Identify social and community forestry opportunities and activities

This standard covers the activities required to identify social and community forestry opportunities and activities.

Social forestry includes identifying opportunities to use the forest, or woodland, for social benefits for the local and wider public and encouraging community participation and involvement. Social forestry practitioners will have a good understanding of the needs of forests and woodlands and how to manage them as well as a good understanding of how to manage the needs of people.

Community forestry includes all aspects of public participation in ownership, management and involvement, such as community involvement in the management, lease or purchase of forest or woodland and the activities that can take place there such as access, recreation, tourism or the supply of woodland products.

Your work must conform to all relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

1. identify the risks and health and safety implications of public involvement in the forest or woodland
2. identify the opportunities and constraints relevant to the forest or woodland
3. identify statutory, formal and informal public access to the forest or woodland area
4. identify community aspirations for the forest or woodland
5. identify what level of local resident, community or wider public consultation is required and suitable methods of engagement
6. consult with landowners and interested parties to identify social and community forestry or woodland opportunities and activities
7. analyse all available information to determine potential opportunities and activities
8. explore the feasibility and viability of potential opportunities and activities
9. seek and evaluate specialist external advice where necessary
10. evaluate the range of potential opportunities and activities available to determine the preferred options
11. confirm that your plans comply with the relevant health and safety requirements and industry recognised standards
12. encourage the sustainability of the forest or woodland area for future generations

1. the opportunities and constraints relevant to the forest or woodland
2. the nature of designations and how these may influence the opportunities and activities available
3. how to identify risks and the implications of any potential hazards
4. the health and safety implications of public involvement in forest or woodland activities
5. the relevant nation-specific legislation, including rights of way and access
6. the importance of consultation and engagement when investigating social and community forestry opportunities and activities,
7. how to identify and engage with the local community
8. the importance of consulting with the landlord to understand their aspirations and what they are prepared to accommodate
9. the liability and insurance implications for the landowner and how responsibility might be transferred to a community group
10. the social and community forestry opportunities and activities that could be carried out and the implications of these
11. how to assess the feasibility and viability of potential opportunities and activities
12. where and how to obtain professional advice and guidance
13. the different factors that need to be taken into account when evaluating potential social and community forestry opportunities and activities
14. how to manage conflicting issues around public use and managing the environment
15. the sustainable methods to ensure the future of the forest of woodland

Community benefits include:
• sense of ownership
• bringing people together
• common purpose
• involvement in management
• products (for community use or for sale)
• jobs
• access and tourism
• additional income

Factors to be taken into account: e.g. legal, cost, resources

Interested parties:
• those directly involved with potential social and community forestry opportunities and activities
• those affected by potential social and community forestry opportunities and activities

Opportunities and constraints:
• local, regional, nation specific and global policies
• legal, physical, environmental, recreational, community, ecological, historical, social, cultural, aesthetic and economic factors

Potential hazards: e.g. contaminated land, invasive species

Social benefits include:
• improving well-being
• reducing stress
• providing opportunities for physical exercise (e.g. “green gyms”)
• walking
• dog walking
• running
• cycling
• orienteering
• forest schools
• guided groups
• scouts/guides etc
• wildlife watching
• sketching, painting, photography