永續森林經營發生的二三事...林地的「環境價值」與FSC FM原則的整合思考

永續森林經營者在經營林地時，會先考慮及確認其林地及周邊相關土地的「環境價值」。這裡的「環境價值」定義，依照 FSC FM標準的定義：包括各項生物物理與人類環境的要素，例如:生態系功能(包括碳吸存和儲存) 、生物多樣性 、水資源 、 土壤 、 大氣 、及 地景價值(包括文化和心靈價值)其他內容請參考https://sustainableforest.blogspot.com/。

森林經營者若要申請國際FSC森林驗證，可以在每五年或每十年的經營計畫書內容上，就應在「環境價值」方面進行大尺度的「環境價值」判識、評估、擬定管理策略、方法(含監測)、及回饋等，以符合原則六:環境價值和影響、原則七:經營規劃及原則、及原則八:監測與評估。

在判識的過程，經營者還需要確認該「環境價值」，是否為高保護類?答案若是肯定的，那麼原則9：高保育價值，也需要符合。

在台灣的森林經營實務上，大尺度的環境/社會價值應該早已確認，寫在經營計畫書內，做為經營者的每年度經營活動前，在挑選規劃活動預定地時的參考。但這樣的參考，還是不足，因此目前的台灣國有林的經營活動，在作業活動前，除了考慮大尺度的影響，也會以預防性的方式，進行小規模的社會/環境影響評估，以避免潛在的環境/社會價值破壞。下篇再來談「社會價值」的影響。

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When managing forest land, sustainable forest managers first consider and confirm the environmental value of their forest land and surrounding related lands. Here, the definition of environmental value, according to the FSC FM standard, includes various biophysical and human environmental elements, such as: ecosystem functions (including carbon sequestration and storage), biodiversity, water resources, soil, atmosphere, and landscape value (including cultural and spiritual value).

If forest managers want to apply for international FSC forest certification, the content of their five-year or ten-year management plan should include large-scale environmental value identification, assessment, formulation of management strategies and methods (including monitoring), and feedback, in order to comply with Principle 6: Environmental Values and Impacts, Principle 7: Management Planning, and Principle 8: Monitoring and Assessment.

During the environmental value identification process, managers also need to confirm whether this environmental value is classified as High Conservation Value. If the answer is yes, then Principle 9: High Conservation Values also needs to be met.

In forest management practices in Taiwan, large-scale environmental/social values should have already been identified and written in the management plan as a reference for managers when selecting and planning activity sites before each annual operating activity. However, this reference is still insufficient. Therefore, the current management activities of Taiwan's national forests, in addition to considering large-scale impacts, also conduct small-scale social/environmental impact assessments in a preventative manner to avoid potential destruction of environmental/social values. We’ll discuss Social Value Impacts in the coming blog.