Criterion 1: Conservation of biological diversity

Biological diversity includes the elements of the diversity of ecosystems, the diversity between species, and genetic diversity in species.

Indicators:

Ecosystem Diversity

a. Extent of area by forest type relative to total forest area; (a)
b. Extent of area by forest type and by age class or successional stage;(b)
c. Extent of area by forest type in protected area categories as defined by IUCNN or other classification systems;(a)
d. Extent of areas by forest type in protected areas defined by age class or successional stage;(b)
e. Fragmentation of forest types;(b)

Note: Indicators followed by an "a" are those for which most data are available. Indicators followed by a "b" are those which may require the gathering of new or additional data and/or a new program of systematic sampling or basic research. No priority is implied in the "a" and "b" designations.
IUCNN categories include: I. Strict protection, II. Ecosystem conservation and tourism, III. Conservation of natural features, IV. Conservation through active management, V. Landscape/Seascape conservation and recreation, and VI. Sustainable use of natural ecosystems.

Species Diversity

a. The number of forest dependent species;(b)
b. The status (rare, threatened, endangered, or extinct) of forest dependent species at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment;(a)

Genetic Diversity

a. Number of forest dependent species that occupy a small portion of their former range;(b)
b. Population levels of representative species from diverse habitats monitored across their range.(b)

Criterion 2: Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems

Indicators:

a. Area of forest land and net area of forest land available for timber production;(a)
b. Total growing stock of both merchantable and nonmerchantable tree species on forest land available for timber production;(a)
c. The area and growing stock of plantations of native and exotic species;(a)
d. Annual removal of wood products compared to the volume determined to be sustainable;(b)
e. Annual removal of non-timber forest products (e.g. fur bearers, berries, mushrooms, game), compared to the level determined to be sustainable;(b)

Criterion 3: Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality

Indicators:

a. Area and percent of forest affected by processes or agents beyond the range of historic variation, e.g. by insects, disease, competition from exotic species, fire, storm, land clearance, permanent flooding, salinisation, and domestic animals;(b)
b. Area and percent of forest land subjected to levels of specific air pollutants (e.g. sulfates, nitrate, ozone) or ultra violet B that may cause negative impacts on the forest ecosystem;(b)
c. Area and percent of forest land with diminished biological components indicative of changes in fundamental ecological processes (e.g. soil, nutrient cycling, seed dispersion, pollination) and/or ecological continuity (monitoring of functionally important species such as nematodes, arboreal epiphytes, beetles, fungi, wasps, etc.);(b)

Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water

This criterion encompasses the conservation of soil and water resources and the protective and productive functions of forests.

Indicators:

a. Area and percent of forest land with significant soil erosion;(b)
b. Area and percent of forest land managed primarily for protective functions. e.g. watersheds, flood protection, avalanche protection, riparian zones;(a)
c. Percent of stream kilometers in forested catchments in which stream flow and timing has significantly deviated from the historic range of variation;(b)
d. Area and percent of forest land with significantly diminished soil organic matter and/or changes in other soil chemical properties;(b)
e. Area and percent of forest land with significant compaction or change in soil physical properties resulting from human activities;(b)
f. Percent of water bodies in forest areas (e.g. stream kilometers, lake hectares) with significant variance of biological diversity from the historic range of variability;(b)
g. Percent of water bodies in forest areas (e.g. stream kilometers, lake hectares) with significant variation from the historic range of variability in pH, dissolved oxygen, levels of chemicals (electrical conductivity), sedimentation or temperature change; (b)
h. Area and percent of forest land experiencing an accumulation of persistent toxic substances.(b)

Criterion 5: Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles

Indicators:

a. Total forest ecosystem biomass and carbon pool, and if appropriate, by forest type, age class, and successional stages;(b)
b. Contribution of forest ecosystems to the total global carbon budget, including absorption and release of carbon (standing biomass, coarse woody debris, peat and soil carbon);(a or b)
c. Contribution of forest products to the global carbon budget;(b)

Criterion 6: Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socioeconomic benefits to meet the needs of societies

Indicators:

Production and consumption

a. Value and volume of wood and wood products production, including value added through downstream processing;(a)
b. Value and quantities of production of non-wood forest products;(b)
c. Supply and consumption of wood and wood products, including consumption per capita;(a)
d. Value of wood and non-wood products production as percentage of GDP;(a or b)
e. Degree of recycling of forest products;(a or b)
f. Supply and consumption/use of non-wood products;(a or b)

Recreation and tourism

a. Area and percent of forest land managed for general recreation and tourism, in relation to the total area of forestland (a or b)
b. Number and type of facilities available for general recreation and tourism, in relation to population and forest area;(a or b)
c. Number of visitor days attributed to recreation and tourism, in relation to population and forest area; (b)

Investment in the forest sector

a. Value of investment, including investment in forest growing, forest health and management, planted forests, wood processing, recreation and tourism;(a)
b. Level of expenditure on research and development, and education;(b)
c. Extension and use of new and improved technology;(b)
d. Rates of return on investment;(b)

Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values

a. Area and percent of forest land managed in relation to the total area of forest land to protect the range of cultural, social and spiritual needs and values;(a or b)
b. Non-consumptive use forest values;(b)

Employment and community needs

a. Direct and indirect employment in the forest sector and the forest sector employment as a proportion of total employment;(a or b)
b. Average wage rates and injury rates in major employment categories within the forest sector; (a or b)
c. Viability and adaptability to changing economic conditions, of forest dependent communities, including indigenous communities;(b)
d. Area and percent of forestland used for subsistence purposes;(b)

Criterion 7: Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management

Indicators:

1. Extent to which the legal framework (laws, regulations, guidelines) supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests, including the extent to which it:

a. Clarifies property rights, provides for appropriate land tenure arrangements, recognizes customary and traditional rights of indigenous people, and provides means of resolving property disputes by due process;
b. Provides for periodic forest related planning, assessment, and policy review that recognizes the range of forest values, including coordination with relevant sectors;
c. Provides opportunities for public participation in public policy and decision making related to forests and public access to information;
d. Encourages best practice codes for forest management;
e. Provides for the management of forests to conserve special environmental, cultural, social and/or scientific values.

2. Extent to which the institutional framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests, including the capacity to:

a. Provide for public involvement activities and public education, awareness and extension programs, and make available forest related information;
b. Undertake and implement periodic forest related planning, assessment, and policy review including cross-sectoral planning and coordination;
c. Develop and maintain human resource skills across relevant disciplines;
d. Develop and maintain efficient physical infrastructure to facilitate the supply of forest products and services and support forest management;
e. Enforce laws, regulations and guidelines;

3. Extent to which the economic framework (economic policies and measures) supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests through:

a. Investment and taxation policies and a regulatory environment which recognize the long-term nature of investments and permit the flow of capital in and out of the forest sector in response to market signals, non-market economic valuations, and public policy decisions in order to meet long-term demands for forest products and services;
b. Nondiscriminatory trade policies for forest products;

4. Capacity to measure and monitor changes in the conservation and sustainable management of forests, including:

a. Availability and extent of up-to-date data, statistics and other information important to measuring or describing indicators associated with criteria 17;
b. Scope, frequency and statistical reliability of forest inventories, assessments, monitoring and other relevant information:
c. Compatibility with other countries in measuring, monitoring and reporting on indicators.

5. Capacity to conduct and apply research and development aimed at improving forest management and delivery of forest goods and services, including:

a. Development of scientific understanding of forest ecosystem characteristics and functions;
b. Development of methodologies to measure and integrate environmental and social costs and benefits into markets and public policies, and to reflect forest related resource depletion or replenishment in national accounting systems;
c. New technologies and the capacity to assess the socioeconomic consequences associated with the introduction of new technologies;
d. Enhancement of ability to predict impacts of human intervention on forests;
e. Ability to predict impacts on forests of possible climate change.

Criterion 7 and associated indicators relate to the overall policy framework of a country that can facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of forests. Included are the broader societal conditions and processes often external to the forest itself but which may support efforts to conserve, maintain or enhance one or more of the conditions, attributes, functions and benefits captured in criteria 1-6. No priority or order is implied in the listing of the indicators.

B. Bruce Bare, Acting Dean