Hickman Timber Management Co.

Transcription

1 Forest Management Public Summary for Hickman Timber Management Co. Certification Code: SW-FM/COC-064 Date of Certification: February 15, 1999 Date of Public Summary: April 2004 This document was produced according to the guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the SmartWood Program. No part of the report should be published separately. Certifier: SmartWood Program 1 c/o Rainforest Alliance 665 Broadway, 5 th Floor New York, New York USA TEL: (212) FAX: (212) info@smartwood.org Website: 1 SmartWood is implemented worldwide by the nonprofit members of the SmartWood Network. The Network is coordinated by the Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization. The Rainforest Alliance is the legally registered owner of the SmartWood certification mark and label. All uses of the SmartWood label for promotion must be authorized by SmartWood headquarters. SmartWood certification applies to forest management practices only and does not represent endorsement of other product qualities (e.g., financial performance to investors, product function, etc.). SmartWood is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for the certification of natural forest management, tree plantations and chain-of-custody.

2 ACRONYMS AAC Annual Allowable Cut ALP Annual Logging Plan CITES Convention on Trade in Endangered Species DBH Diameter at Breast Height DOC Department of Conservation FMO Forest Management Organization FSC Forest Stewardship Council HCVF High Conservation Value Forest ILO International Labor Organization OSH Occupation Safety and Health P&C Principles and Criteria of the FSC RMA Resource Management Act SFM Sustainable Forest Management SFMP Sustainable Forest Management Plan INTRODUCTION To earn SmartWood certification, a forest management operation must undergo an on-site field assessment. This Public Summary Report summarizes information contained in the initial assessment report, which is produced based on information collected during the field assessment. Annual audits are conducted to monitor the forest management operation s activities, to review the operation s progress toward meeting their certification conditions, and to verify compliance with the SmartWood standards. Addenda providing the updated information obtained during these annual audits are included as attachments to the Public Summary Report. This report presents the findings of an independent certification assessment conducted by a team of specialists representing the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest alliance. The purpose of the assessment was to evaluate the ecological, economic and social sustainability of Hickman Timber Management, Co forest management. The purpose of the SmartWood program is to recognize conscientious land stewardship through independent evaluation and certification of forestry practices. Forestry operations that attain SmartWood certification may use the SmartWood label for public marketing and advertising. Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 2

3 1. GENERAL SUMMARY 1.1. Name and Contact Information Source Name: Hickman Timber Management, Co. Contact Person: Dennis Hickman Address: P. O. Box Main Street Emlenton, PA Tel: (724) Fax: (724) Website: General Background A. Type of operation: Hickman Timber Management, Co. (HTM) is a forest management and forestry consulting business. B. Years in operation: Hickman Lumber Company, Inc. has been operating for 58 years. Hickman Timber Management, Co. has been operating for 6 years. C. Date first Certified: Hickman Lumber Company/Hickman Timber Management received both forest resource management and chain-of-custody certificates from SmartWood on February 15, 1999 D. Latitude and Longitude: 41degrees north, 80 degrees west 1.3. Forest and Management System A. Forest type and land use history The Hickman Timber Management (HTM) lands are comprised mostly of temperate Oak-Hickory forests with some northern hardwood stands in the northern portion of its operating area. There are a few small areas of older plantings where pastures or agricultural fields were planted with conifers. The HTM ownership is mostly second growth with some third generation stands especially where salvage operations were needed following various natural disasters. The terrain is mostly gently sloping except for the occasional steep side slope along rivers or streams. The forest lands managed by HTM for their clients are similar to the properties owned by HLC with the distinction that northern hardwood types are more common than the oak-hickory types. Most of this area is abandoned agricultural land as evidenced by the many stone rows. Some of the area in the south has experienced earlier coal mining activities. Until recently, there have been active oil and gas developments to the north and west, and active gas leases have continued to the present. All of the actively managed tracts have experienced some earlier harvesting activities. B. Size of forest management unit certified and forest use and area in production forest, conservation, and/or restoration HTM manages 6383 acres of company (HLC) land, and acres owned by private individuals that have elected to participate in HTM s Resource Manager Certification Program. In addition to the HTM properties, there are currently 12 individual landowners enrolled as certified clients. The HLC-owned certified forest land base was largely purchased during the early 1960 s through the early 1990 s, with continuing acquisitions as lately as These tracts vary from 20 to 1232 acres, averaging 219 acres. The Quaker State acquisition in 1995 almost doubled the available acreage with the addition of another 3143 acres in 14 parcels ranging from 45 to 725 acres. Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 3

4 All of the client properties under management by HTM are dedicated to productive forest land. Most of the HLC forest property is dedicated to either productive forest or conservation. An 83- acre reclaimed strip mine on the Magee tract situated just east of the sawmill is an exception. As described in the original assessment, the Magee tract is not one of the certified properties. The following table is a summary of acreage by land use on HTM certified lands: Table 1: Land use classification Area Land Use Hectares Acres Natural or Semi Natural Forest 2, Plantation Protected Area Special Management Area Water Infrastructure Other Uses Total Certified Area C. Annual allowable cut and/or annual harvest covered by management plan HTM calculates its annual allowable cut (AAC) for its own and client certified properties on an annual growth rate of 4%. This growth rate is based on measurements on stump diameters on HTM s own harvested lands. Although regional data from the US Forest Service indicates a 6% typical annual growth rate, this estimate may reflect more productive lands north of the HTM holdings. Some recent data collected by HTM from increment cores further supports their 4% annual growth figure, and HTM chooses to use this conservative value for regulating annual harvests on both client and company lands not to exceed annual growth. HTM currently manages 6,729 acres of productive forest in its certified pool. The calculated AAC on company owned lands (HTM & Hickman Lumber Company) is currently mbf (Doyle 78 scale) of projected annual growth on HTM s certified properties. Growth projections for HTM and client properties are based on timber inventories, on the basis of a 4% growth projection. AAC is determined individually for the client properties using the same 4% growth projection. Total board-foot (bf) harvests on HTM s certified properties over the past five years have remained below the calculated AAC: 200,930 (1999), 436,272 (2000), 430,900 (2001), 308,700 (2002), and 442,341 (2003). In 2003, the annual harvest included 227,301 bf of unscheduled salvage following a severe wind event in July of that year. Over the past five years, HTM has cut a total of mbf, while growth projections in 1999 estimate a total allowable cut of mbf for the same period. Thus, HTM has an annual average harvest of mbf, which is below its annual projected growth of mbf. D. General description of details and objectives of the management plan/system HTM is an entity of the company that is charged with forest management and, in particular, the management for all lands within the FSC/SmartWood certified pool. HTM presently employs a consulting forester on a part-time basis to perform these duties. The forester is well acquainted with HTM s operation, having until recently been an employee of the company in the same capacity. HTM takes the responsibility for all aspects of active management for its own and clientowned properties within the certified pool. Clients have the opportunity to leave the certified pool at any time, and may sell their timber to anyone they choose, giving the first right of refusal to HTM. HTM follows a strategy of gradually converting the typically even-aged forests to an uneven-aged condition through the application of a selection system that employs thinning, single-tree, and group selection harvesting. Group selections are usually applied later in the management process to regenerate species that are intermediate to tolerant of shade. A particular goal is to Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 4

5 maintain a large oak component (both white oak and the red oak group) in regenerated stands. Ultimately, this system creates a patchwork of age classes and a good diversity of species in both the overstory and understory. HTM uses a conservative estimation of annual allowable harvesting to insure a sustainable flow of wood products. In practice, harvesting over the past five years has fallen below the projected allowable cut. Upon acquisition, certified tracts are inventoried by a statistically-based sampling procedure, and the results are used for developing written management plans, silvicultural prescriptions and, as appropriate, harvesting plans. HTM has developed a template for designing these planning documents. Cutting cycles within stands are typically at ten-year intervals or longer. HTM s management plans are tailored to individual ownership goals, and integrate wildlife habitat, timber production, protection of special conservation or historic areas, species of concern, and protection of soil and water resources. Harvesting plans include a map and description of access, location of main skid trails and landings, logging best management practices to be implemented, and the silvicultural method used. Trees to be harvested are marked with paint on the bole and below the stump by the company forester. Den and snag trees are designated for protection, non-commercial trees are marked to be cut for timber stand improvement purposes, and larger stems of desirable regeneration are designated for protection from logging damage. Logging is typically conducted by one of a pool of contractors, most of who have worked for HTM for many years. HLC foresters are responsible for, and closely monitor, the active logging operation. There are few threatened and endangered species within the region. HTM determines the likelihood of T&E species on all its managed tracts through searches of a state database and follow-up with experts when potential T&E species are indicated. HTM also follows a policy of not harvesting species of concern, such as butternut. Areas of special significance as wildlife habitat or distinctive plant communities are designated as conservation areas where little or no active management is carried out, or where management is aimed at enhancing the desired attribute Environmental and Socioeconomic Context Pennsylvania, the country s largest producer of hardwood timber, has 17 million acres of forest covering about 59% of the state. Most of these lands (68-70%) are owned by non-industrial private landowners. Forest land is not evenly distributed across Pennsylvania. The north-central part of the state is the most heavily forested. Venango County, where HTM is located, is about 60-74% forested. Pennsylvania s forests are rich in diversity but the 10 most common species account for more than three-fourths of the growing volume, (nine hardwoods and one conifer). Red maple is the most common species by volume followed by northern red oak, black cherry, sugar maple, chestnut oak, white oaks, eastern hemlock, other oaks, beech and white ash. Generally, oaks are not doing well in the state. In addition to high mortality from gypsy moth and high cutting rates, heavy browsing of oak regeneration by deer has had negative impacts. Local deer densities have been measured as high as per square mile in northwestern Pennsylvania. Although black cherry dominates the regrowth at high deer densities, a forest with limited diversity is at great risk of elimination by insect and disease attack. Within the past two years, radical changes to the state s deer management program may eventually achieve a better balance between the deer population and habitat in Pennsylvania. Many private landowners are unaware of the benefits of long-term forest management. Beyond the anticipation of immediate economic returns from timber sales, private landowners typically lack knowledge of aesthetics, recreation, water quality, wildlife habitat, forest fragmentation and biodiversity issues in the management of their properties. A significant challenge for HTM is to apply these principles to private and company lands, as many of these benefits are shared with other landowners and the general public at larger landscape levels. Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 5

6 1.5. Products Produced and Chain of Custody A. Chain of custody certificate HTM s FSC certification number is SW-FM/COC-064, issued at the time of their original certification of company-owned lands in Logs from HTM s certified properties are issued a Job Number that is listed on the Erosion and Sedimentation Plan and on a threepart truck tag used for each load of logs departing the landing. For certified harvests, the job number is followed by a C, and the truck tag is uniquely color-coded green with black numbers. One part of the truck tag is given to the cutter, one is retained by the trucker, and the trucker attaches the third portion to a log on the load, which is then received by the sawmill to verify delivery. This log load ticket is stapled to the scale sheet at the sawmill. For HTM, the forest gate is at the sawmill, where Hickman Lumber Company takes custody of the certified logs. B. Species and volumes covered by the certificate Table 2: Certified Production Species Scientific name 2003 Volume Product (m 3 per yr) Sugar maple Acer saccharum 0.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Red Maple Acer rubrum sawlogs, pulpwood White pine Pinus strobus 0.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Black Oak Quercus velutina sawlogs, pulpwood Eastern Tsuga canadensis sawlogs, pulpwood Hemlock White Oak Quercus alba 97.6 sawlogs, pulpwood Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 76.4 sawlogs, pulpwood Black Cherry Prunus serotina 72.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Northern Red Quercus rubra 55.2 sawlogs, pulpwood Oak Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea 46.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Black Birch Betula lenta 30.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Basswood Tilia americana 10.4 sawlogs, pulpwood White Ash Fraxinus americana 8.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Hickory spp. Carya spp. 7.6 sawlogs, pulpwood American beech Fagus grandifolia 4.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Sassafras Sassafras albidum 3.6 sawlogs, pulpwood Elm spp Ulmus spp. 2.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Aspen Populus tremuloides 0.0 sawlogs, pulpwood Total sawlogs, pulpwood C. Description of current and planned processing capacity covered by the certificate Hickman Lumber Company operates a primary sawmill, as well as a secondary sawmill named Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, Inc. in Emlenton, PA. Both of these operations have received a SmartWood chain of custody certification (SW-COC-106). The primary sawmill produces rough green lumber that is either kiln dried or sold green. Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring produces flooring, paneling, and various other dimension products. 2. CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT PROCESS Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 6

7 2.1. Assessment Dates Feb. 11, 2004 Feb , 2004 Feb. 14, 2004 Feb 20, 2004 March 22, 2004 April 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 Initial Assessment Planning Resource Manager Field Assessment Resource Manager Assessor meeting with HTM staff Resource Manager Assessor field visits with HTM staff Begin Resource Manager Assessment Report Draft assessment report submitted to SmartWood Draft Report submitted to HTM for review and comment Comments received from HTM SmartWood Certification Decision 2.2. Assessment Team and Peer Reviewers The assessment was conducted by Jim McClenahen of Sylvancare Forestry Consulting. He has over 30 years of experience in silviculture and forest ecology as a field forester for the US Forest Service, as a faculty member of the Ohio State University s School of Natural Resources Forestry Program, and as a consulting forester. Additionally, he previously participated in two SmartWood assessment teams, conducted a number of SmartWood certification annual audits, and attended a SmartWood assessor training Assessment Process Criteria and documents used in the reassessment process included the draft Appalachia (USA) Region Forest Stewardship Standard Version 3.6, February 2003, SmartWood Reassessment Procedures (No. G-29), FM Resource Manager Assessment Report Instructions, the initial Hickman Lumber Company/Hickman Timber Management Assessment Report, and annual audit reports for HTM (2000 through 2003). The forest management system utilized by HTM was thoroughly scrutinized during the resource manager reassessment conducted on client and company properties in February The forest management assessor examined documents and field performance, focusing on issues related to the ten major criteria defined in the draft FSC Appalachia Standards: Commitment to FSC Principles and Legal Compliance, Tenure and Use Rights and Responsibilities, Indigenous Peoples Rights, Community Relations and Workers Rights, Benefits from the Forest, Environmental Impact, Management Plan, Monitoring and Assessment, Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forest, and Plantations. To accomplish the field component of the forest management assessment, the assessor used several recognized steps in the SmartWood certification process: 1. Pre-assessment Procedures - an evaluation was done of existing documentation such as the initial HTM assessment report of 1999 and the four annual HTM audit reports. 2. Selection of Sites - the assessor selected the sites to be visited based on the preassessment materials and information obtained from management plans and interviews with staff during the field visit. 3. Assessment of Management - the assessor conducted interviews to ascertain HTM s forest management approach. HTM staff accompanied the assessor during the field assessment work. The assessor also had an opportunity to interact with one harvesting contractor. The field portion of the forest management assessment took place on February 12-13, The assessor visited 4 (of 45) parcels of HLC certified land. All four parcels are owned by HLC and represent 780 acres in total. The properties that were inspected comprise approximately 10% of the total area included in the HLC certified pool. HLC is one of 13 members in the group certification. The sites were selected based on particular features of interest to the assessor, including: Pre-harvest activities, management activity on a newly acquired tract, recently completed harvests, presence of oil and gas leases, Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 7

8 sensitive areas (steep slopes, aesthetic feature that neighbors wanted to protect, and springs that serve a neighboring community as part of its water source as an example of customary use). Considering the original assessments and subsequent annual audits, over 50% of the HLCowned acreage has been visited. Some HLC tracts with higher activity levels received multiple on-site evaluations. Additionally, six of the twelve client-owned properties have been visited. The forest management assessor contacted several stakeholders to confidentially discuss the performance of HLC. Interviews were conducted with one logging contractor and one university educator who use HTM certified lands and foresters as resources for class field experience about natural resource management. Several additional stakeholders were interviewed subsequent to the completion of the field work including industry representatives, private individuals, government representatives and conservation groups. Two of the properties visited during this assessment had been harvested within the past year, one was marked for a salvage cut or had a salvage cut completed in 2003, one was marked for a thinning and TSI treatment, and one had been thinned in Management documents for all four properties were reviewed. Existing documentation for HLC properties included management plans, inventory and harvest data, maps, regeneration surveys, harvest recommendations and, where harvesting had been done, harvesting plans that include staterequired Erosion and Sedimentation Plans. Mike McKain, HTM s consulting forester accompanied the assessor during all of the field visits. Table 3. Summary of Forest Areas & Areas Visited by SmartWood Assessor Forest/Block Name Total Area in Hectares Assessment Site Lay 166 Haul road and cut area Maddox 52 Marked timber sale area Baum (Melat) 22 Thinning Burns 74 TSI and marked timber TOTALS Standards The Hickman Timber Management resource manager certification reassessment was conducted using the SmartWood Forest Assessor Manual. The core of the report presents findings related to Criterion & Indicator level analysis of the Appalachia (USA) Region Forest Stewardship Standard Version 3.6, February Those operations meeting or exceeding the SmartWood criteria and guidelines will be granted SmartWood Certification status Stakeholder consultation process and results Issues Identified Through Stakeholder Comments and Public Meetings The stakeholder consultation activities were organized to give participants the opportunity to provide comments according to general categories of interest based upon the assessment criteria. The table below summarizes the issues identified by the assessment team with a brief discussion of each based upon specific interview and/or public meeting comments. Table 4: Stakeholder Comments FSC Principle Stakeholder Comments SmartWood Response Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 8

9 P1: FSC Commitment/ Legal Compliance P2: Tenure & Use Rights & Responsibilities P3 Indigenous Peoples Rights P4: Community Relations & Workers Rights P5: Benefits from the Forest P6: Environmental Impact HTM is consistently in compliance with state regulations, permitting requirements and implementation of BMPs, often going beyond what is legally required. Taxes are paid. Logging contractors like working for HTM, they understand expectations in regard to certified jobs and CoC. HTM leads annual university class field trips and conducts talks to elementary school classes. HTM is active in regional trade associations. HTM has actively promoted safety issues for many years. HTM is conscientious in protecting the environment. They are strong advocates for conservation. HTM has developed an earned reputation for being good forest stewards. SmartWood has found HTM to be very capable and careful in their forest operations and have complied with applicable regulations. P7: Management Plan P8: Monitoring & Assessment P9: Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forest P10 - Plantations HTM has established a solid reputation with its contractors and as a supporter of local and regional school activities. HTM has also been an active member of the forest products community in PA promoting responsible management and participating in numerous public and professional educational initiatives. Comments are consistent with SmartWood observations. 3. RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1. General Discussion of Findings Table 5: Findings by FSC Principle Principle/Subject Area P1: FSC Commitment and Legal Compliance P2: Tenure & Use Rights & Responsibilities P3 Indigenous Peoples Rights Strengths HTM is in good compliance with all aspects of this principle. HTM is responsive to customary uses on its lands, and deals fairly with neighbors and on issues of dispute. Issues regarding indigenous peoples rights issues are not an issue in this region or on the certified properties. None noted None noted None noted Weaknesses Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 9

10 P4: Community Relations & Workers Rights P5: Benefits from the Forest P6: Environmental Impact P7: Management Plan P8: Monitoring & Assessment P9: Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forest P10 - Plantations Logging contractors typically have longstanding relationships with HTM. HTM s own lands are open to the public for compatible uses. HTM does an excellent job of marketing forest products through its sister companies. Certified properties are carefully logged with minimal residual stand or soil disturbance. Important environmental and ecosystem resources are protected. Management plans are generally well documented and carried out. Good timber and regeneration inventories are maintained, and information on most other aspects of forest condition is tracked. HTM does a good job of identifying and protecting environmentally sensitive areas and areas of special conservation value on the ground. HTM does not manage certified properties as plantations. None noted Non-timber forest product considerations have not been adequately considered in management policy. HTM needs to strengthen certain aspects of its monitoring program (see Section 4.8.0). Tract and stand maps are not consistent in detail or usefulness for management planning or activities. Better means for tracking pests and pathogens, and for identifying stands or forest types at risk from biotic stressors, are needed. HTM needs to revise its policies to conform with the new draft criteria relating to HCV forests, and to subsequently identify and protect any areas that meet the criteria. None noted 3.2. Certification Decision Based on a thorough field review, analysis and compilation of findings by the SmartWood assessor, Hickman Timber Management is recommended to continue its joint FSC/SmartWood Forest Resource Management and Chain of Custody (FM/COC) Certification with the stipulated conditions. In order to maintain certification, Hickman Timber Management will be audited annually onsite and required to remain in compliance with the FSC principles and criteria as further defined by regional guidelines developed by SmartWood or the FSC. Hickman Timber Management will also be required to fulfil the conditions as described below. Experts from SmartWood will review continued forest management performance and compliance with the conditions described in this report, annually during scheduled and random audits Conditions and Recommendations Conditions are verifiable actions that will form part of the certification agreement that HTM will be expected to fulfill at the time of the first audit or as required in the condition. Each condition has an explicit time period for completion. Non-compliance with conditions will lead to de-certification. Conditions due for compliance within one year: 1. Condition. Within one year, HTM/HLC must prepare and implement a written policy in its overarching management plan that sets safety standards required of its logging contractors and other forest workers. These standards must be made a part of written contracts with contractors and subcontractors and, as a minimum, must meet OSHA standards. (Criterion 4.4.2) 2. Condition. Within one year, HTM must add to its overarching management plan a policy for notifying adjoining landowners prior to the start of significant active management operations on tracts within its certified pool. (Criterion 4.4.4) Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 10

11 3. Condition: Within one year, stream management zone policies in HTM s overarching management plan must be revised to comply with draft Appalachia Regional SMZ guidelines, and the guidelines must be implemented on the ground, to include the following: An inner SMZ of at least 25 width is established on perennial streams in which cutting is limited to a maximum of 2-5 trees in groups and equipment operation is excluded. Harvesting is excluded from the inner SMZ of high-quality waters (water supplies, etc.) An outer SMZ is established on all intermittent and perennial streams, the width being defined according to landform, erodability of the soil, slope stability, and stability of the stream channel. When specific soil and slope data are not available, the outer SMZ may be defined according to slope steepness as provided in Table 6.5 of Criterion 6.5.t of the draft Appalachia Regional Standards. (Criterion 4.6.5) 4. Condition: Within one year, HTM must implement its stand-level monitoring checklist, to include recording observations on insect and disease status on certified properties. Alternatively, HTM must revise its overarching policy on monitoring procedures with reference to insect and disease to ensure that pest and pathogen outbreaks will be tracked on certified properties. (Criterion 4.6.6) 5. Condition: Within one year of certification, HTM must develop and make available to the public a management summary that describes the fundamental elements of the overarching management plan, including objectives and the means by which it seeks to achieve them on both company and client-owned lands. (Criterion 4.7.4) 6. Condition: Within one year of certification, the overarching management plan must be revised to reflect monitoring policies and procedures that are being implemented. In particular, the Property Checklist must either be revised to better serve monitoring needs, or be put into practice as a tool for tracking general condition and actions needed on certified properties as originally planned. (Criterion 4.8.1) Conditions due for compliance within two years: 7. Condition: Within two years, HTM must add to its master management plan a general policy on NTFP s. This should identify potential NTFP s generally found within the SmartWood certified properties and assess the possibility for their use. For any NTFP s that are being utilized, the plan must provide management guidelines that will assure the conservation of the resource and the protection of the ecosystem. (Criterion 4.5.2) 8. Condition: Within two years, HTM must expand its written policy on Threatened and Endangered species in the overarching management plan to include steps to be taken for the protection of those T&E species or species of special concern that are known to occur within its region of operation. Management steps must include, but not be limited to, describing and clearly establishing conservation zones designed to protect T&E species and community types found on certified properties. In particular, Conservation Zones must be clearly delineated on the ground and on management plan maps. (Criterion 4.6.2) Conditions due for compliance within three years: 9. Condition: Within three years of certification, HTM s overarching management plan must be revised to address HTM s concept of High Value Conservation Forests (HVCF) as it applies to its certified properties. The policy should describe or define potential HVCF s, how HVCF s found on certified properties will be protected, and procedures for annual monitoring of designated HVCF s. Using the established policy guidelines, HTM must review existing Special Conservation Areas on its certified properties and designate appropriate areas with HVCF status in the tract management plans. HVCF s must likewise be identified and included in the management plans of all properties added to the certified pool. (Criterion 4.9.3) Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 11

12 Conditions due for compliance within four years: 10. Condition: Within four years, the overarching management plan must be revised to address policies on insects and diseases that may have a significant impact on HTM s certified forest properties. This must include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of gypsy moth risk factors that can be applied to specific stand conditions, and mitigation plans for treating high-risk stands. (Criterion 4.6.6) 11. Condition: Within four years of certification, HTM must have updated maps in its tract management plans for all tracts within the certified pool. A comprehensive tract or property base map that contains (but is not limited to) property boundaries, roads, stand boundaries, topography, perennial streams, and areas identified for special management (e.g., High Conservation Value Forest, special biological or aesthetic features) must be developed for each property. In addition, when stands are entered for active management purposes, stand maps must be likewise prepared or upgraded to include the features enumerated above and at a scale usable for management planning and implementation. (Criterion h) There were five non-binding recommendations. Hickman Timber Management, Co. Page 12