The STRATUM project aims to develop a potential framework for a national soil strategy and monitoring programme for Ireland, in response to the upcoming EU Soil Monitoring Law.
STRATUM is focused on agricultural and forestry soils.
Soil
Summary of Complaint Soil Association / Coillte (FSC Certification)
The complainant filed a complaint with ASI on September 8, 2021, about the responses from Soil Association Certification Limited, the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), to two separate complaints that they had submitted to the CAB in June 2021. Both complaints involve a single felling site managed by Coillte Teoranta Irish Forestry Board, the Certificate Holder (CH) in the northwest of Ireland.
Complaint 1 was about if an ornithological assessment had been conducted prior to commencement of operations. This complaint asserted a “failure to carry out adequate pre-works ecological/ornithological assessment” for “an ecologically sensitive site”, and the absence of a plan to protect the ecologically sensitive area. Furthermore, they asserted that the Habitat Map for the licence did not show the adjacent Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The complaint referred to the potential for disturbance of protected species during the period of breeding and rearing.
Complaint 2 was about breaches of standards and felling licence conditions during the felling and harvesting operations. The complainant provided documents and photos from the site.
https://www.asi-assurance.org/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068S700000Jtm9AIAR-10
Soil Association Certification Forms
SOIL ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION LIMITED FORESTRY EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION FORM
Soil Association Certification Ltd aims to address any expression of dissatisfaction, including comments,
complaints and appeals received in relation to its certification activities, providing timely resolution, fairness and transparency in its activities.
Stakeholder Consultation – Forest Management carried out by Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe (SA-FM/COC-000706 & SA-PEFC-FM-000706)
Re: Forest Management carried out by Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe (SA-FM/COC-000706 & SA-PEFC-FM-000706) of Coillte Forests(Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, A63 DN25, Ireland)
In September 2023 we will carry out a Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) & The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) audit of forest management by Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe in Ireland.
They will be assessed against the requirements of the FSC-STD-IRL-01-2012 and PEFC Irish Forest Certification Standard.
We would welcome any comments you have on the forest management carried out by Coillte Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe.
To comment, please complete our online stakeholder feedback form, using the link below:
www.soilassociation.org/stakeholderconsultation/
The deadline for comments is 07-08-2023. If your comments are site specific, please state very clearly which site they refer to. Thank you in advance for your time.
Yours faithfully Valentins Kuksinovs Kind regards Forestry Consultation team | Soil Association Certification | Tel: +44 (0)117 914 2435 | www.soilassociation.org/forestry
Coillte Silt and Sediment Mitigation Guideline
AIE Request 20230090
A copy of Coillte’s Silt and Sediment Mitigation Guideline compiled in response to the Major CAR at Corrahoash, Co. Cavan EMS_GUI_021_Silt & Sediment Mitigation Guidelines_20112022_FINAL
Information on all roll-out training provided by the Environment Team in conjunction with the Team Leads from Estates/Engineering, Establishment and Harvesting to Forest Operational Staff and Contractors in response to the Major CAR at Corrahoash, Co. Cava
Stakeholder Consultation – Forest Management carried out by Foraois Growth Ltd (SA-PEFC-FM-007488)
Source: Soil Association
ForestryConsultation@soilassociation.org
Forest Management carried out by Foraois Growth Ltd (SA-PEFC-FM-007488) of Enterprise House, Marina Commercial Park, Cork, T12 X4YW, Ireland.
In September 2022 we (the Soil Association) will carry out a The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) assessment of forest management by Foraois Growth Ltd in Ireland. They will be assessed against the requirements of the PEFC Irish Forest Certification Standard (Jan 2014).
We would welcome any comments you have on the forest management carried out by Foraois Growth Ltd.
To comment, please complete our online stakeholder feedback form, using the link below:
www.soilassociation.org/stakeholderconsultation/
The deadline for comments is 30-08-2022.
Notes:
Email to Soil Association
Can you please make publicly available, through the Dasos website, management planning documentation, or a summary of its primary elements, including those listed in 2.1.1, 2.1.2 & 2.1.3. as required under 2.1.4 of the PEFC Standard.
This is necessary information in the context of the public consultation.
Thank you,
2.1.4
Requirement
While respecting the confidentiality of commercially and/or environmentally sensitive information, woodland managers, upon request, shall make publicly available management planning documentation, or a summary of its primary elements, including those listed in 2.1.1, 2.1.2 & 2.1.3.
The above is a certification audit for a private forestry company.
There is a consultation running on their forests but they don’t actually disclose where the forests are!
Files (Dropbox files are the Summary Management Plans, etc that relate to the “Forests” that are the subject of this consultation):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c78vtd6her0naps/AAAdOllG5SewUOqQzHon75-Ta?dl=0
DAFM Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme
Tender
The Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme is co-funded by the EU and national exchequer under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022 (RDP) under Article 51 of the regulation. It will continue to develop a national baseline of soil parameters (& soil health indicators) at a scale immediately applicable on an agronomic level.
The national soil sampling will focus on:
· Macro- and micronutrients for agronomic advice and water quality risk assessment.
· Soil carbon(C) relating primarily improving climate objectives and soil health.
· Soil pathogen assessment as a biosecurity measure for policy guidance.
Programme for Government and policy integration
Soil Health and Nutrient Management are key components of the Programme for Government and the output from this Programme will assist with targeting management practices /measures and advice to support national and EU policy such as the new Soil Strategy and proposed Soil Health Law as well as the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), Climate Action Plan, Farm-to-Fork, Water Framework & Nitrates Directives, and the Biodiversity Strategy and the new EU R&I, Soil Health, Food Mission and Food Vision 2030.
Farmers The soil sampling programme, at field scale, will provide the basis for the next generation of soil-specific nutrient management advice and underpin targeted fertiliser and organic manure applications (right nutrient type, right application rate, right time & right place) across all farming systems in Ireland. Farmers will also be provided with indicative soil carbon results for their land, which is an important baseline result on an individual and national level from a soil health and climate change perspective. Indicative E.coli results will provide the basis for developing strategies to manage animal, human and environmental health on the farm.
The incentive for the farmer to participate is access to the soil analysis results and receive agronomic advice through FAS advisors on the basis of the results if required.
In order to maximise participation and value of the Programme a maximum of 16 samples may be taken per farm.
Farmers/advisors will apply through AgFood
The programme will have National coverage (26-county) reflecting relative numbers of farming systems in each of the NUTS 3 regions of the country
https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/219247/1
Soil Testing under the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme
Soil Tests
A soil test refers to the results of an analysis of a soil sample carried out by a soil-testing laboratory that meets the requirements of DAFM for this purpose.
The analysis of phosphorus, specifically the Morgan extractable P test, is currently used to determine the Soil P Index.
A review of the soil test methodology for phosphorus availability will be undertaken however guidance is required on the best approach to consider to ensure phosphorus availability is evaluated correctly.
From 11th March 2022, all farmers above 170 kg N/ha must take soil samples. Where soil samples are not undertaken, Index 4 for Phosphorus will be assumed.
From 1st January 2023, all farmers above 130 kg N/ha must take soil samples. Where soil samples are not undertaken, Index 4 for Phosphorus will be assumed.
All arable land sown from 1st January 2023 must take soil samples.
Stakeholder Consultation for interim Irish FSC Standard
The consultation period was extended from Dec 10th to January 10th, so has just officially closed
See link below for a copy of the international Standard that is being adapting for Ireland
The document under development will be how forestry is assessed in Ireland for the next 5-10 years until the Standard is next updated.
There are a number of water quality requirements in the FSC Standard
The most relevant parts of the Standard for water quality: are all of the Indicators in Criteria 6.7, 7.3, 7.4, 8.2, 9.1, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.10, and the requirements of Annexes E, F & G.
Relevant legislation is included in Annex A (attached)
Annex J (attached) is a framework for identifying & protecting Ireland’s High Conservation Values.
Specifically HCV 4 & HCV 5 are to ensure concerns for water quality and watershed soil protection are adequately covered.
There is also a requirement for stakeholder involvement in forest management: Principle 4 (all of it), 5.3, 7.6.
FSC Interim National Standard for Ireland Forest Management Certification (stakeholder consultation)
AIE
The current FSC Standard used for forest management evaluations in Ireland was developed in 2012.
Since then, the FSC Principles & Criteria have been revised, and so each country must now update their national Standards.
As there is currently no formally constituted, registered Irish FSC Standard Development Group, we will follow FSC Procedure 60-007 Structure, Content & Development of Interim National Standards (v1-2), which provides the full set of International Generic Indicators (IGIs) and Annexes as the starting point for local adaptation.
The IGIs can either be adopted as they are, or adapted with local specifications and thresholds.
AIE response includes a handy checklist of the Irish Laws and International Agreements and Protocols Pertinent to Forest Management in Ireland