Image credit: © Forest Plans
So how does Forest Plans help? The cost and time burden is reduced
Less biased data
For a small subscription fee, foresters can access and manage a user friendly, personalised web page designed to deliver their stakeholder management. Features such as automatically generated, branded signage save the forester time and money. The time taken to deliver UKWAS compliant consultation through Forest Plans can be measured in minutes, rather than hours or days.
Stakeholders submit their comments and questions from the privacy of their own home or office without time constraints, competition for attention, or peer pressure. Comments aren’t shared publicly, they can only be seen by the forest manager who can communicate the overall findings back to stakeholders if they wish.
More people can be reached The signage generated by Forest Plans directs stakeholders to an easy to find web page which holds documents relating to the consultation. Here they can submit their comments directly to the forest manager. They can do this at any time of day and from anywhere in the world. The signage also directs people to their nearest public internet access or offers a hard copy of consultation documents for those without internet access. The forest manager can also e-mail their contacts with a link to their page’s unique web address.
Auditable evidence was difficult to collect Evidence for use during audits was weak, usually based upon minutes written up at a later date. The forester felt a web-based tool could be built to overcome these issues, allowing him to deliver better stakeholder consultation while reducing his costs and the time taken. After a chat with his friend and web designer, Forest Plans was created. Forest Plans is still being used by Matt Taylor in Yorkshire and is also being used by some of the UK’s largest forest management companies,
Clear data collection Data is recorded in writing exactly as the stakeholder submits it. The stakeholder’s contact details are collected and the time of their comment is documented. Auditable The consultation process is systematic and auditable with an activity log which records the time and date that forests were added to the site and when comments were received.
woodland charities, local authorities, and utility companies. Foresters are being creative with how they use the site, reporting new uses all the time, such as quick on-site access to management plans and communicating health and safety documentation to their contractors. For more information about Forest Plans visit www.forestplans.com or email matt@forestplans. com. Matt Taylor is a forester, FSC Forest Management auditor, and land manager working for Forest and Land Ltd in West Yorkshire, UK. 21