Avoiding erosion and sediment problems are the main focus of new forestry guidelines prepared by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The new guidelines are designed for forest planners and harvesters, smaller forestry contractors, small woodlot operators and farm foresters.

People involved in the forestry industry will have to follow new guidelines developed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

While the Regional Council's original guidelines were developed in 2000 the new version now covers new technologies and practices to protect soil and waterways, says pollution prevention manager Nick Zaman.

He says the old guidelines did not include enough options for dealing with forests established on steep hill country in the 1980s.

'Steep hill country and heavy rain can create big problems downstream if trees and soil are washed away,” says Nick.

'Good design and careful management can minimise these problems.”

Nick says the forests are currently being harvested as first rotation forests and that means major infrastructure, roads and landings.

'Last year, extreme rainfall events caused significant problems on steeper erosion-prone coastal forestry, requiring some modification to forestry practices there.

'Larger companies already have their own comprehensive Environment Management Systems in place. The value of the guidelines is that the best practices of these large companies will also be used by all those involved in forestry in the Bay of Plenty.”

The forest industry and other regional councils helped develop the new guidelines to make them relevant and easy to use by everyone involved.

'Our guidelines provide useful information to help foresters in their day-to-day operations and when they are applying for resource consents.

'They give clear guidance on how the Regional Council expects forests to be sustainably managed in the Bay of Plenty, and brings us up to date with best management practices of this industry.”

Regional Council staff will also be trained in the methods.

Nick says half the productive land in the Bay of Plenty is in plantation forest, so it is very important to have good management practices.

The guidelines are on the Regional Council's website, and available from Council in hard copy.