In Scotland, the sustainable management and protection of soils is promoted by the Scottish Soils Framework.
The Scottish Soil Framework (Scottish Government)
Protecting soil is a crucial part of sustainable forest management.
Forest soils generally have low and infrequent levels of disturbance. However, some forest management activities can have an impact on forest soils or expose them to greater risk.
These activities include:
- cultivation
- drainage
- harvesting
- engineering works
UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) soil chapter
The UK Forestry Standard’s (UKFS) Forests and Soils chapter outlines measures to protect and manage soils.
UK Forestry Standard, 5th edition
The chapter covers the importance of soil health to support:
- forest growth
- biodiversity
- carbon storage
It addresses different soil types and their sensitivities.
The UKFS:
- promotes practices that minimise disturbance and erosion
- provides guidance on responsible use of:
- machinery
- fertilisers
- chemicals
- also highlights the need for soil monitoring before and after operations to ensure long-term soil health
The UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide on Managing forest operations to protect the water environment highlights how the water and soil environment are interlinked. It provides guidance on cultivation practices to minimise soil disturbance during operations.
Managing forest operations to protect the water environment (Forest Research website)
