Page 56 - 4. Pre-Course Reading-Training on Forestry Audit 2019

Auditing Forests: Guidance for Supreme Audit Institutions

RESEARCHABLE RESEARCHABLE
TOPIC SUB-TOPIC RSIK CRITERIA
QUESTION SUB-QUESTION
Does the environ- Does the environ- • A legal/regulatory framework provides for
mental impact mental impact legal instruments for Environmental Impact
assessment exist? assessment Assessment (EIA).
complete and • A national agency or institutional framework
adequately with the capacity to assure implementation of
integrate into EIA and to carry out appropriate supervision.
the management
system?

Harvesting Biodiversity and Does harvesting Do harvesting • A legal/regulatory framework that enacts
ecosystem loss. consider sustainable operations fit into requirements for harvesting operations to
Forest fires. practice? the silvicultural ensure that all forestry operations are carried
Illegal logging. concept? And even out according to high standards (thus ensuring
Revenue loss. if plans are well economic viability and avoiding negative
Unemployment. planned and environmental, economical, and social impacts).
Social problems. executed, do they • A national agency or institutional framework
Decreased help to provide with the capacity to control quality of harvesting
56 carbon storage. conditions for operations.
successful • Supervision and monitoring activities to ensure
regeneration? that information about harvest operations and
actual cut is accurate.

Does the pre-harvest Does the pre-harvest • A legal/regulatory framework setting out
prescription exist? prescription sustain requirements for pre-harvest prescription.
the forest after • Detailed prescriptions in place for a range of
harvesting? measures (for example, climber cutting, marking
of trees to be felled/retained, handling residuals
to be retained, indications of extraction direction,
and felling directions).
• If appropriate, the growing stock of stands are
measured before harvest, to be sure that logging
companies’ reports are accurate and timber
thefts are avoided.
• If appropriate, there are requirements for forest
owners or managers to prepare a logging plan,
which should include:
• Areas where logging is subject to special
restrictions or forbidden (flora and fauna
conservation and soil protection areas,
buffer strips, sites of cultural interest);
• Specifications for constructing and restoring
of skidding tracks, watercourse crossings
and log landing (including drainage);
• wet weather limitations;
• Allowed harvesting equipment; and
• Machine operator responsibilities (directional
felling, etc) marking of trees to be retained,
and trees to be removed.
Does road and Does the planning, • A legal/regulatory framework specifying
timber extraction location, design, limits to road dimensions and grades, drainage
consider environ- and construction requirements, conservation of buffer strips
mental damage? of roads, bridges, along streams, and other appropriate
causeways and requirements for road construction.
fords minimize • A legal/regulatory framework sets requirements
environmental to avoid damage during timber extraction.
damage? • A national agency or institutional framework
with the capacity to control quality of road
construction and timber extraction, and to
assure compliance to laws and regulations.
Is post-harvest Does post-harvest • A legal/regulatory framework setting out
stand management stand management requirements for post-harvest forest
sustainable? secure the management.
sustainability • A national agency or institutional framework
of forest? with the capacity to carry out post-harvest
inventory, to assess logging damages and
success of reforestation, and if appropriate, to
establish the need for silvicultural interventions.