Carno Forest Resource Plan - Approved 5 June 2023

Location and setting

Carno Forest Resource Plan includes 6 woodlands in Powys covering approximately 324 hectares. The setting for the majority of the woodlands is mostly unimproved grassland on the hill tops, and native woodland along the valley bottoms. A large proportion of the woodlands are conifer plantation, with over 56% spruce, with small amounts of fir, pine, and larch. 17 hectares is Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) or Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands (ASNW).

Summary of objectives

• Continue to maintain a sustainable supply of timber production through design of felling and choice of restock species.
• Diversify the forest species composition to increase resilience to climate change, and pests and diseases, whilst building a robust forest for future generations.
• Increase structural diversity through LISS management where appropriate and consider the scale, size, and timing of any clearfell, avoiding the felling of adjacent coupes. Older conifer crops should be retained where possible to maintain forest structure and productive potential.
• Increase areas identified for thinning within the 5-year thinning plan to enable LISS management and PAWS restoration.
• Utilise the current road and riparian zone network for the benefit of biodiversity by creating linkages with open habitat.
• Improve habitat connectivity by maintaining and enhancing areas of ancient semi-natural woodland and restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites, in line with strategic prioritisation policy. Use opportunities to connect broadleaved woodland to hedgerow habitats and improve resilience.
• Manage deadwood in line with the Deadwood Management Plan.
• Where the main crop of larch has been prematurely harvested, facilitate native woodland expansion. Restocking of these areas is a key priority to ensure that there is no net loss of forest cover.
• Forestry management should not cause any reduction of water quality both within on-site water features and watercourse draining off-site through good forestry practice in accordance with the latest UK Forestry Standard and relevant forestry guidance.
• Maintain and enhance recreational use, and work with partners to encourage and increase responsible use and low impact recreation on the WGWE to deliver wellbeing benefits for local communities, user groups and visitors, and to reduce anti-social behaviour, including off-road vehicles, and fly tipping.
• Plan the size and timing of felling coupes and restocking to avoid impacts on current and future drinking water supplies.
• Identify heritage and cultural features to avoid damage during operations.

Maps

• Location map
• Long-term primary objectives map
• Forest management systems map
• Indicative forest types and habitats map

Comments or feedback

If you have any comments or feedback, you can contact the Forest Resource Planning team at frp@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk