but the main expansion took

place in the early post-war period. These forests

were intimate parts of remote rural communities,

such as the new forest village and foresters’

houses at Ae, and added significantly to the rural

population and to cultural diversity. The forests

underpinned the development of significant

sawmills in the Dumfries area, including James

Jones, Howie and the Steven’s Croft development.

Heritage

Well over 350 heritage features, including 50

scheduled and six listed features, are mapped

and recorded in the district database. The

majority of features relate to medieval or

later agricultural and rural settlements.

Vast networks of drystane dykes from this

period are treated as archaeological features for

operational purposes. Earlier features include

standing stones, hut circles, burial sites, large

defensive works, a Roman road and a Border

tower. Listed structures include surviving

features of the former Waverley railway line.

Heritage interest in the district encompasses

the trees and woodlands themselves,

including ancient, legendary or historic trees

and woods, such as the Glenkinnon oak.

Introduction





Demographics

The district is a predominantly rural area, with

small to medium market towns. Dumfries, with

a population of about 30,000, is the regional

management centre for a number of national

and local organisations and departments.

Hawick, with a population of about 16,000, is

the largest settlement in the Scottish Borders.

The Tweed valley in particular is very accessible

to Edinburgh. The urban population views the

forests mainly as a recreational resource, but there

is a substantial, widely scattered rural population

that also sees them as part of the rural economy.

The population size in the countryside has

hardly changed over the years, with nearly all the

expansion being in the larger market towns, away

from the forests. The population age structure has

changed, with an increasing number of people

retiring to the area and young people leaving

to find work in the cities. There is a projected

reduction in the working population over the

next 10 years and a gradually ageing population.

In social terms, only the area around Upper

Nithsdale has a very low social deprivation

classification, a reflection of its recent industrial

past. There are pockets of deprivation

in many of the towns and villages of the

district, including parts of Dumfries.

Some new houses have been built in the

countryside, but these have tended to be up-

market and there is a shortage of affordable homes.

Introduction



Economy

Employment

Local government, tourism, and the traditional

industries of agriculture, forestry and textiles are

the mainstay of the rural economy of Dumfries and

Galloway and the Scottish Borders. Only tourism is

increasing in terms of turnover and employment.

Across the south-east of Scotland as a whole, there

are an estimated 1,245 full-time equivalent jobs

in forestry-related activities. Many of these are in

rural areas and associated with small businesses

of fewer than 10 people. They include jobs in

the forest, such as planting, felling and forest

management. Employment in the wood processing

industries is greater than in the forest itself, with

at least 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs involved in

the haulage and processing of the district’s timber.

The district employs 83 people directly and

contractors provide a similar number of full-

time equivalent jobs. A further 70 Forestry

Commission Scotland staff working in other

divisions are based in the district. Some 80%

of the timber harvested from the district’s

forests is processed in Dumfries and Galloway,

Northumberland and Cumbria. Processing

capacity in Scottish Borders is very small.



Introduction


About Dumfries and Borders Forest DistrictTourism

Tourism is the single most important rural

industry in the south-east of Scotland in terms

of turnover and employment. It is the only

sector that is growing annually, by approximately

5% year-on-year. VisitScotland has identified

developments in the forest environment as vital

to the sustainability and growth of tourism.

Tourism is a major objective, and we are

developing and enhancing facilities and staff

resources to handle this growing sector. The

forests provide a large resource for both informal

and formal recreation, and for organised events

such as the Merida cycling event, 7stanes, Dog

Sport Scotland and the Countryside Trails. In

addition to walking, cycling and horse riding, we

also cater for more specialist interests, including

husky training/racing, angling, and motor sport.

This activity generates expenditure and helps

to sustain local jobs directly, such as the café

and bike shops at Glentress, Ae and Mabie,

or indirectly through local shops, catering

and accommodation providers. The key is to

encourage paying visitors into the area to spend

with local businesses. The development of the

7stanes network across the south of Scotland

has made a significant contribution to the local

economy, with mountain biking seeing an

exponential growth over the past five years. We

manage five of the 7stanes sites in the district.

Renewable energy

The recent push to increase the UK’s renewable

energy capacity has led to considerable interest in

biomass and woodfuel and renewable energies.

The biomass electricity generating plant (44

MW) at Stevens Croft, north of Lockerbie,

is now operational and consuming 500,000

tonnes of wood and wood products a year.

It is anticipated that most of the material

will be sourced from forests and short

rotation coppice in a 50 mile radius.

To date, several established windfarms operate

close to the forest boundary. In the national

forest estate, work is beginning on Airtricity’s 164

turbine site at Little Clyde (M74). Scottish Power’s

71 turbine site at Harestanes in the Forest of Ae

has planning approval. Vattenfall has submitted

a proposal for a 14 turbine site at Minch Moor

above the Tweed valley for planning approval.

The national forest estate in the district has been

assessed for future potential for windfarm and

hydro scheme development. Windfarms have the

greater potential in the area although there may

be opportunities for small scale hydro schemes.



Forest resource

Around 20% (173,000 ha) of Scottish Borders and

the part of Dumfries and Galloway in the district

is covered by woodland. Forestry Commission

Scotland manages around 25% (44,900 ha) of these

forest and woodland. The total area of national

forest estate in south-east Scotland is 57,000 ha.

Types of forest and tree species

The pattern of afforestation is typical of Scotland

as a whole, with the earliest Forestry Commission

acquisitions on the lower ground and better soils,

allowing a greater variety of conifer species. As land

availability changed and afforestation techniques

developed, planting moved up the hill onto the

poorer soils and was dominated by Sitka spruce.

Most of the existing forests in the district are on

sites that are land use capability category F6 or

better. Wind is a significant factor in managing the

forests. About 30% of the district is in windthrow

hazard class WHC3 or better, allowing a greater

range of management options and species choice.

A further 30% is WHC4 which is more restricted,

but still allows a range of options where the site

conditions are suitable. A map of land capability

classifications is given in Appendix one.

There are some examples of poor timber quality

from past practices, such as Sitka spruce of

variable straightness and crops, such as lodgepole

pine, from the 1970s and 1980s that are coarse

branched due to suboptimal stocking or poor

species and provenance choice. As a result,

a small proportion of the district is regarded

as economically marginal, but this tends to

occur as localised areas within larger forests.

Around 80% of the forest comprises of spruce,

which is well suited to the growing conditions

of the area and provides a timber suitable for

the markets. The remaining area comprises

larches and pines (14%) and broadleaves (6%).

Productive forestry age

Past policies lead to some rapid periods of

planting resulting in large areas of even aged

forests. Some 43% of the current forests were

established between 1970 and 1989. These

forests are now well into their second rotation

and are being diversified, both in species and

structure, to balance timber production with

other objectives, such as biodiversity and

recreation. Some 26% were established since

1990 and are virtually all second rotation. Only

4% of the forest is more than 60 years old.

Introduction





Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Section one

Scot t ish forest r y is help ing to make a susta inable contr ibut ion to Scot land’s economy. Over 40,000 jobs are suppor ted by the forest r y sector in Scot land and the industr y generates around £760 mi l l ion each year.

Section one: strategic context




• new business developments in renewable energy, including biofuel options ranging from small-scale heating to large power generation (Lockerbie E.ON plant), are all being actively supported and developed. Ongoing developments in relation to renewable energy include Harestanes, Clyde and Minch Moor windfarms.

• annual production for the combined district over the previous period was around 490,000 cubic metres, with around 50,000 cubic metres coming from thinning, although this element varied from year to year. A significant proportion of harvesting contacts (60% of overall sales and 90% of roadside sales) are long-term, allowing customer relations to build. Work continues to provide specific customer requirements, such as log poles, and to develop new ways of working, such as dry weight, end product working, and mixed clearfell and thinning contracts

• we have successfully planned and are now constructing a network of strategic forest roads that will reduce the impact of timber traffic on rural communities and on weak, single-track public roads. Working with private companies, we have successfully facilitated use of low impact timber haulage vehicles for use on some of the forest roads, such as at Heads of Valley

• we have delivered improved forest design throughout the district. Work plans have been initiated to identify and formalise management plans at the site level. Although clearfell and re-stocking delays have occurred and windthrow has frequently intervened (notably the 1999 hurricane), we are working to adjust programmes to minimise the adverse effects of these events on our objectives

• a strategic landscape design plan has been prepared for the Tweed valley to bring a unity to forest plans, but at the same time to highlight the distinctiveness of each of the seven forests


ContextThe context in which this plan will be delivered has been set by the success in delivering the previous strategic plans for Ae and Scottish Borders forest districts (published in 2001). They included a wide range of local targets set against the national priorities identified in the Scottish Forestry Strategy (published in 2000). These are summarised in Appendix two.

Section one


Overall, progress has been made on a wide range of activities, with the following key outcomes:






Section one


• there is a greater recognition of the potential for alternative to clearfell systems, with a number of areas identified in the more sheltered areas of the district

• work to raise restocking standards is ongoing and achieving target stocking densities is a high priority

• deer populations are generally within acceptable levels to allow the successful establishment of the main timber species. There are some local issues with broadleaves and the ‘soft’ conifers. Containing sika deer to the upper Tweed valley has only been partially successful, with spread continuing to the east. Several different landowners are involved, with different management objectives

• priority woods have been established for red squirrel conservation. Squirrel pox has entered the district from the south and trapping is being undertaken in the Newcastleton area. More work is needed on modelling the impact of restructuring on population viability

• we completed phase one restoration of the Solway Mosses lowland in 2003 via the EU LIFE II bid (clearance of 417 ha of timber from the Longbridgemuir raised bog), with ongoing maintenance taking place since. A further expansion to restore the total area of over 1,000 ha is being considered by Scottish Natural Heritage

• there has been a significant rise in the recognition and role of forestry in tourism. We are actively engaged with Tweed Valley Development Group, Tweeddale Tourism Consortium, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries &Galloway, Dumfries & Galloway Council and other organisations, such as 7stanes, Countryside Trails, and Dog Sport Scotland, to maximise this delivery




Section one


• Tweed Valley Forest Park was designated in 2002. Forestry Commission Scotland is now developing a new visitor services centre at Glentress Peel to address demand generated by 7stanes centre and the forest park. The Peel will be a showcase of quality recreation and sustainable development

• volunteering opportunities through Friends of Tweed Valley Forest Park, including the Osprey watch, the Green Team and the trail fairies have grown during the period. Our partnership with the Scottish Association for Mental Health is providing real work opportunities in the forest for people recovering from mental illness. This will change in emphasis as SAMH restructures its programmes

Much remains to be done and new challenges arise

out of the revised Scottish Forestry Strategy and

the demands of our stakeholders. The proposals for

responding to these and building on the successful

implementation of the previous strategic plan are

detailed in Section two.

• mountain biking has been the major area of investment over the period. The 7stanes development, undertaken as part of the south of Scotland’s recovery from foot and mouth disease, is now recognised as one of the world’s best mountain biking facilities. This has also been a focus for local business development, directly through café and bike hire premises in the forest and indirectly through providing services to the increased number of visitors

• community partnerships have developed, notably Cairnhead Community Forest Trust, Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership, Ae Youth Eye, 7stanes and Dog Sport Scotland. We aim to develop and expand all community and other links as resources allow

• there has also been a growth in nature-based tourism in the district. We have been involved in the Tweed Osprey project in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Kailzie Gardens and others to provide an opportunity for visitors to see live CCTV of the nest




District vision

The public forests of Dumfries and the

Borders are a sustainable natural resource

contributing to economic development through

timber and renewable energy, to tourism

through active outdoor recreation, and to

community wellbeing through participation.

District priorities

The main priority is to practice sustainable forest

management, which is one of the fundamental

operating principles outlined in the national

strategic plan for Forest Enterprise Scotland. This is

based on implementation of a range of important

standards and best practice national guidelines,

such as Forestry Commission Scotland forests and

water guidelines and legislation, such as the Health

and Safety Act. Our performance is externally

audited against the Forest Stewardship Council-

approved UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

Our Forest Stewardship Council certification

provides third party verification that Forestry

Commission Scotland forests are well managed.

We are firmly committed to retaining the

high standards required by the UK Woodland

Assurance Standard. This requires us to deliver

a baseline of good practice in all our work.

However, local circumstances and

opportunities mean that there are a number

of areas where we can also make a significant

contribution to the national delivery

against the Scottish Forestry Strategy:

Safeguarding national forestry treasures

A number of sites in the district have a high

cultural, landscape, conservation or recreational

value e.g. Glentress and the Tweed Valley Forest

Park, Mabie. These sites will be managed in a way

that preserves and enhances their special qualities.

Delivering forestry for people and rural development benefits where people live and work

The region is renowned for the 7stanes mountain

biking centres, but is also able to support a

range of other active outdoor recreation. This

is one of the drivers of the tourism of the

area and we are committed to maintaining

the trails and infrastructure of 7stanes and

working with partners and businesses to

develop the product for a wider audience.

The district has been engaged in a number of

exemplar community partnerships for many years

e.g. at Cairnhead, and will continue to respond to

interest from communities keen to become more

involved in the management of the local woods.

The district works closely with providers

and organisations in the development,

dissemination and delivery of forestry-

related education and training.

Strategic priorities for Dumfries and Borders Forest District

Section one





Retaining sufficient timber production potential to facilitate market stability and development

The climate and suitability of the land for growing

Sitka spruce has made the south-east of Scotland

together with Kielder across the border a major

timber producing region and has attracted

significant investment in processing capacity to the

area. This will remain a key priority for the district

and we will seek to adopt management practices

through tailoring species to sites and thinning

regimes to sustain good quality timber production.

Sustaining sufficient regional presence to exercise policy development, exemplar and leadership roles

The district is well placed to contribute to

government climate change targets, with a

number of large scale windfarms consented

or under consideration and the supply of

biomass to E.ON for power generation

along with the Solway Mosses. We will

facilitate these and other opportunities

subject to planning policy application.

The district forests influence a number of high

quality fishing river catchments. We will continue

to seek to make sure that forestry makes a

positive contribution to good ecological water

quality through sympathetic forest planning

and strict adherence to Forestry Commission

Scotland forests and water guidelines.

The district contains a large and diverse range

of forests and communities, with a wide range

of management options. We will deliver an

appropriate balance of economic, environmental

and social outputs from each forest through

active stakeholder engagement in long-term

forest planning. We will utilise these long-

term forest plans and management approach

to provide exemplars of multi-benefit forestry

and demonstrate how sustainable forest

management is delivered on the ground.

Strategic priorities for Dumfries and Borders Forest District

Section one




Forest policy contextThe national strategic plan describes the strategic and operational context, monitoring framework and

implementation proposals that guide the district strategic plan. The components of the delivery of the

district strategic plan are indicated in the forest policy context diagram below. A glossary describing

elements of the forest policy context diagram is contained in Appendix three.

Indicative forestry strategies Forestry frameworks Regional

Forestry Forum

Action

PLANNING

Work plansSite specific plans for projects

planned up to 2 years in advance of implementation

Thematic planse.g. biodiversity, thinning

Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 – 2015

Forest Enterprise Scotland framework document

2008 – 2013

Strategic plan for the national forest estate

2009 - 2013

Business planRolling 3 year plan

Work programme

Monitoring

Review

POLICIES

UK Woodland Assurance Standard

Forestry Commission guidelines and policies

UK Forestry Standard

Dumfries and Borders Forest District Strategic Plan

2009 – 2013

Forest plans10 year plans in

20 – 30 year frameworks

Section one





Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Section two

Scot land’s forests and woodlands are help ing suppor t many rural communi t ies and businesses.

Section two: how Dumfries and Borders Forest District contributes to the delivery of the Scottish

Forestry Strategy






In identifying issues, we seek to identify

key things we can influence. This requires

an analysis of our operating environment,

with consideration of problems and limiting

factors. If it is appropriate, this analysis will

sometimes be summarised in the plan.

For example, in considering our operating

environment for timber, we include mention of

the international trade in timber as a limiting

factor because this may not be immediately

obvious. In contrast, we do not mention the details

of silvicultural improvement when identifying

thinning as an issue as we feel these will be

assumed intuitively, e.g. thinning improves crops.

Section two: how Dumfries and Borders Forest District contributes to the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy

Context

Section two

The issues identified below are arranged under the seven key national themes of the Scottish Forestry Strategy, with analysis and evaluation of their local context. The strategy identifies three outcomes, 12 headline objectives and 69 detailed objectives. Only the most relevant objective and main local issues are included to reflect the strategic nature of this plan.







Renewable energy

The district is well placed to contribute towards

meeting existing and future renewable energy

targets. We are currently involved with a

number of renewable energy schemes, including

wind (Harestanes, Clyde and Minch Moor

windfarms) and biomass (E.ON at Lockerbie).

There is considerable scope for developing new

wood energy business demand. Key partners in

the Renewable Forum share this view. There are

benefits in terms of the production of renewable

energy, the reduction in the timber transport

requirement, and in support of rural development.

There are issues around the availability of raw

material for biomass and woodfuel given existing

contractual commitments that need to be resolved.

The use of brash and fuel poles recovered from

harvesting sites is an option, as is the recovery of

stumps. These must be sustainable in terms of

soil fertility, soil carbon storage and economics

to the grower. Short rotation coppice is unlikely

to feature on the current national forest estate.

Key theme one: climate change

Section two


The potential for further windfarm schemes in

the district is being assessed to allow targeting of

future development to the most suitable sites.



Adapting to climate change

This is a complex subject and best practice is still evolving as research develops. We need to be aware of the latest research and consider the practical implications at local level.

At present, practical impacts appear to be in terms of changes in seasonal temperatures, rainfall and wind intensity and distribution. There is a projected increasing in the frequency of storm events, which bring the risk of increased windthrow and localised flooding.

Species choice will need to be kept under review. Climatic changes may have an impact on the health and growth potential of different tree species and provenance, and in pathology and disease.

Different silvicultural systems may be appropriate to adapt to changes in moisture and wind patterns. The increased windiness may cause unusually high levels of wind damage, particularly in the upland zone. Forest design, species choice and silviculture will need to be carefully considered for the succeeding rotations.

Different climatic conditions may bring about changes in biodiversity, both losses and gains, but also the risk of local extinction of some less adaptable species. For the native woodlands, expanding and enhancing forest habitat networks along with associated open ground habitats in the forest design will be important in creating more robust and responsive ecosystems.

We also need to identify and develop sustainable management practices for our operations, buildings and travel, covering issues such as energy conservation, types of fuel used, types of vehicles purchased, etc.

Flood and catchment management

Flood and catchment management will become increasingly important factors in forest planning, along with contingency planning for major events. Forest management practices can have a significant negative as well as positive impact on catchment management. We will continue to take opportunities to address past poor practice as the forests are restructured and promote best practice through the redesign. We will continue to support the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Tweed Forum in developing and implementing the Solway-Tweed river basin management plan and in achieving the objectives of the Nith, Annan and Tweed area catchment management plans.

Carbon sequestration

There is potential for acquiring land for planting new productive woodlands for carbon sequestration, while also meeting other environmental and social objectives. Establishment on the better soils of the lowlands would have the greatest potential for carbon sequestration. This would link more readily to other social and environmental objectives such as community woodland development and forest habitat networks.

Our understanding of the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest estate is developing and our research division is taking a lead in this area nationally. We will keep up to date with their work and adapt our policies and practices in response to their recommendations.

There is scope for increasing our contribution in areas such as longer rotations and the adoption of low impact silvicultural systems where practical, and in native woodland expansion and open habitat restoration (see also key theme six).


Section two





Key theme: climate change

Key issue What Dumfries and Borders Forest District will do

Renewable energy

D&B

1.01

Maximise the potential for wind farms on the national forest estate to help deliver

government targets for renewable energy and carbon reduction while balancing community

and environmental interest.

D&B

1.02

Help facilitate the woodfuel/biomass market growth and emerging woodfuel enterprises

through making volume available on the open market which could be of interest to woodfuel

purchasers.

Continue to respond to enquires for local small scale firewood sales where resources allow.

D&B

1.03

(see also

D&B

2.12)

Install a woodfuel heating system in the Glentress Peel development along with specific

energy saving practices. Use this and other features of the Peel to raise public awareness of

sustainable design and practice.

Advocate sustainable building and heating systems in any new office developments by the

Scotland Government’s Environmental and Rural Services in Dumfries and Galloway, and in

National Forest Land Scheme affordable housing projects.

D&B

1.04

Encourage small-scale hydroelectricity development on the national forest estate, with due

regard to community, planning and environmental concerns


D&B

1.05

Use the Forest Research ecological site classification system to make sure that resilient species

are planted on suitable sites to provide insurance for the future. This will be followed through

in forest plans and detailed site plans, supported by local guidance on species selection and

native trees and shrubs.

D&B

1.06

Use other decision-support systems, such as ForestGales, to inform the development of robust

forest design plans in the event of increase in major wind and rain events.

Section two



http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-66RE5J





D&B

1.07

Identify opportunities in existing forests and potential acquisitions for developing and

expanding robust forest and open ground habitat networks.

D&B

1.08

Adopt the practices identified in the evolving Forestry Commission Scotland business

sustainability initiative in all buildings, visitor facilities, operations and travel, such as

reductions in energy consumption, carbon emissions and waste.

D&B

1.09

Develop and maintain local contingency plans for major incidents based on the national

plans. Support local authority major emergencies planning.

Flood and catchment management

D&B

1.10

Work with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and river basin management plan

partners to identify demonstration sites to show best practice in catchment management

through forest design.

D&B

1.11

Work with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Tweed Forum and others to

implement the relevant aspects of the river basin management plan and the area catchment

management plans, including actions that will help to reduce the impact of flooding.

D&B

1.12

(See also

D&B

6.04)

Identify areas where flood risk and slope stability may be issues. Taking advice from others,

incorporate appropriate action into forest design plans and adapt harvesting and restocking

operations accordingly.

Section two







Carbon sequestration

D&B

1.13

Create new woodland where this can make a significant contribution

to carbon sequestration, forest habitat network development,

flood risk mitigation and/or community benefits.

D&B

1.14

Consider climate change implications in any decision to remove woodland and look at

options to mitigate the loss e.g. by offset planting, in support of national policy.

Section two





Key theme two: timber

Section two

Timber supply

Timber production is currently around 500,000

cubic metres/year and projected to remain at this

level over the next five to ten years. The majority

of volume is generated from clearfelling, with

around 60,000 cubic metres/year derived from

thinning. We are looking to increase the proportion

of the volume from thinning operations.

A small proportion of the district is regarded as

economically marginal, but this tends to occur

as localised areas in larger forests. Parts of the

Upper Nithsdale woodlands and the scree

slopes of the Tweed fall into this category, as

well as being sensitive to harvesting operations.

Work must be done to find technical solutions

to operating in these areas to release timber

volume, meet our other social objectives and to

prevent site damage (see also key theme six).


Our current production forecasting methods can

predict timber yields from the traditional clearfell/

re-stock system reasonably accurately, but they

are less reliable for thinning and areas managed

under continuous cover. This is being addressed at

a national level as part of the preparation for the

next published forecast in 2010/11. Work is also

needed to improve predictions of timber quality.

Restructuring of the forest will lead to an

increase in open space and broadleaves for

conservation. The reduction in productive conifer

area, and potentially in supply, is compensated

for by improved establishment techniques

and the use of improved growing stock.



Timber quality

The coastal areas around the Solway and the

Tweed valley have traditionally produced the best

quality timber, although yield classes in the uplands

remain high. Work on improved management

of second rotation crops is a priority to improve

timber quality for the future markets. Appropriate

species and provenance choice, both for the site

and end products, together with attention to

establishment standards and silvicultural thinning,

are essential to continuing to produce construction

grade timber (C16 and above) for future use.

Thinning has been variable in the district, with

many of the crops in the Tweed valley and along

the Solway coast being well-thinned and now

yielding quality products. There has been less

thinning undertaken in other parts of the district,

nevertheless the largely Sitka spruce crops are

still producing some quality wood. The market

conditions of recent years have also made it

difficult to sustain the thinning programme.

We are currently reviewing our thinning policy

with a presumption to thin all suitable crops.

Timber transport

The forests in the district are relatively close to

our customers and within 50 miles of a major

processor. Despite the proximity of the markets,

the costs of the supply chain are still a significant

issue. Many of factors are derived from national

issues, such as the high cost of diesel and shortage

of skilled labour. Increasing efficiency and a

more equitable share of the profits in the chain

remains a high priority at a national level.

South Scotland Forest Industries Cluster

provides both a forum for the different elements

of the industry to meet and a co-ordinating

role to promote closer partnerships.

Timber haulage is a major cost in the supply

chain and in terms of the impact it has on

forest and public road maintenance, on carbon

emissions and on communities along the key

routes. Timber transport groups bring together

the industry and the local authorities to work

together to minimise these impacts. The agreed

routes map is one of the tools used. We are taking

an active role in developing and supporting

alternative public road transport solutions, such

the £4.6 million Strategic Timber Transport

Fund-aided Eskdalemuir project. We need to

continue to work hard to minimise the impact

of timber haulage on the rural infrastructure.


Section two




Hardwood timber

There is very limited area of lowland-type

broadleaved plantations in the district. To

date, these have only produced low quality

hardwood timber, mainly firewood products.

There is little scope for expanding lowland-type

timber production due to our generally poorer soils.

Our ancient and semi-natural woods are normally

of highest value to nature conservation, without

timber production. We are assessing the potential

of sites in the lower more fertile areas of the forest

to establish quality, productive broadleaves.

We will consider establishing areas of quality

broadleaves on any new woodland on better

quality land. This will also test our ability to

produce to more demanding specifications.

Although Woodschool, the trading arm of

Borders Forest Trust, was a small user of timber,

it was producing high-quality niche products

that promote hardwood timber from sustainable

sources. This will be continued in a slightly different

form by its successor, Real Wood Studios Ltd.

Timber in construction

This is a national issue, but also one adopted

by Scottish Borders Council in its woodland

strategy and through its project to promote

construction and sustainable development

using local timber. There are opportunities to

showcase timber in construction in the national

recreation facility planned at Glentress.


Section two





Key theme: Timber


Timber supply

D&B

2.01

Maximise potential in areas identified for productive timber species through best practice and

the use of improved stock, wherever possible.

D&B

2.02

Produce a forecast of timber production (2011), based on achieving a sustainable level of

production, supplemented by annual marketing plans matching those predictions (currently

at 500,000 cubic metres/year).

D&B

2.03

Maintain our compliance with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard to allow our customers

to gain certification for their products, e.g. through the Forest Stewardship Council.

Timber quality

D&B

2.04

Distribution of species and selection of correct provenance will follow sound silvicultural

practice to provide a quality growing stock at the correct density.

D&B

2.05

Review the thinning programme based on a presumption to thin all suitable areas. This is

expected to increase the volume of timber derived from thinning.

D&B

2.06Proactively manage natural regeneration areas to meet the objectives for the site.

Timber transport

D&B

2.07

Continue partnership working with the local timber transport groups to develop industry

solutions that provide efficient transport and social and environmental benefits, e.g.

development of alternative in forest haulage routes.

D&B

2.08

Use low ground pressure vehicles to reduce the impact of haulage on the environment and

the associated cost on the infrastructure, where appropriate.

D&B

2.09

Adhere to agreed route maps for timber transport and the code of practice for road haulage

of round timber.

Section two





Key theme: Timber


Hardwood timber

D&B

2.10

Review the current broadleaved resource and assess opportunities for further expansion by

June 2010.

D&B

2.11

(See also

D&B

1.03)

Identify areas suitable for growing productive quality broadleaves and establish a local trial

area to inform future targets and suitable species.

Timber in construction

D&B

2.12

Identify opportunities to demonstrate the use of timber in construction, maximising the

use of local timber, e.g. Glentress Peel, office developments by the Scotland Government’s

Environmental and Rural Services at Dumfries and Galashiels; road bridges.

D&B

2.13Specify sustainability measures in all building tenders.


Section two



Key theme three: business developmentSkills

The forest industry as a whole in the south-east

of Scotland has an ageing workforce and a skills

shortage, particularly for skilled people in chainsaw

work and establishment. The majority of contactors

are small enterprises (<10 people) with an increase in

migrant workers in some sectors.

New challenges, such as the development of

mountain biking and the increase in social inclusion

ideas, requires more specialist skills. This is bringing

people with a wider range of experiences and

expertise into the forests.

We actively support Forestry Commission Scotland

Learning and Development Services during formal

internal and external training events, both with

access to sites and with local expertise. The district is

a member of the Barony College advisory forum and

supports its ongoing need for suitable training sites

as part of their delivery of the curriculum. We also

offer training opportunities to the Borders College.

Section two


We need to continue to encourage and retain

younger people into forestry through schemes

such as work experience placement for secondary

pupils and the forestry apprenticeship scheme.

All vacancies are advertised through the Forestry

Commission Scotland website and locally.

There is a continuing need to develop existing

staff and contractor skills to sustain the current

programmes, meet new challenges and improve

performance in current activities.



Timber

Tourism has become a mainstay of the local economy, and continues to maintain an increasing turnover and employment. The landscape and recreation opportunities are a major factor in people’s choice to visit the region, which is promoted as a ‘natural place’ and a ‘gateway to Scotland’.

The area draws visitors from a wide area, with Edinburgh and the north of England being particularly important markets. Forestry is recognised as having a significant role in tourism development and delivery through the provision of recreation facilities, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and the design and management of forests in the landscape.

Walking continues to be the main pursuit for many forest visitors, but other activities have been growing rapidly in popularity in recent years. Mountain biking has become the major outdoor activity of the area, and adventure or active sports are identified as one of the key development areas for the district, building on the success of 7stanes as one of Scotland’s top mountain biking destinations. The forests of the area regularly host events, including some national mountain biking events.

We are operating in a very competitive and increasingly discerning market for leisure time. We must continue to improve the quality of our recreation provision (information and facilities), particularly in areas of high-density use, such as Mabie, Ae and the Tweed valley. In doing so, we also need to assess and manage the potential environmental impact of increased travel.

The challenge is to realise the benefits in a sustainable way, to capture some of the direct revenue for reinvestment into the forests, and to maintain and enhance the visitor experience. We will continue to work with partners to maximise the benefits.

Key theme three: business development

Section two


Income Diversification

There is a need for sustainable sources of income for the management of the forests, to realise its conservation potential and to make continuous improvement in the quality of our recreation facilities.

Timber production is a key objective and accounts for 94.5% of the district’s income. Revenue generated from car parks and other recreation activities yields 2.5%. Leases for communication masts, properties, shooting and grazing, together with the sale of venison and Christmas trees provide the remaining 3% of our income.

The market for small-scale local timber products, woodfuel and for non-timber forest products is modest at present, but there is potential for further development provided these are environmentally sustainable. Renewable energy projects, such as windfarms and biomass plants, are currently the most likely sources of significant additional revenue for the national forest estate.

There are, however, other opportunities to diversify our income base through non-timber sources of income. The national forest estate can provide a location for various enterprises. Realising this potential requires raising and maintaining the profile of the forests with local decision-makers, especially in economic and social terms. Promoting local co-operation and working in partnership are also key issues. We are involved with a diverse range of local bodies, including South Scotland Forest Industries Cluster, community groups, tourism groups, and environmental bodies.




Section two


Contribution to rural development

Management of the forest for timber production

underpins jobs in forest establishment and in

maintenance, harvesting and haulage. A significant

number of jobs are also supported through

downstream processing. This remains a core part of

our business.

Many local businesses derive benefits from visitors

to the forests, in particular mountain biking. Local

businesses at Glentress, Ae and Mabie serve the

needs of the forest visitors through cafés and bike

hire. Local accommodation and service providers

have also developed business opportunities from

the additional visitors drawn to the forests.

There is potential for further development in this

area, particularly in relation to activity sports, with

a recent study managed by Scottish Enterprise

identifying gaps and opportunities in provision. We

will build on existing initiatives, such as 7stanes,

and endeavour to manage and improve the quality

of recreation provision to sustain the level of

visitors and provide opportunities and support for

local businesses. We will make sure there is a fair

and open process to develop specific opportunities

based in the forests.

The forests also make a significant indirect

contribution to the rural economy. Well-managed

woods and forests provide an attractive setting in

which to live, work and play, and can contribute to

business decisions on location.




Key theme: Business development


Skills

D&B

3.01

Prepare a workforce development plan to identify skill shortages, training needs, learning and

development opportunities so staff skills match developing policies and demands.

D&B

3.02

Promote continuous improvements to the safety culture in the sector, by exhibiting best

practice on the national forest estate.

D&B

3.03

Assist Forestry Commission Scotland in providing opportunities for school pupils, of all

abilities, between 14-16 years to learn more about forestry and gain a greater understanding

of potential employment opportunities through a programme of work placements and the

work of the Forest Education Initiative in supporting forestry skills development and careers

guidance in schools.

D&B

3.04

Continue to support Forestry Commission Scotland Learning and Development Services and

the Barony College through facilitating on-site training and learning experience and through

advice on course development.

D&B

3.05Secure funding to sustain a Modern Apprentice programme.

D&B

3.06

Continue to work in partnership with Barony college, Scottish Enterprise and others to provide

opportunities for upskilling of contractors through forest-based practical training courses and

through targeted seminars.

Tourism (see also under recreation)

D&B

3.07

Continue to consider the landscape value of woodlands to tourism during revision of forest

plans including opportunities for managing areas under low impact silvicultural systems.

D&B

3.08

Work with partners to realise the economic potential of 7stanes and mountain-biking as a

largely forest-based activity and help to develop the potential for other world class sporting

facilities in forests.

Section three



http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6VQGXF





Tourism (continued)

D&B

3.09

Where appropriate, facilitate development on the national forest estate of adventure and

wildlife tourism products by local businesses, which offer a quality of experience that attracts

a greater number and wider range of visitors and encourages longer stays.

D&B

3.10

Actively seek resources e.g. from external funding and income generation, to continually

improve the information, service and facilities on offer.

D&B

3.11Actively encourage the use of the forest for competitive sporting and other types of events.

D&B

3.12

Continue to monitor visitor numbers and take part in national surveys to maintain our

understanding of tourism demand and requirements.

Income diversification

D&B

3.13

Identify and test opportunities for income diversification, which is vital to protect programme

development in other areas, in particular by increasing the percentage of revenue generated

by non-timber sales. This will be accompanied by engagement with stakeholders to make sure

that proposals are well thought through and that long-term relationships are not damaged.

D&B

3.14

Assess forests with low scores from the portfolio analysis for opportunities to improve their

non-market and/or economic performance. If this is not possible, they will be considered for

sale to realise money for recycling to other key work areas, including new acquisitions.

D&B

3.15

Remain open to new business ideas on the national forest estate that are compatible with our

objectives and standards and capable of generating income.

Section three







Rural development

D&B

3.16

Seek to continually raise the profile of forestry with local decision-makers and work in

partnership with others to increase the benefits to the local economy derived from the forests.

D&B

3.17

Remain open to new business ideas based on the use of forest services and products that

match our wider social and environmental standards and consider positively proposals that

will assist growth or development of local businesses.

D&B

3.18

Continue to develop electronic trading with timber customers and pilot extending this to

harvesting contractors.

Section three




Key theme four: community development

Section two

Woods in and around towns

Well-managed and attractive forests are a source

of pride for the people who work in them and the

communities who live by them. Forests contribute to

the quality of life when they provide attractive settings

to workplaces, travel routes and homes, and when

they are readily accessible for rest and recreation.

Areas classified under the Forestry Commission

Scotland initiative as woodlands in and around towns

are Venlaw, Cademuir, Glentress (Peebles), part of

Caberston (Innerleithen), Dalbeattie and Heathhall

(Dumfries). Dalbeattie enjoys a well-established

community woodland partnership. Borders Forest

Trust organises community events in the community

woodlands of the Tweed valley.


Community engagement

Communities associated with the national forest

estate in the district have different aspirations and

resources, and our engagement with them occurs on

a number of levels. Communities share a common

desire to be informed of what is happening in the

forest. The impacts of transport of timber through

communities and changes in the landscape though

harvesting of timber are frequently areas of local

concern. We need to develop more robust methods

to keep communities informed of forest operations

and activities.

Many communities also wish to have an

opportunity to influence long-term management

decisions, such as through local forest design plan

consultation. We host annual meetings of the two

forest panels to share information and gain valuable

comment on forest design plans. Given support

and scope, the panels could contribute more to the

management of the district.




Section two

Community engagement (continued)

We continue to explore ways that the national forest

estate can add further value to this experience by

engaging proactively with community members

and others in an inclusive approach to the

management of and delivery from the estate. We

already have some notable exemplars of the benefits

of this approach, such as Cairnhead Community

Forest Trust and Moniaive and Dalbeattie Forest

Community Partnership, with both communities

taking a key role in the partnerships.

Other communities have become very active in

management issues, such as developing access

or options to generate economic benefit for their

community from recreation or forest products and

services. Several communities, such as at Stakeford,

Ae, Moffat, Heathhall and Craik, are at various

stages of considering how they wish to develop their

relationship with us further.

Consultation with interest groups other than

geographical communities, such as equestrians and

mountain bikers, is also important to accommodate

their views. This is an area in which we need to

increase our engagement, although it can be difficult

to engage with a representative group.

Community ownership

There have been a few enquiries under the National

Forest Land Scheme for community ownership and

management. Of these Auchencairn (Rascarrel)

and Closeburn (Claurie) are the most advanced,

with the Upper Borthwick (Craik) and Houndwood

(Greenwood and Renton) communities still at an

informal stage. Most communities that we engage

with have decided against pursuing community

ownership, preferring instead to work with us in

planning, developing and delivering their aspirations

in a partnership approach.

We continue to explore suitable sites for housing

development, particularly in relation to affordable

housing. To date, the main interest and activity has

been focused on discussions around Ae Village.






Learning

Our resources for education are limited and we need to focus on specific groups, on activities which meet the needs of the national curriculum, and on facilitating use of the forest by others. We also need to increase the impact of our involvement by working with others, such as

Borders Forest Trust and the local Forest Education

Initiative (FEI) cluster. Our priorities are schools close to forests that are interested in an ongoing connection with their local forest, such as the Forest Schools at Ae and Auchenrodden.

Engagement with secondary schools through FEI and national policy is likely to become more vocational and linked to rural skills programmes. We will look to providing work experience opportunities for pupils within the constraints imposed. Another key group for us are individuals with learning or behavioural difficulties who would benefit from a forest experience. Some local outdoor activity centres make use of the forest for activities, and increasingly groups from further afield are being attracted to the 7stane sites for mountain biking.

We are actively engaged in supporting the provision of educational opportunities to local, national and international visiting groups, including at Glentress where the district has had a long association with the University of Edinburgh through the trial area.

The importance of the contribution that forests can make to combating climate change, and the practices we are adopting in new building and business sustainability, provide opportunity to raise public awareness of the role of forests and timber in practice.

Our volunteering programmes, such as the mountain bike patrol, provide opportunities for people to undertake practical tasks, develop new skills in countryside management, and increase their knowledge of the environment. A Green Team conservation volunteer group has been successful in the past, but is currently not operational due to lack of staff time. There is scope to increase the role of volunteering as a route back into paid employment.

Partnerships

We are committed to a partnership approach that allows communities to work with us and other organisations and groups to plan, develop and deliver their aspirations, and to support a wide range of woodland uses. Partnerships bring significant amounts of additional resource and investment to support various projects. There are varying degrees of formality, from binding legal agreements and formal concordats to very loose arrangements based on shared objectives or special interests. In practice, the least formal relationships can be the most productive by focusing on outputs.

Our role in these partnerships appears to be delivering the long-term base for the community groups to build from and deliver the additional benefits that we do not have the resources to provide. This is proving to be a successful combination for all partners, although servicing these groups can be demanding in staff time. Time needs to be invested at an early stage to make a realistic evaluation of group objectives, aspirations and capacity.

Section two







Key theme: community development


Woodlands in and around towns

D&B

4.01Identify proposals for acquisition of land/woodlands in close proximity to towns.

D&B

4.02

Work with local authorities to develop and promote access to forests without needing a car

e.g. by safe multi-user routes or by public transport.

Community engagement

D&B

4.03

Maintain a programme of forest panel meetings and local consultation on forest design plans

as they are revised. Continue to develop links with local communities to seek to make sure

that management of the national forest estate reflects both local and national objectives

D&B

4.04

Identify ways of increasing contact with all communities adjacent to forests to provide

regular information on local forest operations and other activities.

D&B

4.05

Engage with and support communities currently, or wishing to become, active in the

management of their local forest e.g. woodlands in the Forestry Commission Scotland

woodlands in and around towns initiative.

D&B

4.06

Maintain and increase the opportunities to engage with communities of interest in the forest

e.g. mountain biking, equestrian, access, special needs.

Community ownership

D&B

4.07

Receive positively all community approaches on purchase and process applications that fit

the criteria published in the National Forest Land Scheme as quickly as possible.

D&B

4.08

Inform community councils of forests for any sale in their area as soon as possible to give

them adequate time to consider their position.

Section two








Learning

D&B

4.09

(see also

D&B

3.03)

Work with the Forest Education Initiative and the education sector to make greater use of

woodlands for outdoor learning, focusing in particular on facilitating use rather than always

leading groups directly.

D&B

4.10

Work with schools in close proximity to forests that are interested in an

ongoing connection with their local forest e.g. through forest schools.

D&B

4.11

Review volunteer programme and identify ways to increase the level,

range and scope of volunteering activity in the forest.

D&B

4.12

Continue to host and facilitate visits by a variety of groups including

local, national and international policy makers and specialists.

D&B

4.13Prepare a district learning strategy.

Partnerships

D&B

4.14

Continue to work with existing partnerships e.g. Cairnhead community forest trust and

Newcastleton Business Forum.

D&B

4.15

Actively consider partnership approaches by stakeholders or businesses to develop local

capacity or grow the local economy.

Section two






Key theme five: access and health

Section two

Recreation

Many forests have formal recreation facilities, such as car parks, mountain bike routes, picnic areas, viewpoints and waymarked trails that are currently adequate to meet the demand in the majority of areas. Additional facilities such as toilets are provided at the busier sites, such as Glentress and Mabie.

Development of the 7stanes mountain biking centres across the south of Scotland has brought a significant increase in the quality of recreation provision and in the profile and use of the forest. Continuing maintenance and improvement of the quality of provision on the extensive network of trails are essential for visitors’ enjoyment of the woods and recreational user satisfaction. Safety standards must also consistently improve as the visitor numbers increase, but without impacting on people’s enjoyment of their chosen activity. No further trails are planned and the focus is on the maintenance and enhancement of the existing sites. The development of a major new gateway visitor service centre for the Tweed valley, at Glentress, is currently underway.

Recreation development and increasing visitor numbers can have a negative environmental impact through disturbance and erosion etc. We will address this through assessments prior to any enhancement of facilities and through appropriate management.


The downhill courses at Ae and Innerleithen have a national reputation as competition venues. It is, however, a niche market with incumbent management issues for Forestry Commission Scotland requiring a long-term sustainable solution.

We deliver a full events programme, including performing arts, often in partnership with community groups, with the intention of appealing to a wide range of interests and ages. We also provide a wide range of opportunities for more specialist activities, such as orienteering and field archery that are run through a permissions system.

The interpretation of the natural and cultural environment has been undertaken in various ways over the years. This should be continuously refreshed, with an increasing move from traditional panels to more interactive or art-based forms. There is opportunity for interpretation to be developed around a ‘climate

change and the role of forestry’ theme.




Section two

Making access easier

Forestry Commission Scotland has operated

a policy of open access for walkers, riders and

cyclists for many years. This is now enshrined in

Scottish legislation as a right of responsible access.

As part of the legislation, core path networks

provide links between communities and greater

access to walking and cycling routes for all. Where

appropriate, we support the designation of core

paths through the forests. There are some trails

for less able visitors with scope for more routes,

although many of the forests, particularly in the

Tweed valley, are on relatively steep valley sides.

However, by working with the Roughriders, we

have established downhill trails for specially

adapted mountain bikes in Ae, Glentress and

Innerleithen. We have changed the design of gates

in popular horse riding areas to make access easier.

There is also a high level of informal use of

the forests. Unfortunately, most of the forests

managed by the district are some distant from

the main populations and normally only accessed

by car. This distribution reflects past policies

and land availability. Priority should be given to

communities that currently do not have ready

access to woodland, either on foot, bicycle or by

public transport, when considering possible new

woodland acquisitions for community woodland.

Information on access and facilities is available

in leaflet form and on the internet. There is

scope for more use of modern technology

in providing this type of information.

We have started a programme of managing

threshold areas of the forests to make the forests

more welcoming to the public. The ongoing

issue with unauthorised motor bike access is

being tackled with the help of the police.

We do not work in isolation, as many of the

forests also provide links for longer trails, and

we take part in the local access forum. We

have also been involved in Countryside Trails

and Tweed Trails that have greatly increased

the access opportunities in the region.





Section two


Health

There are real opportunities to encourage

healthy outdoor pursuits in the forest areas.

The district’s forests are enjoyed by a variety

of user groups, and opportunities afforded

by 7stanes, Countryside Trails and Dog

Sport Scotland are increasingly helping to

encourage local young people to stay active.

Mountain biking has seen a large and rapid

increase in the number of visitors to the 7stane

sites, including many people who would not

have used the woods in the past. The initial trails

tended to be more demanding, reflecting the

nature of the sport’s growth. During phase two of

the development the number of easier grade and

family trails were increased, and the 7stanes’ team

promoted mountain biking to a wider audience.

Walking is enjoyed by a very wide ability and

age group. We have been actively engaged with

Paths2Health through events and promoting

Forests for Health, but there has been limited

response to our efforts of engagement with the

health authorities to identify opportunities for

greater use of the forests in improving health. We

will continue to try to establish these links. There

is scope for significantly more development for

supporting improvements in both mental and

physical health, given adequate resources, and

building on the previous work with the Scottish

Association for Mental Health at Glentress



Key theme: access and health


Recreation

D&B

5.01

Review and revise the district recreation and tourism strategy. Prepare

formal site plans for all the recreation facilities including a review

of how they address our diversity and equality aims.

D&B

5.02

Seek further investment to maintain and enhance current facilities and to increase their use

by local people.

D&B

5.03

Consistently implement best practice in sustainable design and management and in safety

on all our recreation sites.

D&B

5.04

Update our key interpretative facilities and implement the Tweed Valley Forest Park

interpretation strategy.

D&B

5.05

Target management activity where there is greatest need and best value for money including

fulfilling our diversity and equality aims.

D&B

5.06

Consider investment in new facilities where it delivers significant local benefit or fulfils our

diversity and equality aims. Funding needs also to address future maintenance commitments.

D&B

5.07

Complete the construction of Glentress Peel and develop its role as a flagship facility and

orientation point for the Tweed valley.

D&B

5.08

Commit to ensuring the maintenance of the trails and infrastructure of 7stanes and to work

with partners and businesses to develop the product for the wider audience.

Section two





Key theme: access and health


Making access easier

D&B

5.09

Work with local access officers and the access forum to identify appropriate routes on the

national forest e state that will form part of the core path network.

D&B

5.10

In consultation with specific user group representation review the provision for appropriately

scaled and located all abilities facilities and seek resources to implement recommendations

D&B

5.11

Review the information available on the recreation facilities and on general access to the

forests and make recommendations for amendment by June 2010.

D&B

5.12

Continue to make the thresholds of all suitable forests more welcoming through signing,

easier access and management of entrances.

D&B

5.13

Work with the police to continue to tackle the issue of unauthorised motor vehicle access

to forests and other anti-social behaviour.scaled and located all abilities facilities and seek

resources to implement recommendations

Health

D&B

5.14

Promote and facilitate greater use of the national forest estate for physical activity through

working with health professional and Forestry Commission Scotland health co-ordinators to

undertake measures such as support for walk leaders.

D&B

5.15

Improve and target information provision and promotion of healthy activities, with an

emphasis on people who currently do not make use of the forests.

D&B

5.16

Raise awareness and provide information for staff on health and lifestyle issues through a

nominated district champion.scaled and located all abilities facilities and seek resources to

implement recommendations

Section two





Key theme six: environmental quality

Section two

Many of our forests are in the catchments of

the rivers Tweed, Nith, Esk and Annan, which

are important fish spawning areas. A number

of domestic water supplies also have their

catchments wholly or partially in the forests,

ranging from individual supplies to reservoirs

providing town supplies. We protect water

quality on the national forest estate by adhering

to forests and water guidelines and controlled

activity regulations in all our operations, together

with good forest design and the identification of

forest habitat networks at a catchment level.


Soil, water and air quality

Good practice, such as Forestry Commission

Scotland forests and water, and soil conservation

guidelines, will generally protect soils on flatter

to moderate terrain from erosion, compaction

or loss of nutrients, but the district does face

challenges in operating in steep terrain. The

inherent technical difficulties, plus extreme

weather events and low economic feasibility,

mean that work is required in this area to find

solutions. This is most notable in parts of the

forests in Upper Nithsdale and in the Tweed valley,

where scree and the high visibility of the forests

above the River Tweed add a further dimension.

Sustainable development underpinned by sustainable forest management and social inclusion is the overarching theme. UK forest standards define the minimum standard for sustainable management of Britain’s forests. Beyond this, the national forest estate is managed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.




Section two

Soil, water and air quality (continued)

Forests may have a increasing role in the

management, protection and enhancement of

water resources, such as through the creation of

flood plain woodland and as part of sustainable

flood alleviation measures to protect vulnerable

settlements. Scottish Borders Council is leading

a pilot study on sustainable flood management

in the Craik area. (see key theme one)

The EU water framework directive sets out

demanding targets for improving and maintaining

water in good ecological condition. Delivery of

the targets requires the involvement and co-

operation of all landowners and water users

in the catchment. The directive requires the

preparation of a river basin management plan

covering the Tweed and the Solway, which should

be complete by December 2009. There are

more detailed management plans for individual

catchments and we will continue to work with the

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Tweed

Forum and others to maintain and improve the

ecological status of the region’s water bodies.

Landscape

Although the district’s forests are relatively recent,

they are a significant feature in the landscape helping

to create a sense of place and making a positive

contribution to landscape quality. Each landscape

has its own characteristics, but in the past forests

have not always been planted and managed in

sympathy with that character. We must make sure

that the restructuring of the forests, including the

adjustment of external boundaries through the

forest design plan process, maintains or enhances

these features and the wider landscape in general.

Some forests lie in the East Stewartry and Nith Estuary

national scenic areas, and in regional scenic areas

and areas of great landscape value. Other forests

not in designated sites, such as those in the Tweed

valley, are particularly sensitive to change and form

a backdrop to communities and tourist activities.

A strategic landscape analysis of the forests of the

Tweed Valley Forest Park has been prepared to guide

the preparation of individual plans and to increase

harmony between them. This is one of the areas

where the use of lower impact silviculture systems can

help minimise impact of harvesting on key landscapes.





Section two


Cultural heritage

There is a rich historical and cultural heritage in

the district’s forests, including chambered cairns,

hill forts and settlements. Some of these have a

special local cultural significance or are associated

with folklore and ballads, particularly in the

Borders. These sites are safeguarded and there

has been some interpretation, but there is scope

for more, particularly in partnership with local

communities and interest groups, such as Borders

Forest Trust, which has helped to raise local

awareness of the value of the remnant woodlands

and heritage trees in the Scottish Borders.



Key theme: environmental quality


Soil, water and air quality

D&B

6.01

(see also

D&B

1.11)

Work with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Tweed Forum and the fisheries

boards to plan and implement local actions in the river basin management plans and area

catchment management plans to contribute to the achievement of good ecological and

chemical status for the region’s water bodies by 2015, and in the protection of the Tweed

special area of conservation.

D&B

6.02

Effectively implement Forestry Commission Scotland forests and water,

and soils guidelines and the controlled activities regulations.

D&B

6.03

Consult key stakeholders, particularly the Scottish Environmental

Protection Agency to identify site and downstream issues on sensitive

sites to inform the development of detailed operational site plans.

D&B

6.04

(see also

D&B

1.12)

Support the delivery of actions identified in the climate change action plan to identify slope

instability issues in sensitive locations and develop local site management strategies.

Section two





Key theme: environmental quality


Landscapes

D&B

6.05

Continue to include landscape characteristics and sensitivity as a major consideration in

long-term forest planning. Resolve issues and make balanced decisions on the rate and scale

of change taking into account other issues such as economics and biodiversity value.

D&B

6.06

Continue to include landscape characteristics and sensitivity as a major consideration in

long-term forest planning. Resolve issues and make balanced decisions on the rate and

scale of change taking into account other issues such as economics and biodiversity value.

Cultural

D&B

6.07

Continue to work with local archaeologists and Historic Scotland to protect the ancient

monuments in our care and to make sure that cultural heritage issues are adequately

addressed in forest design plans and site plans.

D&B

6.08

Record known unscheduled monuments in the Forestry Commission

Scotland geographic information system and agree management

plans for schedules monuments with Historic Scotland.

D&B

6.09Train field staff to identify potential cultural sites.

D&B

6.10

Work with Historic Scotland and others to identify key locations suitable for interpretation

e.g. Dumfries and Galloway Archaeosights, including sites with local folklore associations.

Section two





Key theme seven: biodiversity

Section two


Species and habitats

We will make sure that we meet the legal requirements for protected species under the

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act, Wildlife and Countryside Act, European habitats directive

and the various conservation regulations. We will address the conservation of most species,

including many of the UK and Scottish priority species, through general forest management

and habitat management prescriptions, and through building resilient habitat networks.

The district has a significant range of habitats,

including priority habitats. These tend to be smaller

and more fragmented in the east of the district.

The priority is to continue the recording of these

sites and identify scope for expansion through the

forest design plan process to increase the forest

diversity, as well as to support the local and national

biodiversity action plan process. We will investigate

Scottish Borders Council’s strategic planning tool

for wetland biodiversity conservation, the Borders

Wetland Vision, as an aid to forest design planning

and for options for restoring or recreating wetland.

The lowland mire sites are well represented in

the west, with around 700 ha with potential for

restoration. Priority is currently focused on the

Longbridgemuir complex (see designated sites).




Section two


Species and habitats (continued)

Native woodlands are poorly represented in

the district with only around 1% of the area

either classed as semi-natural woodland or

plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS).

This proportion is even lower in the east of the

district. Although these areas are small, they are

locally significant. Restoration of PAWS sites,

and the enhancement and further expansion

of native woodland and associated open

habitats, will continue to be a high priority.

There is a similarly diverse range of species in the national forest estate. We can address the conservation of many of these species through good practice in forest planning and operations. Where additional input is required, priority will be given to European protected species (all bat species, otter, great created newt and slender naiad) and to priority species identified in the Forestry Commission Scotland biodiversity plan (red squirrel, black grouse, juniper, pearl bordered fritillary). Species action plans will direct the specific management requirements for species such as black grouse, nightjar, red squirrel and pearl bordered fritillary.

There are no national strongholds for red squirrels in the district, but a number of the larger conifer forests in the south-east of Scotland are designated priority forests. Management for red squirrel remains a priority, but it is becoming increasingly challenging as the restructuring of these even-aged forests continues. Grey squirrels infected with squirrel pox are now in the district. We are committed to monitoring and controlling grey squirrels, in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage, to protect native red squirrels.

Targeted work is also undertaken on some locally important species, such as goshawk, osprey, great crested newt, bats, short eared owl and barn owls.

Invasive non-native vegetation is not, at present, a significant issue in the district. We have carried out small control programmes for rhododendron, salmon berry and Japanese knotweed. It will be necessary to manage conifer regeneration in open space where the intention is for the site to be permanently open. Its removal will also be necessary above an agreed level in broadleaf woodland areas. Invasive non-native fauna include mink and signal crayfish, which are both

monitored with the river fisheries boards.



Section two



Ecosystems

The conifer forests form large-scale habitats that

with appropriate and restructuring advances

are developing as ecosystems in their own right.

The restoration and creation of other habitats

in the district, such as native woodland, upper

margins, wetland and riparian corridors, all takes

place in the context of the wider conifer forest

system. This will provide relatively undisturbed

areas allowing natural processes to take priority.

More work is needed to manage these new

habitats in the initial phase. This includes

removal of conifer regeneration and further

enhancing the value of the conifer forests by

identifying and maintaining deadwood reserves.

Significant opportunities exist to enhance and

expand the ranges of protected species, as well

as offering some buffering to climate change,

through the increased use and promotion of

habitat networks in the wider landscape. The

Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy identifies

at a broad level the forest habitat network for

the Borders and work is currently underway

in the west to determine the potential for

Dumfries and Galloway. This will be an ongoing

process, requiring continued collaboration

with neighbouring landowners and South of

Scotland Conservancy staff, and will influence

long-term forest planning decisions.

Deer population management is a high

priority. Roe deer are found throughout the

district and red, sika and fallow deer are all

found locally. We will continue to take part in

the relevant deer management groups. Work

carried out as a result of additional resource

input over recent years to bring populations

to levels which permit regeneration has been

largely successful, but there remains some

requirements for fencing or tubes to allow the

more sensitive species to establish quickly.



Section two



Designated sites

The diverse environment gives rise to a high

biodiversity in the district. We have a responsibility

for parts of seven designated sites and, except

for the Tweed special area of conservation, we

manage these areas in accordance with plans

agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage.

The aim is to maintain or achieve favourable or

unfavourable recovering conservation condition

for all these areas, as far as possible. (See Table one

below and Appendix one: ‘Location of national

parks, national scenic areas, forest parks and

areas of great landscape value’; and ‘Location

of national nature reserves, Natura sites, sites of

special scientific interest and ancient woodlands’.)

Name Area Type ConditionLongbridgemuir

SAC

317 ha Lowland raised mire Unfavourable recovering

Tweed SAC N/A Watercourse with high ecological diversity (no plan required)

Glenkinnon burn SSSI

8.0 ha Upland mixed and ash woodland Unfavourable recovering

Plora wood SSSI 2.5 ha Semi-natural woodland Unfavourable recovering

Palmers hill cutting SSSI

1.2 ha Non-marine Devonian geological Favourable maintained

Kielderhead SSSI 1086 ha Upland dwarf shrub heath and bog Favourable maintained

Abbey Burnfoot to Balcarry Point

4.7 ha Coastal Unfavourable

(SAC = special area of conservation; SSSI

= site of special scientific interest.)

The Solway Mosses, covering over 1,000 ha in

the district, is one of the most significant raised

mire complexes in western Europe. We are

currently working with Scottish Natural Heritage

in investigating the future potential restoration

of the Mosses following a successful EU LIFE

project (2001-03) supporting work on part of

the area. This will remain a priority for action.

Around 75% of the Borders forests are in the

catchment of the river Tweed special area of

conservation and their management must

take account of the potential impact on water

quality and river morphology as well as the

qualifying species – Atlantic salmon and otter.



Section two



Increasing awareness and improving knowledge

There are gaps in our knowledge of what occurs on the national forest estate and in baseline data on condition and populations. We need to address these through working with our own staff and with local experts who know the ground, and through increasing and targeting of species and habitats monitoring. We are building our understanding of the open ground habitats through surveys carried out at the time of forest design plan revision.

Biodiversity is a key issue in all forest design plans and is becoming integrated into all our decision-making. The use of models such as the Forest Research biodiversity decision-support tool BEETLE or the Borders Wetland Vision needs to be built into our decision-making processes. The use of thinning and alternative to clearfell systems as tools to maximise biodiversity gains is also currently limited and we continue to work with Forest Research and other bodies to increase our understanding in this area.

Our local forests contain a wealth of biodiversity interest, much of which is inaccessible to the general population through lack of awareness. There is some good local work, such as the involvement of volunteers at the osprey centres at Glentress and Kailzie, in helping visitors to understand and appreciate the wildlife on view. There are more opportunities through school visits and involvement, and targeted events programmes. In the past, community projects such as red squirrel monitoring and regular volunteer programmes through the Green Team have helped to increase awareness and

involvement in conservation management.

Geodiversity

The national forest estate has a significant role

in conserving Scotland’s geodiversity, which

includes the variety of rocks, minerals, fossils,

landforms, and sediments and soils, together

with the natural processes that form or alter

them. We have one designated sites of special

scientific interest, at Palmers Hill. Our road

construction work has exposed some interesting

geological formations over the years and we

are working with a pilot geodiversity group,

GeoD, in Dumfries and Galloway developing

links to education and interpretation.



Key theme: biodiversity


Species and habitats

D&B

7.01

Review progress in restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites by

June 2010 and set out targets for the next phase of restoration.

D&B

7.02

Continue to develop the area of native woodland and assess

the potential for its expansion within the district.

D&B

7.03

Survey all open ground habitats in the district as each forest design plan is

revised to identify priority habitats and opportunities for expansion and for

moorland fringe development in balance with our other objectives.

D&B

7.04

Continue to take account of the need to protect and enhance the prospects for

our priority species in future forest structure and management practices.

Landscapes and ecosystems

D&B

7.05

Diversify planted woodlands through restructuring and the use of an appropriate

range of silvicultural systems including an increase in natural reserves, long-

term retentions and the volume of deadwood in the forest area.

D&B

7.06

Collaborate with neighbouring landowners, South Scotland Conservancy and

Scottish Natural Heritage to create functioning landscape-scale habitat networks.

D&B

7.07

Work with local deer management groups to manage deer population

over their range, recognising the interests of all parties.

Section two





Section two



Designated sites

D&B

7.08

Work with Scottish Natural Heritage and other partners to develop and

implement a management plan for the restoration of the remaining areas of the

raised mires of the Solway Mosses. Seek funding for the implementation.

D&B

7.09

Use management plans agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage to achieve

95% of features on the parts of the designated sites in our control being in

favourable or unfavourable recovering condition classes by 2012.

D&B

7.10

Continue to take account of the potential impact of management proposals on

neighbouring designated of NATURA sites in forest plans and operational plans

with the aim of protecting and, where appropriate, enhancing their status.

Increasing awareness and improving knowledge, integration and co-ordination for better decision making

D&B

7.11

Promote the profile and awareness of biodiversity requirements during

stakeholder engagements, school visits and forest plan consultations. Encourage

communities and volunteers to be actively involved in biodiversity projects.

D&B

7.12

Build on the existing osprey viewing projects to further develop wildlife

watching and interpretation on the national forest estate.

D&B

7.13Prepare a district biodiversity plan, based on the national template.

D&B

7.14

Continue to update and develop the district knowledge on the biodiversity present in the

forest, its status and requirements. Maintain the geographic information system records layer.

Geodiversity

D&B

7.15

Work with Scottish Natural Heritage and other partners e.g. GeoD, to

identify important geodiversity sites on the national forest estate and

maintain and enhance them through the forest plan process.





Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Section three


Cl imate change is the b iggest threat fac ing the p lanet and Scot t ish forest r y is p lay ing i ts par t in help ing tack le c l imate change. Trees have a s igni f icant ro le in reducing the af fec ts o f c l imate change as they natural ly lock up carbon.




Delivery will be based on the creation of a rolling three-year business plan identifying resources required

to deliver work programmes identified in forest plans, other local plans and emergent issues. Detailed

work plans are prepared for all significant elements of the programme. In sensitive sites, this often

requires further consultation with relevant stakeholders. These are normally prepared 18-24 months

before actual work commences. Work is delivered in accordance with a series of guidance notes listed in

Appendix four, and all delivery adheres to the operating principles detailed in the strategic plan for the

national forest estate.

Following approval of the business plan, the

work programmes and allocated resources are

confirmed with the local staff who then organise

the work and monitor delivery against agreed

timescales, costs and quality standards.

Monitoring forms an integral part of sustainable

forest management and is regarded as an essential

tool for improving practice. It is in-built into

almost every aspect of management from financial

to operational, to environmental, to health and

safety, to recreational, to landscape, through:


Context

Section three


• national policies e.g. UK Forestry Standard,

Forestry Commission People Strategy

• memoranda and instructions e.g.

monitoring of stocking densities according

to Operational Guidance Booklet 4



Two types of monitoring carried out in

the district - formal and informal.

Formal monitoring is concerned with

areas where we have legal, moral or policy

obligations to fulfil and often also audited

by external parties. Important areas

covered under this heading include:

• monitoring of overall standards (e.g.

compliance with forest plans, UK

Woodland Assurance Standard, etc.)

• conservation monitoring

• archaeological monitoring

• health and safety monitoring

• business plan monitoring

We also have to monitor against the indicators

identified in the Forest Enterprise Scotland strategic

plan for the national forest estate. These will then

be amalgamated across all ten forest districts

to determine collective progress in delivering

against the Scottish Forestry Strategy. These results

will be published annually at national level.

Informal monitoring is concerned primarily with

the day-to-day management of the district work

programme and is carried out primarily in-house.

Informal monitoring include activities such as:

• contract progress

• site visits

• personal budget monitoring

• work programme monitoring

• time management

The results from this informal monitoring have a

variety of both long and short-term uses, and are

a useful tool in improving our management skills.

They:

• are analysed and the recommendations

fed back, where appropriate,

into our planning process

• help to influence future management of the

forests and aid development of the future

work programme and budget planning

• can also help shape new local policies

and improve existing ones

The repositioning of the national forest estate

will continue, with woods of greatest public

benefit retained as part of the estate. Information

about the repositioning policy is contained

in the strategic plan for the national forest

estate. Details of the scoring for woods in the

district are contained in Appendix five.

Section three






Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Appendices

The use of wood as a fuel wi l l he lp reduce harmful greenhouse emiss ions and we are work ing hard to promote wood fuel developments .

Appendices




Appendix one:supporting maps




Appendices

Target description and

planned achievement date

Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?

Comments Should this target be

updated and carried

forward to new

district strategic plan?

Produce an updated

periodic forecast of timber

production.

Yes This has been reviewed annually:

• annual production currently

250,000 cubic metres,

indicating a significant rise

in 2007-2011 to an average

300,000 cubic metres and

levelling out at 320,000 cubic

metres from 2012;

• the original thinning forecast

has proved unachievable.

In keeping with a national

initiative, the thinning forecast

has now evolved into a more

robust methodology that

indicates a lower (but rising)

level of achievable thinning.

Yes

Make sure that the supply

of timber from Forest

Enterprise Scotland

woodland resource is

available at +/- 5% of the

levels indicated in our

production forecast over a

working 5 year period.

Yes Achieved in all years. Yes


Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous strategic plan – original Dumfries and Borders Forest District

Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 1: To maximise the value of the wood resource




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Continue to enter into

long-term contracts

where appropriate

with our major timber

customers and Forest

Enterprise Scotland

contractors, aiming to

commit approximately

50% of the district’s timber

production to this method

of sale.

Yes Achieved in general with ongoing

review as to the appropriate

mix and quantity required to

provide our customers with the

supply base they require, while

maximising Forest Enterprise

Scotland marketing needs.

Yes

Provide opportunities

for the development

of appropriate new

businesses on the national

forest estate, with specific

reference to timber and

bio fuel products.

Partial Bio fuel options ranging from

small-scale heating to large power

generation (Lockerbie E.ON plant)

are all being actively supported

and developed. This work will

continue.

Yes

Review district thinning

policy during 2005

to incorporate new

thinking and develop

implementation plans to

maximise the thinnable

area of the estate.

Partial Thinning review undertaken with

implementation plans being

formulated during 2006/07

Yes







Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Move a lower proportion

of timber by public road.

Partial We have successfully planned

and started the installation of

a network of strategic forest

roads that will reduce the

impact of timber traffic on rural

communities and on weak, single-

track public roads.

Working with private companies,

we have successfully facilitated

use of low impact timber haulage

vehicles for use on some of the

forest roads (e.g. Heads of Valley).

Yes







Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Make sure that every

forest is part of an

approved forest plan by

2008.

Partial Currently 94% of target, with

firm programme to meet

the 100% cover by 2008.

Yes

Complete the survey of

ancient woodland sites in

the district and draw up a

management programme

by end-2005 to maximise

environmental gains

from restoration of the

broadleaved woodland.

Partial Survey completed with action

plans being implemented.

Yes

Make sure that quality

timber crops are created

for the future by achieving

target re-stocking densities

(OGB4) at planting by

planting suitable species

and provenances and

protecting them from

damage by mammals,

insects and fungi.

Partial Improvements to OGB4 targets are

ongoing with stocking densities

being affected by adjacency issues

re 1.4 m rule. This remains a

priority to address.

Species choice is driven by local

policy.

Increased wildlife management

resources over the period have

resulted in acceptable levels

of damage being achieved,

with resultant crop health

improvements.

Yes



Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Improve age class diversity through planning of clearfell areas, to achieve minimum 2 m height difference between adjacent coupes.

Partial Results are in keeping with expectations regarding the difficulties of restructuring even-aged first rotation forests on wet soils.

Clearfell and re-stocking have largely been worked on time, but some delays have occurred and windthrow has frequently intervened, notably the 1999 hurricane. We endeavour to adjust programmes to minimise the adverse effects of these natural events on our objectives.

Forest planning procedures and business planning provision have been tightened to improve delivery of structural diversity, but this objective may not be fully met this rotation.

There is a current argument in favour of extending the fallow period between felling and re-stocking to reduce pesticides use against Hylobius beetles. If this argument is accepted, it would have implications for achievement of this target at felling times.

Yes



Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Monitor all crops to an

appropriate level, using

the methods described

in the relevant district

policy statements to

make sure that causes of

damage can be identified

and controlled by the

appropriate method.

Yes Ongoing monitoring is standard

practice.

Wildlife management targets

are now at acceptable levels and

resources are being transferred to

support other conservation and

protection objectives.

Yes


Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous strategic plan – original Dumfries and Borders Forest DistrictScottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Manage all sites of special

scientific interest in

accordance with agreed

plans endorsed by

Scottish Natural Heritage

and other conservation

agencies where

appropriate.

Yes The clearance of timber from the

major Longbridgemuir raised bog

restoration (417 ha) as part of the

EU supported project has been

completed.

Yes

Manage all existing

scheduled ancient

monuments (SAMs) in

accordance with agreed

plans endorsed by

Historic Scotland (HS).

All existing SAMs to have

management agreements

in place by 2001.

Additional SAMs to be

covered within 12 months

of notification.

Yes All 22 SAMs have agreed

management plans in place. The

past few years have seen some

SAMs being rescheduled by HS

and others being scheduled.

Yes



Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Continue to develop the Solway Mosses lowland raised bog restoration In partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Wildlife Trust and others, via an EU LIFE III bid.

Partial Phase 1 restoration via the EU LIFE II bid was completed in 2003, with ongoing maintenance taking place since. Currently reviewing long-term maintenance of the existing 417 ha site and considering with SNH the expansion to cover the total area of 1,000+ ha of restoration following an independent report of the bog condition.

According to the report, if successful, the Solway Mosses could become the most important raised mire site in western Europe.

Yes

Review draft potential priority red squirrel areas with relevant stakeholders by summer 2005.

Yes Priority woodland areas have been agreed with formal management guidance plans being written by South of Scotland Red Squirrel Group. We are currently continuing the implementation of ongoing policies while assessing wider actions in relation to the Scottish Executive national review, informed by Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Yes







Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Improve forest landscape, particularly in Solway national scenic area.

Partial Good progress has been made in opening up views hidden for a generation and in delivering much improved forest design throughout the district.

There has been less success in retaining stands of tall growing trees, owing to the ravages of windthrow. We are continuing to take risks in retaining stands of tree on longer rotations (especially larch and pine) with the overall objective of keeping more mature trees in the forest landscape.

Yes

Increase the area committed to low impact silviculture and improve management techniques.

Partial The area of low impact silviculture has been raised significantly over the period. But given our soils and relative exposure to windthrow, there are many technical difficulties and resource implications to reducing coupe size. More work is needed to identify and formalise management plans at the site level, as strategic plan and even forest design plans as yet take too general an approach.

Yes







Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Seek ways for generating new opportunities for local employment through the provision of recreational facilities and specialist use of the forest, including mountain biking, car rallying, 4x4 safaris and filming.

Partial Initial projects including 7stanes, Countryside Trails and Dog Sport Scotland have been implemented with ongoing work to expand and develop delivery.

Scottish RAC Rally has contributed £1+ million/year into the local economy over the past four years. Another five rallies and car testing last year contributed lesser amounts.

Yes

Prepare a comprehensive recreation strategy, audit all current formal recreational provision and improve, upgrade or remove formal facilities based on an analysis of the above.

Yes Strategy developed 2001 and has recently been updated with draft currently undergoing discussion.

Yes

Increase the area committed to continuous cover forestry and improve management techniques.

Partial Policy and delivery of this evolving management regime is ongoing, with potential areas being identified via forest design plans and specific trained staff resource.

Yes

Increase awareness of, and facilitate involvement in, the management of the forest by local communities and communities of interest.

Partial Cairnhead Community Forest Trust, Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership and many other links at local level are helping deliver this objective, within available resources.

Yes


Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous strategic plan – original Dumfries and Borders Forest DistrictScottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 4: To create opportunities for more people to enjoy trees, woods and forests




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Meet requests for educational visits to assist teachers and others in delivering the national curriculum and other educational needs.

Yes The district is unique in terms of the wide range of forest resources and experience we are able to offer customers. The forest is now being used an outdoor classroom by an increasingly diverse range of stakeholders.

The district also accommodates a number of other teams that provide support to a variety of educational and information events, including:

• Technical Development (national office)

• Forestry Training Services Operations (national centre)

• South of Scotland Conservancy

• Forest Enterprise Scotland Operations office;

• Research outstation

• Radio Electronics Branch outstation

• Mechanical Engineers (southern office)

• Cartographic office (national centre)

Yes


Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous strategic plan – original Dumfries and Borders Forest DistrictScottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 4: To create opportunities for more people to enjoy trees, woods and forests




Appendices



Target achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Provide opportunities

for the development

of appropriate new

businesses in association

with Forest Enterprise

Scotland-managed

woodlands.

Partial The opportunity for tourism-

based businesses to benefit from

the woodlands has increased

significantly following the

eradication of foot and mouth

disease. We are actively engaged

with VisitScotland, Scottish

Enterprise Dumfries & Galloway,

Dumfries & Galloway Council and

others to maximise this delivery,

e.g. 7stanes, Countryside Trails, Dog

Sport Scotland.

Yes

Seek to involve

communities across a

range of activities in a

manner consistent with

the nature and level of

interest expressed by

communities and their

current capabilities.

Partial A number of partnerships have

developed over the past 10 years,

notably Cairnhead Community

Forest Trust, Dalbeattie Forest

Community Partnership, Ae

Youth Eye, 7stanes and Dog Sport

Scotland, etc.

We will continue to develop and

expand all community and other

links as resources allow.

Yes



Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 5: To help communities benefit from woods and forests




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Strike a reasonable balance in relation to developments on the national forest estate between the aspirations of local communities and national policy priorities to foster community involvement, responsiveness and distinctiveness of forest management at local level, within the wider policy framework.

Partial

Ongoing developments in relation to renewable energy (e.g. Harestanes, Clyde windfarms, bio fuel E.ON) social housing (Ae Village, Moffat) and other benefits will continue to be progressed.

We will continue to develop appropriate projects with outside partners where communities are not prepared or able to become fully involved.

Yes

Enhance opportunities for health and enjoyment in the forest environment

Yes We continue to develop and work with a number of partnerships in support of this objective including:

• Dumfries & Galloway Care Trust

• 7stanes

• Dog Sport Scotland

• Countryside Trails

• Community groups (CCFT, DFCP etc)

• Equestrian tourism

• Dumfries & Galloway Council Community Planning

Yes



Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 5: To help communities benefit from woods and forests




Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Work with our customers

to improve the quality,

efficiency and safety of

all forest operations and

recreational activities

to ensure they comply

with health and safety

legislation and industry

best practice.

Yes Health and Safety standards are a

high priority, with constant review

of policy and actions. Increasing

recreational use, particularly in

terms of mountain biking, is a

challenge.

Yes

Manage all woodlands

in accordance with

the UK Woodland

Assurance Standard.

Yes Ongoing. Constant review and

improvement of standards taking

place to ensure we meet and often

exceed objectives.

Yes



To maintain an efficient and effective organisation



Appendices



Target

achieved

(yes/no/

partial)?


updated and carried

forward to new


Manage impact (positive

and negative) of

information technology.

Partial Computer infrastructure and

staff capability has been greatly

enhanced since 1999.

Specialist training has been made

available for key staff.

Number of geographic

information system (GIS) users has

increased, supported by specialists

in the Planning team

Basic training is now available on

Microsoft programmes for all staff,

including attainment of European

Computer Driving License.

Yes

Engage staff in district

policy development

and delivery to ensure

ownership of our aims.

Partial Ae Forest District Steering

Committee, communications and

briefing meetings all aim to deliver

this. But there is always room for

improvement.

Yes



To maintain an efficient and effective organisation



Appendices

Appendix three: glossary for forest policy context diagram:

• Business plan: A three year rolling plan which outlines the financial requirements for delivering the

work programme in the district. The first year contains a compilation of the costs associated with the

relevant work plans. These are then prioritised against the agreed financial targets, which are set at

national level and reflect the settlement from the Scottish Government’s spending review.

• Forestry Commission policies, guidelines, etc: These are the various internal Forestry Commission

policies and guidance on practices across a wide range of activities e.g. operational practice, Health &

Safety issues, estate management, etc.

• Forest District Strategic Plan: This plan describes how national, regional and corporate strategies will

be applied at a local level. The plan identifies Forest Enterprise Scotland policies and priorities in the

district and the rationale behind them.

• Forest Enterprise Scotland framework document: The plan sets out how Forest Enterprise Scotland

will develop and manage the national forest estate in an efficient and environmentally responsible

manner to meet government forestry policies, especially the Scottish Forestry Strategy.

• Forest plans: These plans relate to individual forests and groups of woodlands. They describe the

woodland, place them in context with the surrounding area, and identify issues that are relevant to the

woodland or forest. From these objectives are set, long-term felling and re-stocking plans prepared, and

opportunities to improve the woodland for nature conservation and recreation are considered. These

individual forest plans are subject to formal consultation processes and have to be agreed with the

Forestry Commission’s Conservator. The Conservator is independent of Forest Enterprise Scotland and

oversees the promotion and regulation of forestry, in both the private as well as public sector, on behalf

of the Forestry Commissioners.

• Forestry and woodland frameworks: Local forestry frameworks cover more localised areas than

indicative forestry strategies and look in more detail at the opportunities for forest expansion.

• Indicative forestry strategies: Indicative forestry strategies are prepared by local authorities and

identify areas preferred for forestry expansion and areas sensitive to further expansion in respect to a

range of issues such as the landscape, natural and cultural heritage, communities and water quality.

• Monitoring: This includes a wide range of informal and formal monitoring described more fully in

Section 6 and in the strategic plan for the national forest estate.

• Regional Forestry Forum: Advises Forestry Commission Scotland on the regional implementation of

the Scottish Forestry Strategy and provides a regional perspective on the strategy’s future development.






• Scottish Forestry Strategy: This is the Scottish Government’s framework for taking forestry forward in

Scotland. It sets out a vision that “By the second half of this century, people are benefiting widely from

Scotland’s trees, woodlands and forests, actively engaging with and looking after them for the use and

enjoyment of generations to come. The forestry resource has become a central part of our culture, economy

and environment.”

• Strategic plan for the national forest estate: Defines how Forestry Commission Scotland through its

operating arm, Forest Enterprise Scotland, will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy on the national

forest estate. The national strategic plan describes the strategic and operational context; monitoring

framework and implementation proposals that guide the district strategic plan. The policies and best

practice referred to in the strategic plan for the national forest estate will also be delivered as part of

the implementation of the forest district strategic plans. It also provides direction for implementing

a repositioning policy that will ensure the nature and distribution of the national forest estate better

reflects its role and purpose.

• Thematic plans: These include statutory plans e.g. management plans for sites of special scientific

interest agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage and scheduled ancient monument management plans

agreed with Historic Scotland. There are also local plans for detailing how certain aspects of local

management will be delivered and prioritised (see Appendix four).

• UK Forestry Standard: This outlines the UK Government’s approach to sustainable forestry in the UK

with reference to the European and global protocols for sustainable development.

• UK Woodland Assurance Standard: UK Woodland Assurance Standard is a certification standard that

reflects the UK Forestry Standard, the guidelines adopted by European Forestry Ministers at Helsinki

in 1993, and the Forest Stewardship Council Standard for Great Britain. It provides consumers with

independently vetted assurance of quality in respect of the environmental and social implications of

forest management.

• Work plans: These include operational site plans that are prepared in advance of all major forest

operations, i.e. felling, thinning, road construction and re-planting. Work plans draw on forest plans and

identify site constraints, risk assessment, opportunities, and areas requiring special protection, etc.

• Work programme: This is the work carried out in each financial year, which is mainly derived from

the list of work plans that have been approved in the business plan. It will also include unforeseen or

emergency work that arises in the year.

Appendices

Appendix three: glossary for forest policy context diagram:






Appendices

Appendix four:List of local thematic plans, management plans and guidance notes

Ae Forest

District

Scottish

Borders

Forest District

Dumfries

& Borders

Forest District

Thematic plans Date

produced

Date

produced

Date

produced

Revision

planned*

Comments

Business continuity plan 2009 2014

Conservation plan 2010 Awaiting

national

biodiversity plan

Deer management strategy 2009 2012

Emergency and fire plan 2009 2009 2010

Monitoring plan 2008 2010

Plantations on ancient

woodland sites strategy

2000 2007

Pollution control and waste

management plan

2008 2008 2010

Recreation strategy 2005 2001 2010

Roads plan 2009

Safety policy statement 2009 2010

Sales plan 2009 2010

Thinning plan 2008 2008 2009

Tree safety management 2008 2010

Workforce plan New plan – will

be produced in

2010


* Revisions may be brought forward if there is a significant change in policy or circumstances

The table shows the plans for the two former districts that were amalgamated on 1 April 2009 to create Dumfries and Borders Forest District. Thematic plans are being prepared for the new district as outlined below.

A review of the guidance notes currently in use will be carried out at the end of 2009 to identify those guidance notes that remain valid for the new district. These will be updated during 2010.



Appendices


Ae Forest

District

Scottish

Borders

Forest District

Dumfries

& Borders

Forest District

Management plans Date

produced

Revision

planned*

Comments

Business plan 2009 annual

Forest plans various 10 years 64 plans in

total

Schedule Ancient

Monument plans

various 5 years 51 plans in

total

Shoot plans various 1 years 22 plans in

total

Site of Special Scientific

Interest management plans

various 5 years 6 plans in total

(including 1

special area of

conservation)


* Revisions may be brought forward if there is a significant change in policy or circumstances



Appendices


Ae Forest

District

Scottish

Borders

Forest District

Dumfries

& Borders

Forest District

Guidance notes Date

produced

Date

produced

Date

produced

Revision

planned*

Comments

Broadleaves 2008 2007

Chemical use 2001 2008 Includes

strategy for

reducing usage

Child protection

Complaints and enquiries 2008

Community involvement/

stakeholder consultation

2008 2007/8

Cultural heritage 2008

Deadwood 2008 2008

Fallow strategy 2008

Fencing 2008

Goat management plan 2007

Grey squirrel 2008

Illegal/Unauthorised use of

the forest

2008

Information Technology

strategy

Invasive species 2008

Low impact silvicultural

systems

2008 2001

Native woodland creation

Natural reserves 2008 2008

Non-timber forest

products

2008




Appendices


Ae Forest

District

Scottish

Borders

Forest District

Dumfries

& Borders

Forest District

Guidance notes Date

produced

Date

produced

Date

produced

Revision

planned*

Comments

Permissions 2008

Planning and managing

open space

2008 2008

Production forecast 2007

Forest ops and protected

species

2008

Roads and tracks 2008

Scree slopes 2008

Signs 2008

Species selection (trees) 2008 2008

Urea application policy 2008 2008

Water framework directive 2008

Windblow 2008 2008

Work plans 2009




Appendices

Appendix five:Portfolio analysis scoring for each block including diagram illustrating spread of blocks against economic benefits and non market benefits

Introduction

The portfolio analysis of the national forest estate is concerned with the current condition of individual

forest plan units or forest blocks, not our aspirations for them or what we believe their untapped

potential might be.

Although the scoring system is recognised as being imperfect, it represents a reasonable approximation

of the relative strategic importance across our land portfolio. It is very important that district staff are as

objective as possible when applying the economic and non-market scoring set out below.

The system was developed following piloting work at four forest districts (Cowal & Trossachs, Galloway,

Moray, Tay) on the application of the scoring system. It was then tested across all districts in Scotland and

refined or amended in response to feedback. It was further refined following a series of meetings between

clusters of neighbouring districts and Forest Enterprise Scotland Management Board members. This work

also provided a national overview that the array of scores made sense both within and between districts.

The final version of the scoring system is set out below.

The absolute score achieved by a forest plan unit is not particularly important; it is the positioning of units

relative to each other that is of value in understanding where management time and resources should be

best directed for maximum positive effect.

Note: We set out to ensure the ratings allow managers to make objective, repeatable assessments

based on existing data sets. Inevitably, a few grey areas remain and we flag up that habitat network and

landscape ratings will require further definition in due course.




Appendices

Appendix five:Portfolio Analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Score

Harvesting surplus (clearfell and thinning)

Based on 2006 market conditions

(Note: 10 year horizon for harvesting activity, if harvesting

is expected in that period then use best estimate of expected

profit or loss/tonne. A block with no potential for commercial

harvesting should score 0.)

>£5/tonne profit

<£5/tonne profit

Break even

<£5/tonne loss

>£5/tonne loss

10

6

3

1

0

Establishment and maintenance costs

(Note: establishment and maintenance to include all expenditure

up to year 10 needed to establish crops. Remember to include

whole forest design plan issues such as boundary fencing

maintenance costs.)

Lower than the district

average

District average

Higher than the district

average

4

2

0

Capital road cost

New and upgrade over next 10 years

(Note: a block with no potential for commercial harvesting and,

therefore, no plans for capital road investment should score 0.)

Fully roaded

< 2 km to build

2 km to < 5 km to build

5 km to < 10 km to build

10 km and over to build

10

7

5

2

0

Other income generation

(Note - other income to include estates development, recreation,

etc. Development opportunities that have a signed option

agreement can be included in the current economic analysis.)

>£250k pa

£101-250k pa

£51-100k pa

£11-50k pa

£1-10k pa

<£1k pa

10

6

3

2

1

0

Economic scoring




Appendices


Score

Conservation designations

(Note: the presence of the designation is not sufficient to merit a

high score. The forest design plan must be positively contributing

to the enhancement of the site condition relative to the notified

conservation interest. Area in Ha relates to area in Forest

Enterprise Scotland management.)

SAC/SSSI >100 ha

UK HAP > 50%

UK HAP 20-50%

SAC/SSSI 20-100 ha

SAC/SSSI <20 ha or HAP <20%

No designations or HAPs

10

6

4

3

1

0

SAP species

(Note: as highlighted in Forestry Commission Scotland

biodiversity strategy – red squirrel, capercaillie, black grouse,

pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, chequered skipper butterfly,

juniper, Scottish wood ant, Wilson’s pouchwort, twinflower, small

cow wheat.)

> 5 species

4 - 5 species

3 species

2 species

1 species

None

10

8

6

3

1

0

Native tree species

(Note: native species – this refers to tree species cover of the

forested portion of the forest design plan unit. Anticipates drive

for greater reliance on native species from Scottish Forestry

Strategy and Environment Peer Review Group.)

51-100%

21-50%

11-20%

6-10%

1-5%

<1%

10

6

4

2

1

0

Non-market benefits scoring






Appendices


Score

WIAT

(Note – only woodlands falling into the Forestry Commission

Scotland woods in and around towns criteria can score any

points.)

Large population (>5000)/well

developed facilities

Large population (>5000)/

minimal facilities

Small population (2000-

5000)/well developed facilities

Small population (2000-

5000)/minimal facilities

N/A

10

8

4

2

0

Community engagement (including schools) Signed agreement

User group/active

participation

Consultation/information

No engagement

5

3

1

0

Recreation

(Note – visitor numbers must be verifiable from counters and/or

intercept surveys or be based on sound local knowledge.)

>250k visits pa

101-250k visits pa

51-100k visits pa

11-50k visits pa

1-10k visits pa

<1k visits pa

No visits

10

8

5

3

2

1

0

Non-market benefits scoring (continued)




Appendices


Score

Habitat network

(*Core habitat area defined as regionally significant (>10,000

ha), relatively contiguous, contains at least 20% native species

in woodland element and/or at least 80% native species in open

land element.)

Significant component (>25%)

of an existing core habitat

area*

Component (10-25%) of an

existing core habitat area

Contributor to functional

connectivity of (or from) the

core habitat area or important

local habitat network

Little or no existing

contribution to habitat

networks

5

3

2

0

Landscape National Park – helps create

sense of place

National Scenic Area – helps

create sense of place

Positive backdrop to

significant town (>10,000)

National Park – positive

contributor

NSA/Designed landscapes –

positive contributor

Positive backdrop to town

(>2000)/ major tourism route

No positive impact in the

landscape

10

8

5

3

2

1

0





Appendices

Score

Thinnable

(Note: thinnable area – the area of forest which has been

thinned or is programmed for thinning in the next 10 years. This

essentially reflects the amount of flexibility available to apply low

impact silvicultural systems and as a consequence deliver non-

market benefits.)

51-100%

21-50%

5-20%

<5%

5

3

2

0





Appendices




Forest block H+M Est & Roads Oth Total Cons BAP Native WIAT Community Recreation FHN NP/NSA Thin Total

Maint income economic designation species treespp NMB

score score

Stiddriggs 10 2 10 10 32 1 3 1 0 5 2 0 0 0 12

Kirkland 10 2 7 10 29 1 1 1 0 5 3 3 1 5 20

Queensberry 10 2 7 10 29 0 3 1 0 5 2 0 0 3 14

Castle O’er 10 4 10 2 26 1 1 1 0 3 3 0 0 5 14

Brownmoor 10 4 10 1 25 0 1 4 0 3 3 0 1 5 17

Blacklaw 10 2 10 2 24 0 1 1 0 1 2 2 0 5 12

Twiglees 10 2 10 2 24 0 1 1 0 5 3 0 0 5 15

Wauchope Burn 10 2 10 2 24 0 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 8

Burnfoot 10 2 10 1 23 1 3 2 0 3 2 0 0 5 16

Clauchrie 10 2 10 1 23 3 3 1 0 1 1 3 0 5 17

Dalmamacallan 10 2 10 1 23 1 1 2 0 3 2 0 0 5 14

Gledenholm 10 2 10 1 23 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 10

Meadshaw 10 2 10 1 23 0 3 2 0 3 2 0 0 2 12

Cardrona 10 2 10 1 23 1 3 1 0 1 3 0 1 3 13

Dalbeattie 10 0 10 2 22 3 6 2 10 3 8 3 5 5 45

Heathhall 10 0 10 2 22 3 1 6 8 3 3 3 1 5 33

Mabie 10 0 10 2 22 6 6 4 0 5 8 5 5 5 44

Grey Hill 10 2 10 0 22 0 3 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 7

Newcastleton 10 2 10 0 22 1 3 1 0 3 3 0 0 3 14

Buittle Hill 10 0 10 1 21 3 1 10 0 1 1 3 1 5 25

Criffel 10 0 10 1 21 1 6 2 0 3 3 5 2 5 27

Plascow 10 3 7 1 21 0 3 1 0 5 2 0 0 3 14

Rascarrel Moss 10 0 10 1 21 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 8 3 18

The Cote 10 2 7 2 21 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 5 10

Cademuir 6 4 10 1 21 0 1 1 8 1 3 0 1 5 20

Ladyurd 10 0 10 1 21 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 3 7

Auchenrodden 10 2 7 1 20 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 5 11

Craigieburn 10 2 7 1 20 1 6 1 0 1 3 0 5 5 22



Appendices






score score

Earshaigs 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 1 0 3 2 0 0 3 12

Garrowgill 10 2 7 1 20 1 3 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 12

Little Clyde 10 2 7 1 20 1 3 1 0 3 1 0 0 2 11

Longbedholm 10 2 7 1 20 1 3 1 0 1 2 3 0 5 16

Old Forest 10 2 7 1 20 1 1 1 0 5 3 0 1 3 15

Gair 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 5

Tinnisburn 10 2 7 1 20 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 5

Falside 10 2 7 1 20 1 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 9

Cloich 10 2 7 1 20 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 5

Garwaldshiels 10 2 5 2 19 0 3 1 0 3 1 0 0 2 10

Greskine 10 2 5 2 19 1 3 1 0 3 1 2 0 3 14

Southwick Station 10 0 7 2 19 1 1 10 0 5 2 3 0 5 27

Hyndlee 10 2 7 0 19 1 1 2 0 3 2 0 0 2 11

Lethem 10 2 7 0 19 10 6 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 21

Peel 10 2 7 0 19 10 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 19

Craikhope 10 2 7 0 19 0 3 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 11

Crooked Loch 10 2 7 0 19 1 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 7

Swinnie 6 2 10 1 19 1 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 3 9

Craigielands 10 0 7 1 18 6 1 6 0 1 2 0 1 5 22

Polskeoch 10 2 5 1 18 1 6 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 11

Rivox 10 2 5 1 18 0 3 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 11

Shinnealhead 10 2 5 1 18 0 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 12

Southwick 10 0 7 1 18 1 3 2 0 1 1 2 0 5 15

The Doach 10 0 7 1 18 10 1 1 0 1 3 2 0 5 23

Tornat 10 0 7 1 18 10 1 10 0 1 2 5 8 5 42

Shankend 10 2 5 1 18 1 1 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 10

Whitrope 10 2 5 0 17 1 3 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 10

Hallmanor 6 0 10 1 17 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2



Appendices






score score

Kinharvie 10 2 2 2 16 1 6 1 0 3 3 2 5 3 24

Mark Hill 10 0 5 1 16 0 1 2 0 3 3 2 8 5 24

Screel 10 0 5 1 16 1 1 2 0 3 3 3 8 5 26

Elibank & Traquair 6 0 7 3 16 1 6 1 0 5 2 0 1 5 21

Glentress & Eshiels 3 0 10 3 16 0 3 1 10 5 10 0 1 3 33

Yair 6 0 7 2 15 1 6 2 0 5 2 0 1 5 22

Thornylee 6 2 7 0 15 1 1 4 0 1 2 0 0 3 12

Cairnhead 6 2 0 6 14 1 6 1 0 5 3 0 0 0 16

Lochar Mosses 6 0 7 1 14 10 1 4 0 1 1 3 0 2 22

Gamescleuch 6 0 7 0 13 1 6 1 0 5 2 0 0 0 15

Caberston 6 0 7 0 13 1 3 0 2 5 3 2 0 2 18

Euchanhead 10 1 11 3 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 12

Dollar 3 0 7 1 11 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2

Lockerbie House 7 1 8 6 1 4 0 1 1 0 0 5 18

Greenwood & Renton 0 4 0 0 4 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 5

Nether Linkens 2 1 3 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 5



Appendices




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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

EC

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NON-MARKET BENEFITS

****** FOREST DISTRICT - PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS SCORING BY FOREST BLOCK

Forest Block or FDP



St rategic P lan

ContactDumfries and Borders Forest DistrictAe VillageParkgateDumfries DG1 1QB

Tel: 01387 860247Fax: 01387 860312E-mail: dumfries&[email protected]: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government and is responsible to Scottish Ministers

Published by - Forestry Commission Scotland - December 2009© Crown Copyright 2009

All photography from Forestry Commission Picture Library unless otherwise stated

Designed by AVC Media Enterprises, for Design and Interpretative Services, Forestry Commission Scotland, Edinburgh

FCFC***/FC-S(DIS)/DP-**-AUG09

If you need this publication in an alternative format, for example, in large print or in another language, please contact:

The Diversity TeamForestry CommissionSilvan House231 Corstorphine RoadEdinburghEH12 7AT

Tel: 0131 314 6575E-mail: [email protected]


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