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When creating either a forest creation or management plan it is vital to outline the Forest Management Unit (FMU). The FMU is the area subject to a forest management plan or proposal. This area is selected by the owner and/or manager and will be determined by the nature of the forest, the proposed operations and both creation and management objectives. Extensive FMUs have the advantage of allowing a strategic approach to be taken in achieving UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) Requirements, both in terms of the area covered and the timescale. Sylva Foundation and Forest Research are working in partnership to deliver Forest Lab, enabling myForest users to collect and share data from their woodlands to help support research. myForest users are responsible for about 9% of woodland area across the UK, therefore collectively are able to represent a wide range of woodland types, and to explore many different issues, at thousands of different locations across the country. We hope that as a result we will create a unique and powerful tool to capture important information and data about environmental change. How to take part? Here we take a look at two of those projects in more detail. These studies were written by collaborators on the projects. HomeGrownHouse - Grown in Britain For woodland holdings over 3ha, you can develop a plan using the Forestry Commission’s full Woodland Plan template, the Plan of Operations template, and your own maps. A grant is available to help fund the production of a woodland plan (Countryside Stewardship option PA3), where the full Forestry Commission template is used. There are several common issues users encounter when trying to import mapping into myForest, including:
The HomeGrownHouse (HGH) research project challenges this status quo by exploring new, value-added uses for coppiced sweet chestnut in buildings in the SE of England, where the highest number of new-start building projects sit alongside the most abundant coppiced sweet chestnut. Yet the opportunities this presents for sustainable local timber use are being missed. Depending on the reason for exporting your compartments, sub-compartments, and features, we may recommend a specific file format and projection type: Export Use In August 2022, Sylva Foundation launched the new enhanced version of myForest to provide the latest in technology and guidance to sustainably manage forests, and unique support for the creation of new forests across Britain. While myForest has a new look and rebranded, there has been no impact on your stored data and information. Taking part in Forest Lab requires you to have an account on the myForest platform. An Engagement Agreement sets out our joint commitments in working with you, and also what we expect from you in return. We hope this provides clarity and detail on important aspects, including commitments on your time, any legal considerations, and any specific responsibilities. Forest Lab has been designed to support specific projects conducted to explore a range of specific subjects, from forest health to tree growth, while the data overall will support the National Forest Inventory.myForest offers data layers which cover Great Britain, as well as offering layers specific to England, Scotland, and Wales. These layers vary in uses from those which may be specific to forest creation or management, to generic layers useful in all cases. a plan submission proforma ( MS Word Document, 16.3 KB) if you’re receiving funding from the Countryside Stewardship scheme
The Wildfire Project aims to collect valuable information and data to help understand wildfire risk, which in turn will be used to assess and decrease wildfire risk for myForest users. Volunteers complete questionnaires and a wildlife fire risk assessment at regular intervals. Tree Growth ProjectFollowing the devastating impacts of Storm Arwen, the second webinar 'An Introduction to Management Planning' was rearranged to allow us to answer queries regarding the impacts of Storm Arwen on woodland management along with guests from the Forestry Commission and Euro Forest. Further information on the remaining webinars can be found here: FREE Woods into Management Webinars – RDI Associates (ruraldevelopment.org.uk) Slide from webinar 1: Sustainable Woodland Management - how and why do woodlands benefit Designated areas or features should be indicated on one of the annotated maps within your plan. If a designation applies, please provide details. Magic Map How to set a file projection will vary depending on the software used to generate your compartment, sub-compartment, or feature mapping. For guidance on setting a file projection, please refer to guidance produced by the software provider. For more information on file projections please find more information below.
After five successful years, the myForest Deer Manager project has come to a close. It was a difficult decision to discontinue it, but as a small charity we have to ensure we are focused on where we can make the most impact. During 2021 we will be refining and retesting outputs with stakeholders beyond the Northern Forest in a second tree planting season.myForest for Education: the UK’s first woodland management planning application designed specifically for education.
The myForest Assessor is a woodland condition self-assessment tool . Analysing your woodland stewardship methodically is a great way to improve your management practices in accordance with the UKFS. The Assessor will provide you with a detailed report and certificate based on the answers you provide to 30 questions. Wildfire Project - The objective of this project is to collect valuable information and data to help understand wildfire risk for researchers. This information will be used to assess and decrease wildfire risk for myForest users, and woodland owners across the country. Forest Lab started as a simple idea; ‘wouldn’t it be good if myForest users could help researchers?’ This soon prompted a follow-up question; ‘how can researchers help myForest users with issues impacting their forests?’ This two-way exchange is the foundation of what has become Forest Lab.” Dave Biggs, WoodMizer UK Woodland Management Focus Area Pilot - Reheat (renewable technologies) Ltd (re:heat)
Management Planning
The Forestry Commission’s Land Information Search (LIS) is another map-based tool that allows you to search for information about land designations or features that might already apply to your woodland. Examples of these features include: The next step of the pilot project is to help woodland owners identified in the focus areas use and understand the myForest Woodland Assessor and the benefits it can bring to the woodland and woodland owner.
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