Forest Management Plan (OI2622)

A forest management plan (FMP) delineates the application of appropriate technical forestry principles, practices, and business techniques for the management of a forest to achieve the landowner's objectives.

Organizations' FMPs typically include information about the land tenure, existing designation and land use, landowners' goals and objectives, location (including limits and bounds), protection and maintenance activities, inventory data, prescribed activities, etc. The plans also typically outline a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system that allows for the collection and monitoring of data such as: the yield of forest products harvested, the growth rates, regeneration and condition of the forest, the composition and observed changes in the flora and fauna, the environmental and social impacts of harvesting and other operations, and the costs, productivity, and efficiency of forest management. FMPs may also include a requirement to conduct an Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to assess for example High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests.

Examples of FMP details to footnote may include: what information is included in the FMP, whether the plan has been approved by national authorities, whether the organization regularly submits its reports to the relevant national authorities, whether the organization has a team in charge of its implementation, whether the plan is applied as a guide in annual harvesting or collecting operations, whether the plan is reviewed on a regular basis, whether the implementation of the plan is verified by a third party, etc.

Organizations are encouraged to report this metric in conjunction with Land Directly Controlled: Sustainably Managed (OI6912) and Land Indirectly Controlled: Sustainably Managed (PI6796) where applicable.

Organizations can refer to the following resources for additional guidance:

• The World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/296ae980488551f5aa0cfa6a6515bb18/ESIA.pdf?MOD=AJPERES) -The United Nations REDD Programme (http://www.un-redd.org/unreddprogramme/internationalsupport/measurementreportingandverification/tabid/1050/language/en-us/default.aspx)