The maintenance and enhancement of water quality is of utmost importance. Forestry activities have the potential to interact both positively and negatively with aquatic resources. Careful planning and management will mitigate against potential negative impacts while maximising the positive aspects of forestry, such as aquatic biodiversity enhancement and the creation of appropriate riparian ecosystems.
Each river or lake has a unique drainage basin or catchment area. Some catchments are more vulnerable than others to changes in water quality, due to their particular soils and underlying geology. The type of landuses and associated operations within the overall catchment area can also have a major bearing on the volume and quality of water flowing into that particular river or lake. All land owners, including forest owners, have a responsibility to play their role in conserving and enhancing overall catchment quality.
The FORESTRY AND WATERQUALITY GUIDELINES (PDF 1.2MB) have been developed through extensive consultation with a wide range of relevant parties. They set out sound and practical measures based on the principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), and are firmly rooted in the best available scientific information. The guidelines will be kept under review to facilitate amendment in the light of new research findings.
To ensure the successful implementation of SFM in Ireland, it is important that forest owners adhere to the guidelines and undertake all work in a way which is compatible with the protection of the environment.
The Suite of Six Guidelines are the mechanisms by which the Forest Service will ensure that the environmental aspects of SFM are implemented. Adherence to the guidelines is a condition of grant aid and the issuing of a felling licence. The penalty for non-compliance is the withholding of approvals for grants and felling licences.
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