The Forestry Commission provides guidance for forest operations so that aquatic habitats can be protected.
Trees and woodlands benefit the water environment in a number of ways. They protect aquatic habitats and species, preserve the quality of drinking water, alleviate flooding, and guard against erosion, landslides and the loss of soil. It is vital that we manage our forests, woodlands and trees sustainably to protect these environmental goods and services. Many forest management practices can impact on the water environment as a result of soil and vegetation disturbance or by altering the pathways of water movement. Poor forest management can diminish or reverse the benefits provided by forests and woodlands, contribute to local flooding and risk severe water pollution. This Practice Guide provides advice to forest managers, practitioners, planners and supervisors, on how forest operations should be planned and managed to protect the water environment.
Even though the guide covers the full spectrum of forest management activities, it provides valuable information on the forest engineering component. This includes:
- Roads and quarries: Planning road and quarry works is covered, as well as operational practices.
- Harvesting: Planning logging operations covered, as well as operational practices.
- Vehicles and machine maintenance.
- Contingencies: Contingency planning is described. Operational practices to avoid sediment pollution, spillages and fire-fighting chemicals are included. Source