Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources

This criterion is concerned with the most fundamental resources of a forest environment: soil and water. Its five indicators assess the area of forest managed primarily for protective functions, and how the risk of soil erosion and the risks to soil physical properties and water quantity and quality are managed in forests.

• Over 30 million hectares of public forests (20% of the total forest area) is managed primarily for protection, including of soil and water values. This is an increase of more than 8% over the reporting period.
• In catchments managed specifically for water supply, jurisdictions either do not allow disturbance activities to occur or limit and stringently control approved activities and/or public access.
• In most jurisdictions, activities that cause disturbances in forests are subject to codes of practice or other instruments that specify the measures to be taken to mitigate their contributions to soil erosion and their impacts on soil physical properties, and to maintain water quantity and quality. Compliance with such measures is generally high.
• Major wildfires during the period affected soil erosion and water quality across forest tenures, creating an increased challenge for forest managers. The resulting natural regrowth is expected to reduce water yields in affected catchments for decades.
• Water usage by tree plantations is the subject of increasing community attention and scientific research.

Full report for Criterion 4 - Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources PDF [841kb]