The State of Europe’s Forests: 2007 – Report of the Fifth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe for Sustainable Forest Management in Europe

Author(s):  
Michael Köhl ◽  
Ewald Rametsteiner
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
G. Santopuoli ◽  
C. Temperli ◽  
I. Alberdi ◽  
I. Barbeito ◽  
M. Bosela ◽  
...  

The increasing demand for innovative forest management strategies to adapt to and mitigate climate change and benefit forest production, the so-called Climate-Smart Forestry, calls for a tool to monitor and evaluate their implementation and their effects on forest development over time. The pan-European set of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management is considered one of the most important tools for assessing many aspects of forest management and sustainability. This study offers an analytical approach to selecting a subset of indicators to support the implementation of Climate-Smart Forestry. Based on a literature review and the analytical hierarchical approach, 10 indicators were selected to assess, in particular, mitigation and adaptation. These indicators were used to assess the state of the Climate-Smart Forestry trend in Europe from 1990 to 2015 using data from the reports on the State of Europe’s Forests. Forest damage, tree species composition, and carbon stock were the most important indicators. Though the trend was overall positive with regard to adaptation and mitigation, its evaluation was partly hindered by the lack of data. We advocate for increased efforts to harmonize international reporting and for further integrating the goals of Climate-Smart Forestry into national- and European-level forest policy making.


Author(s):  
Svetlana Morkovina ◽  
Oksana Netrebskaya

The article deals with the complex groups of risks of state forest management: strategic; managerial; operational (natural and climatic), legal (legal), property (related to property, forest resources and land), financial, commercial, technological; informational; security risks; design (software); reputational. Macro-level risk factors determine the state forest policy, transformed into strategies, development programs and implemented at the level of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Risk factors at the meso-level of forest management determine the effectiveness of the interaction of the Federal Forestry Agency with participants in forestry relations in order to ensure rational, continuous and sustainable forest management, reproduction, protection and protection of forests. Micro-level factors are implemented in regional forestry systems. For the purpose of assessing their significance and probability of occurrence, an expert method was used, implemented at the meso and micro levels of state forest management. The most priority for the state forest management at the meso-level are strategic (programmatic), financial, commercial risk factors, as well as security risks, while for the micro-level, natural-climatic and personnel risk factors are also among the priorities. To create a unified state risk management system in forest management, it is necessary to develop a unified approach that takes into account complex risk groups differentiated in the context of regional systems.


2013 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Marek Jabłoński

Abstract Since 1967, when the Polish State Forests were first inventoried, a continuous increase in the volume of growing stock has been recorded. This increase in timber resources is mainly the result of sustainable forest management. However, during this time period inventory methods have been changed a few times and this may have affected the estimates of of wood resources. Since 2011 new instructions have been in place for forest management plans in the Polish State Forests. Despite this, the method of taking forest inventories remained consistent with the previous guidelines. This should allow us to consider changes in the volume of growing stock in relation to inventory methods and their accuracy. In this paper, the results of growing stock estimations based on two assessments made using stratified random sampling are compared. After five years of inventories made for forest management plans, 422 sample plots in two forest districts were measured within 15 strata. Predicted age classes structure at the beginning of successive management plans was used to determine new strata. Data from two inventories were compared on the basis of age class. In addition, data from the State Forests Information System i.e. updated stand level inventory data (on felling and tree growth) were analyzed. Comparing data from the two inventories, in three of seven age classes there was a decrease in the volume of growing stock after a five year period. We found no rational explanation for this. The extent of felling in the analyzed stand was very low, as confirmed by data from State Forests database. However, the largest decrease in volume was 1.5%, whereas the accuracy of growing stock assessment of discussed age class was estimated at some 9% in 2006 and 8% in 2011. Hence, from statistical viewpoint there was no differences between the results of both inventories. However, the differences between volume of growing stock of examined age classes, updated in the Information System of the State Forests and results of assessments by stratified sampling are less than 95% confidence intervals for means of samples. Because of that, updated information could be used in the long term management planning. The results clearly suggest that changes of growing stock, estimated as a difference between two assessments, should be interpreted in conjunction with the accuracy of these inventories. The accuracy of sampling should be also taken into account when creating management plans.


Author(s):  
Grzegorz Trzciński ◽  
Piotr Leciejewski

In the following paper the authors provide an analysis of the possibility of implementing by the State Forests National Forest Holding (PGL LP) a multifunctional, sustainable forest management based on the principles of environmental protection, co-financed from EU funds and national programs in the 2007–2013 funding perspective. The following national programs were taken into account: Regional Operational Programmes, Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme, Rural Development Programme, European Territorial Cooperation Programme. The programmes were analysed to the extent where the State Forests units (Forest Districts, Regional Directorates of National Forest, State Forests of National Forest) were beneficiaries of financial funds. The analysis of the use of funds by the State Forests units, accompanied by a general statement and selected projects was performed. The issues related to direct payments in the study were not taken into account.


2020 ◽  
pp. 73-81
Author(s):  
Sławomir J. Snarski

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań mających na celu sprawdzenie, czy wydatkowanie środków będących w dyspozycji Państwowego Gospodarstwa Leśnego Lasy Państwowe (dalej: Lasy Państwowe) odpowiadało zadaniom w zakresie gospodarki leśnej nałożonym na tę instytucję na podstawie przepisów obowiązującego prawa i czy było ono uzasadnione w kontekście zasady racjonalnego gospodarowania środkami publicznymi. Badania oparto na analizie danych wtórnych zebranych przez Dyrekcję Generalną Lasów Państwowych, oficjalnych danych statystycznych, informacji pokontrolnej Najwyższej Izby Kontroli oraz literaturze obejmującej obszar badań. Wyniki badań przeprowadzonych na podstawie danych z lat 2011–2016 wykazały, że ogólna sytuacja majątkowa i finansowa Lasów Państwowych w analizowanym okresie była korzystna ze względu na fakt, że co roku wspomniana instytucja odnotowywała znaczący zysk netto. Działania realizowane przez Lasy Państwowe były zasadniczo zgodne z modelem zrównoważonej gospodarki leśnej określonym w ustawie o lasach, jednak w przypadku ponoszenia nakładów inwestycyjnych na środki trwałe niezwiązane bezpośrednio z gospodarką leśną, zasada racjonalnego zarządzania środkami publicznymi nie zawsze miała pełne zastosowanie. Stąd też rachunek ekonomiczny powinien stanowić podstawę do prowadzenia działalności inwestycyjnej przez Lasy Państwowe. Analysis of selected organizational and economic conditions in State Forests National Forest Holding This paper presents the findings of a research study targeted at verification whether the disbursement of funds at the disposal of the State Forests National Forest Holding (hereinafter: the State Forests) corresponded to the tasks in the field of forest management imposed on the institution in question under the provisions of applicable law and whether it was justifiable in the context of the principle of rational management of public funds. The research was based on the analysis of the secondary data collected by the Directorate General of the State Forests, official statistical data, post-audit information of the Supreme Audit Office and literature covering the research area. The results of research carried out on the basis of data from 2011–2016 showed that the general property and financial situation of the State Forests in the analysed period was favourable due to the fact that each year the aforementioned institution recorded a significant net profit. The activities implemented by the State Forests were in principle compatible with a model of sustainable forest management specified in the Forest Act, however in case of incurring investment outlays of fixed assets not directly related to forest management, the principle of rational management of public funds was not always fully applied. Therefore, the conscious economic calculation should constitute the basis for conducting investment activities by the State Forests.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-63
Author(s):  
S.N. Chisika ◽  
C. Yeom

Kenya is keen on realizing equity between the state and local communities participating in sustainable forest management. Hence, prominence is accorded to Forest Management Agreements (FMAs) under the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) framework. However, there is a scarcity of equity lessons from FMAs implemented so far by the state and Community Forest Associations (CFAs). This paper addresses this gap by exploring two FMAs for procedural and distributive equity effects by comparing the processes of recognition, income, and cost-sharing as well as challenges experienced by the state and CFAs to determine whether FMA implementation was yielding equity outcomes or not. Using literature review and 19 key informant interviews, results from Gathiuru and Karima forests substantiate that FMA is a reasonably robust, multi-objective-win-win tool that promotes equity in PFM. However, the implementation process has been slow. There is a need for more capacity building of CFA members, establishing an inventory-based NTFPs utilization system, and complementing the current PFM framework with explicit provisions for Corporate Social Responsibility.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiene Andriyana ◽  
Karl Hogl

This study analyzes the impact of the Indonesian government’s decentralization policy and movement on the state forest community involvement program on the island of Java from 2000 to 2014. For more than 30 years, approximately 76 percent of the state-owned forests in Java, covering 2.4 mio. hectares (5.9 mio. acres or 9,266 square miles), or 42 percent of the forests in Java, were exclusively managed by the State Forest Company (SFC). The general perception was, and largely still is, that the decentralization era reforms had little or no effects in Java, simply because the national decentralization regulations essentially maintained this dominant role. Thus, possible effects were hardly examined. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing whether the national decentralization movement and policy affected and changed the policies and practices of involving local actors and communities in Java’s state forest governance and management. Our analytical framework follows the Policy Arrangement Approach (PAA), comprising four main analytical dimensions for assessing change and stability: The actors involved; the distribution of power and resources; the existing and applied rules; and discourses concerning the topic of research. The analysis is based on an extensive review of scholarly literature and policy documents, as well as 73 in-depth interviews with actors, from the national to the local levels, of two districts in Central Java. Overall, our findings show that the nationwide decentralization movement significantly affects the modes of collaborative forest management in Java, much more than one would expect if only looking at changes in the respective legal texts. The movement fueled changes, inter alia, by promoting discourses on sustainable forest management for local development, and triggering the revival of grassroots movements further empowered by local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as by triggering the formal institutionalization of the informal norms and practices of local communities. New actors entered the arena, and the distribution of power, resources and benefits drawn from state forest management has changed in favor of district authorities and local communities at the expense of the State Forest Company.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-170
Author(s):  
Adam Kaliszewski ◽  
Wojciech Młynarski

AbstractEconomic viability of forestry is one of the key pillars of sustainable forest management and a basis for maintaining forests and their multiple benefits for the society. It may be achieved by, inter alia, diversification of sources of income in forest management. The aim of the article is to analyse sources of revenues of state-owned forest enterprises (holdings) in selected European countries and ongoing changes in this respect in recent years. In the paper, we analyse the structure of revenues of state forest enterprises in Poland, Germany (with the examples of Bavaria and Lower Saxony) and Austria; however, particular attention is paid to the State Forests National Forest Holding in Poland, which is the largest state-owned forest holding in the European Union (EU) in terms of area of forests. The study is based on document content analysis methodology (desk research), including annual reports published by forest enterprises, statistical data and also legal regulations.The analysis shows that while revenues from the sale of wood are the main source of income of forest enterprises, some of them are seeking to diversify their sources of revenues. The Austrian Federal Forests can serve as an example of a good development strategy based on diversified sources of income. Also, the Lower Saxony State Forest company, which is approximately 60% dependent on the sale of wood, undertakes other activities, including real estate management, hunting and recreational services. Our study shows that both the State Forests National Forest Holding and the Bavarian State Forests Enterprise are based on timber harvest and sale to a large extent. We conclude that as regards the State Forests Holding in Poland, the possibility of expanding and diversifying commercial activities should become a subject of discussion among foresters, decision makers and politicians.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Chernenkova ◽  
Ivan P. Kotlov ◽  
Nadezhda G. Belyaeva ◽  
Olga V. Morozova ◽  
Elena G. Suslova ◽  
...  

The paper presents an inventory of current forest formations and a map of forest vegetation in the Moscow region. To assess current forest formations, an approach integrating both ground- and remote sensing data was applied. The transformation of forests in the Moscow region was evaluated by the criteria of changing the quality, quantity and spatial configuration of forests, in accordance with the model SLOSS (Single Large or Several Small). The conceptual model "Pressure-State-Response" (hereinafter PRS) was used to develop appropriate tools for sustainable environmental management in the region. The use of this model made it possible not only to assess the state of forests but also to determine the main impacts affecting them, as well as the effectiveness of measures aimed at optimizing environmental management regimes in order to maintain forest biodiversity. Complex assessment of sets of indicators for each group of PRS criteria is performed for the integrated multicriteria assessment of sustainable forest management within the boundaries of urban districts. The average normalized score was calculated for each group of criteria. Correlation between the scores of the groups of criteria evaluated and classification of administrative units according to the ratio of groups of the K-means method criteria performed. As a result of component-by-component evaluation, the values of indicators are presented in form of tables and map сharts. Benchmarking of Specially Protected Natural Area (SPNA) system and reforestation activities is performed regarding to the forest biodiversity conservation in the urban districts. It is shown that single integrated assessment of the ecological value of the territory (the "State" criterion), an integrated assessment of impact factors (the "Load") and appropriate actions to maintain forest biodiversity (the "Response" criterion) can be considered as an expression of generalized information directly used in decision-making and assessment of current trends for a particular region.


Author(s):  
Krzysztof RZĄSA ◽  
Marek OGRYZEK

Poland is in one of a leading position in Europe in terms of forested area. Forests grow over 9.4 million hectares, which is 29.5% of the territory of Poland. The vast majority of this area is forests owned by the state, out of which almost 7.6 million hectares are under the management of the State Forests Holding. Educating society about forestry and environment is one of the main priorities of the State Forests. The State Forests’ educational offer is aimed at children, youths and adults, including people with disabilities. It is all about popularising knowledge about forestry and sustainable forest management. This article focuses on the social actions of the State Forests’ operations based on an analysis of the data obtained from reports made by the State Forests. These information and materials were analysed to identify the social aspects of actions carried out by the State Forests in Poland. The authors analysed various kinds of activities of the State Forests connected with social aims. The results of the analyses were presented in table format. The results were used to analyse and describe the social aspects of the State Forests’ operations in the forested area in Poland. The social actions of the State Forests in Poland have been very positively evaluated by the authors based on the achieved analyses.


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