Forestry development and biodiversity in the enlarged European Union

Forestry Development and Biodiversity in the

Enlarged European UnionAristotelis C. Papageorgiou

Garifallos ArabatzisStelios Tampakis

Democritus University of ThraceDept. of Forestry & Management of Environment & Natural Resources

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Presentation plan• The evolution of the biodiversity concept• The forest & environmental approach of

BD• The forest ecosystems of the enlarged

EU• Challenges and obstacles for BD in the

EU forest policies• The role of the new EU members

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Nature protection & biodiversity

• The environmental movement started in the 50s and 60s – emphasis on the protection of wild ecosystems and species.

• First approach: the maintenance of the existing populations or ecosystems – absolute protection – meeting aesthetic & spiritual targets – focused on specific nature issues.

• Consideration of nature dynamics – ecology, genetics, wildlife biology & applied sciences – integration of policy, social, economic aspects.

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Biodiversity & Conservation

• Conservation Biology & Conservation Planning developed in the 80s – a new concept was needed: scientific, dynamic, inclusive, policy oriented – Biodiversity

• Most official definition: CBD Rio 1992 – the main environmental concept ever since

• The EU has signed, ratified and followed up the CBD – EU Biodiversity Strategy (1998) – Birds and Habitats Directives.

• BD became part of other EU policies (i.e. CAP).

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The biodiversity concept• Biodiversity is not the # species / ha –

includes all the features ensuring the dynamic processes in an ecosystem

• BD conservation: a) conservation of specific elements, b) sustainable use of resources, c) equal share of benefits to society.

• Main features:– The complexity of BD levels– The variation in interpretations of the concept

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Forest biodiversity• Conservation of forests has gained a

significant part of conventions, treaties and action plans for biodiversity conservation.

• forests are in many parts of the world the most “wild” and complex terrestrial ecosystems and at the same time the most impressive ones,

• forests are decreasing world-wide,• forest science is the most developed,

applied, on the ground, nature management scientific discipline.

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Biodiversity & forestry• The production of timber in a sustainable way

was considered enough to maintain other benefits.

• SFM includes three main parameters: economic, environmental, social.

• BD was integrated in recent forest policy documents in all levels.

• The forest perception: SFM for production, while respecting BD and other externalities.

• The environment perception: SFM is a tool (among others) to secure BD conservation.

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The forest perception

Biodiversity conservation as an externality of SFM

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The environment perception

SFM as a tool to achieve biodiversity conservation

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Linking the perceptions• Environmental agencies consider BD as a priority

in all management activities• Parties representing the forest sector prefer to

see the economic character of forestry as a priority.

• BD conservation and SFM are linked:– Complexity of both concepts– Long term character

• “Ecosystem approach” & “close to nature” forestry

• Tools, such as SFM certification, “criteria & indicators”, National Forest Programmes

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Level Origin of the instrument

Legally binding instruments

Non-legally binding instruments

International

Environment

Ramsar Convention (1972)World Heritage Convention (1972)CITES (1973)CBD (1993)

World Charter for Nature (1982)Statement of Forest Principles (1992)Agenda 21, chapter 11 on Combating Deforestation (1992)IUCN Protected Area Management Categories (1994)

Forest ITTA (1983, 1994)  

European Environment

EU Birds Directive (1979)EU Habitats Directive (1992)

The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy

Forest Protocol on Mountain Forests of the Alpine Convention (1991)

MCPFE H2 (1993) & L2 (1998)Work programme on the conservation and enhancement of biological and landscape diversity in forest ecosystems 1997-2000 (1997)

Agreements containing measures for forest biodiversity

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EU becomes richer!• Forest area of the EU increases by 18%• Forest cover decreases slightly• Timber production increases by 30%• Paper & pulp production increases by 6%• New member states have forests rich in

biodiversity: Mediterranean (i.e. Cyprus), boreal (Baltic countries), mountainous forests (i.e. Czech & Slovak Republics).

• Most forests are classified as “semi-natural”.

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Forestry in the new Member States

• Most have long forestry tradition.• Emphasis is given in benefits for society.• Most countries are timber producing.• Biodiversity conservation is in many countries

a major pillar of forest policy.• Central forest administration.• Mostly state owned – changes since the 1990s.• Economies in transition.• Environmental problems mainly due to

pollution.

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Forest BD agreementsCBD

signedCBD

ratifiedMCPF

ERams

arWHC

CITES

Cyprus 12/6/92

10/7/96

Czech Republic

04/6/93

03/12/93

Estonia 12/6/92

27/07/94

Hungary 13/6/92

24/02/94

Latvia 11/6/92

14/12/95

Lithuania 11/6/92

01/02/96

Malta 12/6/92

29/12/00

Poland 05/6/92

18/01/96

Slovak Republic

19/5/93

25/08/94

Slovenia 13/6/92

09/07/96

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0

50000

100000

150000

200000

Forest Cover EU 25

New States

EU 15

Source: FAO country profiles

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

New States EU 15 EU 25

Forest Cover of the EU

Other Land

Forest

Source: FAO country profiles

21/03/2003 19Source: FAO country profiles

050000

100000150000

200000250000300000350000

Roundwood

Industrial Roundwood

Wood Fuel

Wood Residues

Sawnwood

Wood-Based Panels

Forest Production EU 25

New MembersEU 15

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0100002000030000400005000060000700008000090000

Pulp & Paper EU 25

New Members

EU 15

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Expected trends for production

• Trade between EU & new members is today lower than expected (distance, income) – trade is expected to increase

• Demand and consumption is increasing – pressures for higher production.

• Accessibility to markets will improve.• Private bodies will press for participation

and changes in ownership.• Short term perspective – short rotations.

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Expected trends for protection

• Demand for public goods will be increasing.

• Need for adaptability of forest ecosystems (climate change, etc.).

• Further need for protection from natural hazards (i.e. floods).

• Importance of biodiversity in/of forest ecosystems will increase.

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Trends for forest biodiversity

• Liberalization in market mechanisms and the minimized role of the state in forest management will put pressure on biodiversity targets in forestry.

• The public & the international environmental scene are interested in the maintenance of forest biodiversity and the benefits deriving from it.

• The maintenance of BD in the forest is a prerequisite for the maintenance of its functions.

• A need to secure the role of SFM in the EU from negative side – effects of economy transition.

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The challenges for the EU• To improve the liberalization of the market, without

risking the long term perspectives of forests.• To introduce techniques, legislation and instruments

of the EU in the new members without losing their long forestry tradition – keep variety within the EU.

• To modify the role of the state and keep its controlling, supporting and coordinating function.

• To make best use of the public forests for the society & to assist the viability of private owners, securing the integrity of the forest ecosystems.

• To improve the cross sectoral dialogue in the EU.

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Forestry and biodiversity

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The role of the new EU members

• Bring their view in the EU and the international forest policy scene.

• Promote the implementation of policy decisions on the ground, by changing and re-shaping the existing instruments.

• Support the dialogue between parties and create national approaches for the linkage between BD conservation and forestry.

• Work on capacity building, information exchange and alignment of forest data within the EU.