Skip to main content

Table 10 Water quality, quantity and aquatic ecosystem topics addressed in forest biomass harvesting guidelines, as percent occurrence in 21 North American and 10 European jurisdictions or regions

From: Sustainable forest biomass: a review of current residue harvesting guidelines

Indicator, consequence or actiona

North America

Europe

Water quality [any action or consequence)

90

50

Actions to prevent or minimize sedimentation

 Minimize stream crossings

81

20

 Avoid exposing mineral soil

81

20

 Design roads, landings to minimize runoff directly to water bodies

90

30

 Use appropriate harvesting equipment

76

10

 Harvest when soil frozen or dry

62

30

Consequence

 Sedimentation

76

30

Actions to prevent or minimize leaching/contaminationb

 Avoid leaving residue in or near water

76

50

 Minimize potential for chemical spills

76

30

Consequence

 Leaching/contaminationb

86

60

Water quantity/flow

 Maintain desired water flow and drainage

81

20

Aquatic ecosystem

Indicator

 Water temperature/shading

76

10

 Actions

  

 Leave live trees, dead standing trees, CWD, buffers, RMZ, SMZ

95

70

 Protect wetlands

100

60

 Protect karst pools or vernal pools

62

0

  1. aSee Additional file 1: Table ST-7 for more detail
  2. bSee also Tables 4 and 5 for identification and protection of sensitive sites and soils
  3. RMZ riparian management zone, SMZ stream management zone