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Ecological Quality (E)
Introduction
FSC certification
For good access to the market, especially in the near future, FSC certification is indispensable. However, present FSC criteria fall hopelessly short of guaranteeing ecological added values in the long run. The FSC is still in the initial stage of developing operational criteria, particularly in the areas of corridors and of legally securing ecological added value for the future. That is why Sicirec has developed its own criteria for ecological corridors and their protection. When the FSC develops such criteria more elaborately, the need to rely on the Sicirec criteria will vanish. Therefore the criteriafor the quality of ecological corridors (E.1) get 2,6 times the weight of FSC certification (E.2).
Ecological quality production areas
Besides the corridors and ecological reserves, plantations vary greatly in the ecological planning and management of the planted areas. In some plantations the undergrowth has almost vanished. Others plan and maintain significant amounts of natural growth in between the planted trees, thus creating an additional short-term corridor function. For the short term, it is also of ecological significance to determine what kinds of trees are planted in the production areas, the variation in species, whether they are indigenous, and their age distribution. These differences (E.4) are rated with 50 % of the weight of FSC certification.
Ecological corridors
In the following rating variables the term 'corridor' is used for ecological habitats planned or located so that they serve to connect other ecologically valuable habitats.
Parameters Ecological Quality
General rating of Ecological Quality [maximum total score 46] consists of the following parameters:
E.1 Ecological corridors: [maximum total score 26]
The most important aspects of corridors are of course their ecological quality, and especially the legal guarantees that they will not be destroyed again in the (near) future (E.1.1). Also of importance, although with a lesser weighting, is whether the corridors have already been established (E.1.4), or if they still only exist on paper. As to the latter, the quality of the administrative planning is also taken into account (E.1.5).
The quality of the ecological corridors is determined by both spatial and biological parameters. The spatial parameters, like size and location (E.1.2) are weighed 50 % more than the biological parameters (E.1.3), like already realized species richness, variations in substrate and the application of ecological techniques. The reason for this is that, in the long run, spatial organization is far more important than already realized biological qualities. The latter can always be added in later stages, whereas the former parameters can hardly be changed afterwards. That is why the importance of proper ecological planning is always emphasized right at the start of the plantation. Spatial planning and organization of the corridors determines the limitations within which biological upgrading has to take place, now and in the future.
E.1.1 Guarantees for future protection of corridors and pockets: [maximum score 6]
Sicirec has set up and is further developing legal / administrative techniques to ensure that the established corridors and pockets will last, and cannot be cut down by successive owners or managements. This parameter serves to rate the quality of these guarantees for future generations.
One organization that has developed legal instruments to safeguard such ecological qualities and added value for future generations is Cedarena in Costa Rica. Utilization of their method renders a score of 6 on this item.
E.1.2 Size and location of corridors: [maximum total score 6]
The non-biological parameters (size and location) concerning the quality of the ecological corridors are weighed as follows: Most important is the distance between the corridors (E.1.2.1). Also important are the ecological links with ecologically valuable areas inside and bordering the plantation (E.1.2.2) and the average width of the corridors (E.1.2.3). The minimum width of the corridors (E.1.2.4) is also taken into account.
The minimum width of a corridor determines the ease with which animals can migrate through. The narrowest parts constitute the crucial bottlenecks that ideally must have at least the width of twice the length of the trees of the climax vegetation for that particular site.
The ecological network should be sufficiently dense. The maximum distance between corridors determines the negative effects of monocultures. The smaller the patches of monoculture, the better the plantation is buffered against plagues, and the more ecological values improve and are consolidated.
E.1.2.1 Maximum distance between corridors and/or ecological reserves: [maximum score 3]
| 3 points | less than 300 meters |
| 2 points | 300 - 500 meters |
| 0,5 point | 500 - 1,000 meters |
| 0 points | over 1,000 meters |
The migration possibilities are inversely proportional to these distances.
E.1.2.2 Ecological links with natural reserves: [maximum score 2]
Ideally, the ecological corridors should form links with ecologically valuable areas inside and/or bordering the plantation. Only in that way can there be maximum gain in terms of ecological value and upgrading of the wider area in which the plantation is located. The Netherlands and Costa Rica can serve as examples. Both countries have 'ecological main structure' plans, which determine how and where ecological values are to be preserved or restored in order to (re)create a coherent ecological network on a national and international scale. The corridor plan for a plantation, realized or not, should of course take national plans for an 'ecological main structure' into account.
It should be considered whether the corridors are 'dead end' corridors, or whether they connect with natural reserves inside or bordering the plantation. If there are no ecological pockets bordering the plantation, the score is taken as if there were such pockets, however the resulting maximum score is 1.5. This implies that the choice of location of the plantation can cause a reduction of half a point.
E.1.2.3 Average width of corridors: [maximum score 2]
| 2 points | over 50 meters |
| 1,5 point | 40 - 50 meters |
| 0,5 point | 25 - 40 meters |
| 0 points | less than 25 meters |
E.1.2.4 Minimum width of corridors (ecological bottlenecks): [maximum score 1]
| 1 points | over 50 meters |
| 0,8 points | 40 meters |
| 0,5 points | 35 meters |
| 0,2 point | 30 meters |
| 0 points | less than 20 meter |
To be rated as a continuous scale.
E.1.3 Ecological quality of corridors: [maximum total score 6]
Five parameters for biological qualities of the corridors are considered: the stage of ecological development (E.1.3.1), the richness in species (E.1.3.2), the extent to which ecological enrichment techniques have been utilized (E.1.3.3), the variation in substrate (E.1.3.4) and whether there are basins that retain water year-round (E.1.3.5). The first parameter is weighted twice as much as each of the other 4 parameters.
E.1.3.1 Stage of ecological development in corridors: [maximum score 2]
Is every layer of vegetation represented (such as herbs, bushes, low and high trees)?
| 2 points | good primary forest with sufficient old trees, dying trees, dead trees and sufficient high canopy structures |
| 1,5 points | secondary forest (with climax height) |
| 1 point | young trees (up to 3/4 of climax height) |
| 0 points | herbs and shrubs up to about 4 meters |
E.1.3.2 Variation in species in corridors: [maximum score 1]
E.1.3.3 Ecological enrichment techniques: [maximum score 1]
The overall goal with ecological reserves, habitats and corridors is to approach climax vegetations as much as possible. The reasons for that policy are that climax systems are ecologically very rich, increasingly rare and very difficult to establish because they take very long periods of time to develop. For these reasons, the policy of leaving a developing ecological habitat as undisturbed as possible is to be heeded as rule number one. Therefore, the ecological added value of climax systems is the highest.
However, the planning and establishment of corridors in reforestation projects has often had, as a starting point, a zero or almost zero vegetation situation. If that is the case, it is usually possible to use a range of 'eco-culture' techniques, most of which have only recently been developed, that allow for the addition of variation and enrichment to the substrate, in order to trigger an ecologically much more interesting and valuable chain of succession than would otherwise be the case. Such enrichment techniques can often be applied with relatively low investments, or may even help reduce costs.
The quality of corridors can be enhanced by a variety of ecological enrichment techniques. One example of such a technique is the use of proper organic materials, like tree trunks and branches, to protect corridors and to improve the soil structure, or digging extra water holes in or next to the drainage system and / or locally oversizing the brooks and waterways to create pools.
This parameter, in practice, is determined by the application of various possible techniques to increase the ecological value and attractiveness for animals, and to increase the variation in niches for plants. Examples of such techniques are:
- use of organic materials like tree trunks, branches, leaves, mud, etc.
- oversizing waterways and drainage canals in width as well as in depth;
- creating dense bushes for cover
- creating variety in height, light, humidity, soil type, etc.
- giving special protection to old trees and dead trees
- increasing the number of species by meeting their specific needs
- adding fruit and nut trees
Points are subtracted if some type of harvesting still occurs in the corridors, except when it is purely for the improvement of the ecological quality, or if the maintenance in or next to the corridors is impairing an optimal increase in the corridor's ecological values.
E.1.3.4 Variation in substrate in corridors: [maximum score 1]
This rating accounts for variations in humidity, steepness, light intensity or openness, fertility of soil, etc. Are there other corridors besides corridors along waterways and drainage canals? And are they on fertile soil, or only on marginal locations?. This variable is to be rated as a continuous scale.
| 1 point | corridors also in hilly terrain and on slopes and fertile soils |
| 0 points | corridors only along the banks of the waterways as prescribed by law |
E.1.3.5 Year-round water available in corridors?: [maximum score 1]
Many species cannot survive through dry periods. Corridors gain enormously in attractiveness if they contain water in dry periods.
E.1.4 Corridors realized yet?: [maximum score 4]
To what extent have the ecological corridors been realized?
This variable does not take into account the number, the width or the area size of the corridors.
E.1.5 Quality of registration of corridor planning: [maximum score 2]
| 2 points | the plantation has a well worked out, official, long-term plan for the ecological corridors and habitats. This plan is known to Sicirec as well as to the FSC |
| 1 point | there is an ecological corridor plan, but some aspects are missing in terms of the quality of registration or of openness towards FSC and/or Sicirec |
| 0 points | no full-fledged corridor plan is as yet available on paper |
E.2 FSC certification: [maximum score 10]
| 10 points | FSC certification in place |
| 7 to 8 points | in place but at risk |
| 6 points | to be obtained in about 1 year |
| 3 points | not within 1 year, but well possible |
| 0 points | no prospects of getting certified |
To be rated as a continuous scale.
For smaller companies it is often possible to obtain FSC certification through a co-operative umbrella structure.
The social aspects of the laborers on the plantation are also considered by the FSC. That is why Sicirec doesn't need to rate this separately.
E.3 Ecological pockets: [maximum total score 5]
Ecologically valuable pockets increase the green value of a plantation. Larger pockets, in general, can harbour more valuable species than smaller pockets. Therefore, the total area of ecological pockets together with the corridors, taken as a percentage of the total area, is rated separately (E.3.2). The larger the pockets, the higher this percentage and therefore the higher the rating.
It is of great importance to safeguard the pockets by means of legal guarantees for possible future destruction. This is weighed together with the protection of the corridors in the same variable of the rating system (E.1.1)
The purely ecological parameters (E.3.1) of the protected areas weigh 50 % more than the parameters of size.
E.3.1 Ecological quality of pockets: [maximum total score 3]
What is the quality of ecological reserve pockets, other than corridors? These parameters are used to increase the score when the plantation harbours ecological reserve pockets on its territory that are strictly protected by the company.
The stage of development of the ecosystem (E.3.1.1), from pioneer- to climax-vegetation, and the variation in growth conditions (E.3.1.2), have equal weights for assessing the quality of the ecological pockets. The variation in species (E.3.1.3) and the year-round presence of water (E.3.1.4) also count, although with a lesser weight.
E.3.1.1 Stage of ecological development in pockets: [maximum score 1]
| 1 point | good primary forest with sufficient old trees, dying trees, dead trees and high canopy structures |
| 0,8 points | secondary forest (with climax height) |
| 0,5 points | young trees (up to 3/4 of climax height) |
| 0 points | herbs and shrubs up to about 4 meters |
E.3.1.2 Variation in conditions in the ecological pockets: [maximum score 1]
This rating accounts for variations in humidity, steepness, light intensity or openness, fertility of soil, etc. Are there also ecological pockets on fertile soil or only on marginal locations? This variable is to be rated as a continuous scale.
E.3.1.3 Variation of species in pockets: [maximum score 0,5]
E.3.1.4 Year-round water available in pockets?: [maximum score 0,5]
Many species cannot survive through dry periods. Pockets gain enormously in attractiveness if they contain water in dry periods.
E.3.2 Percentage of ecological pockets and corridors: [maximum score 2]
As in FSC certification, the quantity of pockets and corridors is to be calculated as a percentage of the total surface of the plantation.
| 2 points | over 25 % |
| 1 point | 10 % to 25 % |
| 0 points | less than 10 % |
E.4 Ecological quality of production areas: [maximum score 5]
| 5 points | every second row contains only natural growth and native species that have been planted to increase the ecological quality. Weeding of natural growth only occurs to avoid light competition. The planted commercial trees are of more than 3 different species and vary as to age |
| 3 to 4 points | no special planting pattern has been applied to maintain significant amounts of natural vegetation between the trees. However, by an adequate thinning schedule a rich undergrowth of natural shadow loving forest plants and trees has developed to form a rich lower forest story. There is more than one production species planted |
| 1 to 2 points | the soil between the planted trees is not bare or just covered with fallen leafs, but is covered completely with a vegetation of herbs and bushes |
| 0 points | the trees have been planted as a monoculture and so densely, that hardly any undergrowth is possible. Thinnings have been insufficient to bring enough light on the soil to re-establish undergrowth. On steep slopes there is danger of erosion. The age distribution is uniform |
To be rated as a continuous scale.