Close to Nature Forestry and Forest Policy Challenges

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Close to Nature Forestry and Forest Policy Challenges in Europe Zvolen, Slovakia 14 -19

Close to Nature Forestry and Forest Policy Challenges in Europe Zvolen, Slovakia 14 -19 October, 2003 Ilpo Tikkanen, European Forest Institute Together with Olga Zyrina and EFI researchers

Close-to-Nature • What are the main trends and policy frameworks affecting close-to-nature forest management?

Close-to-Nature • What are the main trends and policy frameworks affecting close-to-nature forest management? • What are the main policy challenges ahead – and challenges forest research?

Contents • Close-to-nature at international forest policy agenda • Forest resource potentials in Europe

Contents • Close-to-nature at international forest policy agenda • Forest resource potentials in Europe – room for innovative policies? • Trends in forest products markets – pressure on economic viability? • MCPFE-process as European forest policy framework • EU – Forest Strategy and enlarging EU

“Close-to-nature” forestry has appeared in various forms at international forest policy agenda since 1990’s:

“Close-to-nature” forestry has appeared in various forms at international forest policy agenda since 1990’s: • Forest principles / UNCED, 1992 • MCPFE Resolutions, especially Strasbourg (1990) and Helsinki (1993) • IPF/IFF – processes - biodiversity conservation - forest health and vitality - climate change and carbon issues - ecosystem management / landscape diversity

Policy output of international forest policy processes: • Consensus of the concept of sustainable

Policy output of international forest policy processes: • Consensus of the concept of sustainable forest management – Helsinki • International conventions (CBD, FCCC) Resolution 1 • MCPFE Declarations and Resolutions, Work Programmes • Development of Pan-European and national criteria and indicators to monitor the progress of implementation of SFM • Evolving national forest programmes • Revised national legislations

Conclusion: • Progress at policy level • Issues and policy failures are related to

Conclusion: • Progress at policy level • Issues and policy failures are related to - Policy implementation - Policy co-ordination - Law enforcement - Financing of ecological sustainability / SFM

Room for innovative policies?

Room for innovative policies?

Annual fellings and annual increment in some European countries Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

Annual fellings and annual increment in some European countries Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

European total fellings

European total fellings

European average growing stock, historic and projected, current climate

European average growing stock, historic and projected, current climate

Regeneration by different regeneration types in some European countries Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

Regeneration by different regeneration types in some European countries Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

Trends in demand forest product markets – pressure on economic viability?

Trends in demand forest product markets – pressure on economic viability?

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

European political framework for Close-to-Nature forestry

European political framework for Close-to-Nature forestry

Policy Issues at 4 th MCPFE Political commitments expressed and policy issues identified in

Policy Issues at 4 th MCPFE Political commitments expressed and policy issues identified in Vienna Declaration and 5 Vienna Resolutions Overall policy aim: achieve balance between the economic, ecological, social and cultural roles of forests in the context of sustainable development(cf. H 1)

MCPFE issues cont. Strategic items and tools identified: • Forest policies to contribute to

MCPFE issues cont. Strategic items and tools identified: • Forest policies to contribute to sustainable development, and subject to cross-sectoral impacts • Implementation phase in policy process: MCPFE- and IPF/IFF/UNFF commitments • Partnership arrangements and co-ordination of policies

Vienna Resolutions • Strengthen synergies for SFM through crosssectoral co-operation and national forest program

Vienna Resolutions • Strengthen synergies for SFM through crosssectoral co-operation and national forest program • Enhancing economic viability of SFM • Preserving and enhancing the social and cultural dimensions of SFM in Europe • Conserving and enhancing biological diversity • Climate change and SFM in Europe

V 1: Cross-sectoral Co-operation and National Forest Programmes • “MCPFE Approach to National Forest

V 1: Cross-sectoral Co-operation and National Forest Programmes • “MCPFE Approach to National Forest Programme - principles based on IPF/IFF consensus - enhancement towards inter-sectoral policy co-ordination - work towards an improved understanding of cross-sectoral issues - challenge for research

V 2: Enhancing Economic Viability of SFM • Economic viability key pillar of SFM

V 2: Enhancing Economic Viability of SFM • Economic viability key pillar of SFM - key issue: how to finance the enhanced concept of sustainability? - especially challenging to implement in new EU member countries - challenge for inter-disciplinary socioeconomic and policy research

V 3: Preserving Social and Cultural Dimensions of SFM • Policy issue for both

V 3: Preserving Social and Cultural Dimensions of SFM • Policy issue for both rural livelihoods and needs of urban societies - linked to economic viability, of special importance in new EU member countries - challenge for research: a need for Pan. European comparative study on social sustainability and related policy implications!

V 4: Conserving Biological Diversity • Policy issue: how to preserve - or enhance?

V 4: Conserving Biological Diversity • Policy issue: how to preserve - or enhance? Socio-economic consequences and scope for innovative policies? - challenge for research: impacts of various policy instruments on preserving biodiversity and enhancing forest management towards close-to-nature; evaluation of policy failures; cross-sectoral policy impacts

V 5: Climate Change and SFM • Inter-disciplinary research challenges: - socio-economic impacts (costs

V 5: Climate Change and SFM • Inter-disciplinary research challenges: - socio-economic impacts (costs and benefits) of climate change - evaluation of policy impacts and policy options

EU – Forest Strategy: need for a reform?

EU – Forest Strategy: need for a reform?

The EU Forest Strategy • Legislative initiative from European Parliament in 1997 • Commission

The EU Forest Strategy • Legislative initiative from European Parliament in 1997 • Commission Communication on EU Forest Strategy • Member States adopted a Council Resolution on EU Forest Strategy in 1998

Principles • Decentralized approach - subsidiarity • Based on national policies and programmes •

Principles • Decentralized approach - subsidiarity • Based on national policies and programmes • Forest-based commercial activities within the rules of open market economy

Aims of the Strategy • to better deal with the complexity of Community legislation

Aims of the Strategy • to better deal with the complexity of Community legislation influencing forest policies in Member States • horizontal issues related to forestry favour cross-sectoral approach; e. g. rural development • EU should have a single voice in international policy processes, such as IPF/IFF/UNFF • to strengthen internal co-ordination

Challenges for EU Forest Strategy • expectations have not been fulfilled • forest sector

Challenges for EU Forest Strategy • expectations have not been fulfilled • forest sector is a major economic sector in EU • but, environmental issues, such as biodiversity and climate change are dominating forest policies • need to further strengthen integrated regional and local level approaches to balance cross- sectoral issues

Impact of EU enlargement Forest Area 1997, mln. ha Growing Stock bln. m 3

Impact of EU enlargement Forest Area 1997, mln. ha Growing Stock bln. m 3 Private Forest Owners EU 15: 113. 6 EU 15: 13. 4 EU 15: ~ 12 million New EU: 33. 4 New EU: 6. 26 New EU: ~ 4 million (+ 29%) (+ 47%) (Total 16 million)

EU Enlargement: Forest Policies at Cross-road in Europe? • Forest resource scenarios: increasing potentials

EU Enlargement: Forest Policies at Cross-road in Europe? • Forest resource scenarios: increasing potentials provide scope for design of innovative forest policies • Expanding markets; increasing demand forest products • Restitution and privatization processes: new private forest owners • Foundations of forest policy-making changed

EU Enlargement (cont. ) • How to balance the demands on forest conservation, close-to-nature

EU Enlargement (cont. ) • How to balance the demands on forest conservation, close-to-nature forest resource management, economic utilisation and social sustainability in market economy? • Financing of sustainable forest management? • Implementation of Pan-European and global commitments? • Cross-sectoral policy co-ordination in new political context?

Do We Need a New Forest Strategy for Europe? Policy options: regulative means, financial

Do We Need a New Forest Strategy for Europe? Policy options: regulative means, financial instruments, informational tools and development of institutions - policy mix of these Political reality: starting points of EU Forest Strategy; International commitments Conclusion: New political foci, new innovations and institutional solutions are needed!

Challenge for Pan-European Forest Strategy Joint Pan-European programme of EU Forest Strategy and MCPFE,

Challenge for Pan-European Forest Strategy Joint Pan-European programme of EU Forest Strategy and MCPFE, focusing on informational policy means, capacity building, network strengthening and partnership arrangements - new inter-institutional solutions

A question remains …

A question remains …

Draft Convention on the Constitution of Europe (July 18, 2003) • Articles on Agriculture

Draft Convention on the Constitution of Europe (July 18, 2003) • Articles on Agriculture and Fishery Environment - no mentioning of forests or forestry - “natural resources” mentioned under Articles regarding environment • Implications for EU Forest Strategy?

Thank you!

Thank you!