ASTM D7480-08
(Guide)Standard Guide for Evaluating the Attributes of a Forest Management Plan
Standard Guide for Evaluating the Attributes of a Forest Management Plan
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended to be used by developers of standards and other documents in the field of renewable resources and green building to evaluate whether the attributes of a specific forest management system meet the intent of sustainable forest management.
In addition to the attributes addressed by this document, some users may wish to impose other evaluation criteria intended to satisfy goals beyond maintaining sustained-yield and sustainable forest management. While these issues are not specifically addressed in this guide, some are discussed in Appendix X1, Commentary.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a list of criteria and indicators that have been shown to be useful in achieving the goals of a sustainable forest management plan. This guide lists a set of criteria considered to be important for the following tasks:
1.1.1 To describe, assess, and evaluate progress toward sustainability of forest management at the national, regional, or individual forest level.
1.1.2 To inform the policy debate at regional, national, and international levels.
1.1.3 To evaluate the attributes of a forest management certification or evaluation system with a specific combination of forest management principles, practices, or adaptations, where such practices are evaluated against a set of prescribed standards. Although this guide provides a qualitative list of criteria for evaluation of forest conditions, it does not purport to recommend any specific forest management certification or evaluation system or subset of overall attributes. The guide does not replace forest certification or verification standards.
1.2 This guide will require compilation of information from multiple sources across various governmental and nongovernmental agencies. For this guide to be useful, it is recommended that the information collected is in alignment with that which is already collected for other purposes; otherwise these indicators may be too great an effort to combine in a timely fashion.
Note 1—Although this document provides general guidance applicable to forests and forest products from many countries, its initial application is expected to focus on North America.
1.3 This guide cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment such as that provided by foresters, forest scientists, and wood technologists.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D7480 − 08
StandardGuide for
Evaluating the Attributes of a Forest Management Plan
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7480; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide provides a list of criteria and indicators that
have been shown to be useful in achieving the goals of a
2. Referenced Documents
sustainable forest management plan. This guide lists a set of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
criteria considered to be important for the following tasks:
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Prod-
1.1.1 To describe, assess, and evaluate progress toward
ucts
sustainabilityofforestmanagementatthenational,regional,or
individual forest level.
3. Terminology
1.1.2 To inform the policy debate at regional, national, and
3.1 Definitions—Standard definitions of wood terms are
international levels.
given in Terminology D9.
1.1.3 To evaluate the attributes of a forest management
3.2 Definitions of Terms Related to the Field of Forestry:
certification or evaluation system with a specific combination
3.2.1 criterion, n—a category of conditions or processes by
of forest management principles, practices, or adaptations,
which sustainable forest management may be assessed. A
where such practices are evaluated against a set of prescribed
criterion is characterized by a set of related indicators which
standards. Although this guide provides a qualitative list of
are monitored periodically to assess change.
criteria for evaluation of forest conditions, it does not purport
Montréal Process
to recommend any specific forest management certification or
evaluation system or subset of overall attributes. The guide 3.2.2 criterion indicator, n—a measure (measurement) of an
aspect of the criterion. A quantitative or qualitative variable
does not replace forest certification or verification standards.
which can be measured or described and which when observed
1.2 This guide will require compilation of information from
periodically demonstrates trends. Montréal Process
multiple sources across various governmental and nongovern-
3.2.3 ecosystem, n—a dynamic complex of plant, animal,
mental agencies. For this guide to be useful, it is recommended
fungal, and micro-organism communities and the associated
that the information collected is in alignment with that which
non-living environment with which they interact.
is already collected for other purposes; otherwise these indi-
Montréal Process
cators may be too great an effort to combine in a timely
fashion.
3.2.4 forest management practice, n—a specific activity,
NOTE 1—Although this document provides general guidance applicable
measure, course of action, or treatment. USFS
to forests and forest products from many countries, its initial application
3.2.5 forest type, n—a category of forest defined by its
is expected to focus on North America.
vegetation, particularly composition, or locality factors, or any
1.3 This guide cannot replace education or experience and
combination thereof, as categorized by each country in a
should be used in conjunction with professional judgment such
system suitable to its situation. Montréal Process
as that provided by foresters, forest scientists, and wood
technologists.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the ASTM website.
“Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of
Temperate and Boreal Forests,” The Montréal Process, Third Edition, December
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D07 on Wood and is 2007, Online, available, http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/mpci/meetings/an-6.pdf, 1 De-
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.08 on Forests. cember 2008.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2008. Published December 2008. DOI: Available from the United States Forestry Service (USFS), 1400 Independence
10.1520/D7480-08. Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250-0003, http://www.fs.fed.us.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D7480 − 08
TABLE 1 Criteria 1–6
Criterion Element Indicator
1. Conservation of biological 1.1 Ecosystem diversity 1.1a Area and percent of forest by forest ecosystem type, successional stage, age class,
diversity and forest ownership or tenure
1.1b Area and percent of forest in protected areas by forest ecosystem type and by age
class or successional stage
1.1c Fragmentation of forests
1.2 Species diversity 1.2a Number of native forest associated species
1.2b Number and status of native forest associated species at risk, as determined by
legislation or scientific assessment
1.2c Status of on site and off site efforts focused on conservation of species diversity
1.3 Genetic diversity 1.3a Number and geographic distribution of forest associated species at risk of losing
genetic variation and locally adapted genotypes
1.3b Population levels of selected representative forest associated species to describe
genetic diversity
1.3c Status of on site and off site efforts focused on conservation of genetic diversity
2. Maintenance of productive 2.a Area and percent of forest land and net area of forest land available for wood
capacity of forest ecosystems production
2.b Total growing stock and annual increment of both merchantable and non-merchantable
tree species in forests available for wood production
2.c Area, percent, and growing stock of plantations of native and exotic species
2.d Annual harvest of wood products by volume and as a percentage of net growth or
sustained yield
2.e Annual harvest of non-wood forest products
3. Maintenance of forest 3.a Area and percent of forest affected by biotic processes and agents (for example,
ecosystem health and vitality disease, insects, invasive species) beyond reference conditions
3.b Area and percent of forest affected by abiotic agents (for example, fire, storm, land
clearance) beyond reference conditions
4. Conservation and maintenance 4.1 Protective Function 4.1a Area and percent of forest whose designation or land management focus is the
of soil and water resources protection of soil or water resources
4.2 Soil 4.2a Proportion of forest management activities that meet best management practices or
other relevant legislation to protect soil resources
4.2b Area and percent of forest land with significant soil degradation
4.3 Water 4.3a Proportion of forest management activities that meet best management practices, or
other relevant legislation, to protect water related resources
4.3b Area and percent of water bodies, or stream length, in forest areas with significant
change in physical, chemical, or biological properties from reference conditions
5. Maintenance of forest 5.a Total forest ecosystem carbon pools and fluxes
contribution to global carbon
cycles 5.b Total forest product carbon pools and fluxes
5.c Avoided fossil fuel carbon emissions by using forest biomass for energy
6. Maintenance and enhancement 6.1 Production and consumption 6.1a Value and volume of wood and wood products production, including primary and
of long-term multiple socio- secondary processing
economic benefits to meet the
needs of societies 6.1b Value of non-wood forest products produced or collected
6.1c Revenue from forest based environmental services
6.1d Total and per capita consumption of wood and wood products in round wood
equivalents
D7480 − 08
TABLE 1 Continued
Criterion Element Indicator
6. Maintenance and enhancement 6.1 Production and consumption 6.1e Total and per capita consumption of non-wood products
of long-term multiple socio-
economic benefits to meet the 6.1f Value and volume in round wood equivalents of exports and imports of wood products
needs of societies
6.1g Value of exports and imports of non-wood products
6.1h Exports as a share of wood and wood products production and imports as a share of
wood and wood products consumption
6.1i Recovery or recycling of forest products as a percent of total forest products
consumption
6.2 Investment in the forest sector 6.2a Value of capital investment and annual expenditure in forest management, wood and
non-wood product industries, forest-based environmental services, recreation, and tourism
6.2b Annual investment and expenditure in forest-related research, extension and
development, and education
6.3 Employment and community 6.3a Employment in the forest sector
needs
6.3b Average wage rates, annual average income, and annual injury rates in major forest
employment categories
6.3c Resilience of forest-dependent communities
6.3d Area and percent of forests used for subsistence purposes
6.3e Distribution of revenues derived from forest management
6.4 Recreation and tourism 6.4a Area and percent of forests available or managed for public recreation and tourism, or
both
6.4b Number, type, and geographic distribution of visits attributed to recreation and tourism
and related to facilities available
6.5 Cultural, social and spiritual 6.5a Area and percent of forests managed primarily to protect the range of cultural, social
needs and values and spiritual needs and values
6.5b The importance of forests to people
3.2.6 forestry, n—forestry is the science and art of attaining 3.3 Additional Terms Related to Sustainability and
desired forest conditions and benefits to sustain and enhance Certification/Verification Programs:
forest resources for diverse benefits in perpetuity.
3.3.1 biobased product—a commercial or industrial product
Society of American Foresters
(other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in
3.2.7 monitoring, n—the periodic and systematic measure-
significant part, of biological products or renewable agricul-
ment and assessment of change of an indicator.
tural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials)
Montréal Process
or forestry materials.
3.2.8 sustainable forest management, n—the practice of
3.3.2 certified forest content—certified forest content is
meeting the forest resource needs and values of the present
tracked through a chain of custody process either by physical
generations with a goal of preserving the similar capacity of
separation or percentage based approaches.
future generations. Sustainable forest management involves
practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates the refores-
3.3.3 certified wood (or wood-based product)—derived/
tation, managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of tress
manufactured from an acceptable content of raw material from
for useful products with the conservation of soil, air, and water
certified forest, other acceptable sources and recycled content
quality; wildlife and fish habitat; and aesthetics.
as determined by a credible and reliable forest certification
Dictionary of Forestry
programs.Certifiedwoodorwood-basedproductscomplywith
3.2.9 sustained-yield, n—the achievement and maintenance all applicable standards for their intended use as required by
over multigenerational timeframes of a high-level annual or
the International Building Code and related Codes.
regular periodic output of the various renewable resources of
3.3.4 chain of custody (COC)—adefinedprocessthatallows
the forest without impairment of its productivity. USFS
companies to make claims about how much of the fiber in their
product comes from certified forests, how much fiber comes
Available from the Society of American Foresters (SAF), 5400 Grosvenor
from acceptable sources, and how much of the fiber comes
Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-2198, http://www.safnet.org.
6 from recycled content. COC is typically third party audited in
Helms, J. A., ed., The Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American Foresters,
Bethesda, MD, 1998. accordance with forest certification/verification programs.
D7480 − 08
3.3.5 forestry materials—materials derived from the prac- specifically addressed in this guide, some are discussed in
tice of planting and caring for forests and the management of Appendix X1, Commentary.
growing timber. Such materials must come from short rotation
6. Criteria and Indicators Used to Assess a National or
woody crops (less than ten years old), sustainably managed
Regional Forest Management Program
forests, wood residues, or forest thinnings.
6.1 The criteria and indicators provide a common frame-
3.3.6 other acceptable sources—other acceptable sources
work to describe, monitor, assess, and report on national or
refers to forest content that, while not from a certified forest,
regional forest trends and progress toward sustainable forest
can be verified as not coming from a non-acceptable source as
management. They also provide a common understanding of
defined by the certification program.
what is meant by sustainable forest management and may be
3.3.7 non acceptable sources—illegal or unauthorized har-
understood to constitute an implicit definition of sustainable
vesting as defined by the forest certification programs refer-
forest management.
enced in this guideline.
6.2 The criteria and indicators help provide an international
3.3.8 procurement system—asystemrequiringorganizations
reference for policy-makers in the formulation of national
buying raw materials to have an auditable procurement process
policies and a basis for international cooperation aimed at
designed to improve forest management on all suppliers’ lands
supporting sustainable forest management.
and ensure all fiber comes from known and legal sources.
6.3 Taken together, the criteria and indicators reflect a
3.3.9 wood-based product—any material which consist of a
holistic approach to forests as ecosystems, addressing the full
minimum of 90 % of forest materials as measured by either
range of forest values. No single criterion or indicator is alone
weight or volume.
an indication of sustainability. Rather, individual criteria and
indicators should be considered in the context of other criteria
4. Summary of Guide
and indicators.
4.1 The criteria and indicators listed under Sections 6 and 7
6.4 The seven criteria given in Tables 1 and 2 characteri
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