Management's documents

In private forests, there are three documents to accompany the forest owner in its forestry management (PSG, CBPS, RTG).

One of these documents is indispensable to benefit from tax incentive, set up files of request for grants and become a member of the forestry certification.

1) 'Simple' management plan:

This management's document is a 'property's inventory' accompanied by a working schedule and the necessary cuts for each plot. The simple management's plan constitutes a true tool for the owner in the follow up of its trees' populations.

Obligatory conditions:

The 'simple' management plan is COMPULSORY in the following cases:
• A plot or a group of plots forming one big surface equalling or superior to 25 hectares (sketch 1)
• The sum of the plots of more than 4 hectares is superior to 25 hectares only taking into account the neighbouring borders of the largest plot (sketches 2,3 and4).

The isolated plots of less than 4 hectares are not counted for the calculation of the cumulative surface areas.

Compulsory management plan

Surface area of the forest plot : 26 ha
26ha > 25ha : Compulsory Management Plan

Compulsory management plan

Total Property's Surface area : 35 ha
Surface area of the biggest plot: 12 ha
Cumulative Surface: 31 ha (12+5+6+8)
31ha > 25ha : Compulsory Management Plan

Non-compulsory Management Plan

Total Property's Surface area : 29 ha
Surface area of the biggest plot : 18 ha
Cumulative Surface : 23 ha (18+5)
23ha < 25ha : Management Plan not compulsory

Non-compulsory Management Plan

Total Property's Surface area : 31 ha
Surface area of the biggest plot : 12 ha
Cumulative Surface : 23 ha (12+5+6)
23ha < 25ha : Management Plan not compulsory
The plot of 8 hectares has not been counted as the village W does not share a border with the village X.

Aside from the legal obligation, an owner can voluntarily make approve a 'simple' management plan for its property.

Content of a Management Plan:

In a 'Simple' Management Plan, several elements must be shown :

• The administrative elements which characterise the forest: owner, surface area, localisation...
• The forest stakes :
          - Economic : wood prospects
          - Environmental : ecological particularities, conservation areas
          - Social : visits, jobs creation
• A description of the forest : parcels of land, tree populations and state of health
• The result of the previous Management Plan
• A forest map
• The objectives (wood production, diversification…)
• The cutting schedule
• The works schedule

Who writes this document?

The Simple Management Plan can be written by the owner, on its own or with the assistance of a professional like PLANFOR.
This document is then shown to the CRPF which decides on the certification.

2) Code of good forestry practice:

The codes of good forestry practices are developed by the regional centre of forests' property (CRPF).
They note, by natural region, the recommendations which are vital to the management of large types of tree populations.
The forest owner who adheres to a code of good forestry practices commit to abide by it for a period of ten years. Its commitment will have to go hand in hand with a summary of the properties (cadastral references and plan of the plots' locations).

3) Regulations of a Type of Management:

The regulations of a type of Management are developed by one or several joint management organisation, one or several foresters' experts or the National forestry commission. This document is submitted to approval to the regional centre of the forest property.
It defines the terms and conditions of the forest exploitation, suited to the large types of forests' tree populations identified locally.