What’s the relationship between man and forests? Forest management and nature conservation
Forests in Europe are usually preserved in areas unsuitable for agriculture. There is also a small percentage of forests untouched by human intervention. Virgin forests (ancient / pristine / old-growth /primary) which are not affected by man account for about 4% of all forests of Europe, although defining what a virgin forest is varies among different countries. Most of them grow in places difficult to public access as in northern Scandinavia, northern areas of the European part of Russia, the Alps and the Balkans. Most of these forests are located in Sweden (16 %). On the other hand, few European forests derive entirely from artificial plantations. There are some exceptions. Countries with many plantation crops are those with a well-developed alien species cultivation (Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ireland, France and Portugal). There are no plantations in Finland, Germany and Austria. In defining plantation crops, the purpose of their establishment is taken into account, for example fast timber production. In plantations, soil protection is taken into account, including fertilization, keeping regular spacing between trees, pruning. Forests, consisting of shade-intolerant species, may resemble plantation crops in the early stages of their life. However, even in plantations with few tree species and regular spacing between trees, the tending treatments may lead to loss of this spacing. These stands will become semi-natural forests due to random factors and foresters' decisions. In Central Europe the composition of Scots pine forests (Pinus sylvestris) can change due to their enrichment with oak (because of birds) and birch (wind).
As a result of afforestation during the period after World War II and of a tendency to propagate pine and spruce, large forest areas over-covered by spruce and pine. These forest areas need restoration in order to have more deciduous trees and firs. This change occurs in at least two ways.
In younger tree stands of II-III age class, shadow-tolerant species are introduced under the pine. In a few decades they will dominate by replacing the previous dominant species. |
Old tree stands either not well adapted in the natural habitat or stands with a closed canopy that does not let light reach the forest floor, are restored by cutting. The type and size of felling depends on the demands of the introduced younger generations.
Revaluation of the role of European forests forced managers to use management methods, which do not lead to total removal of all old trees. Cutting trees in groups on small areas of irregular shape are partly a response to social expectations for forest protection. Due to the above reason and not for economical ones, clearcuttings have been abandoned for the stands’ regeneration. However, in tree stands requiring light, which grow in poor habitats, abandoning clearcuttings is not entirely possible. In the case of natural regeneration of shade-intolerant species by seeds, clearcutting is necessary.
Despite various restrictions in timber production, demand for wood is increasing in all European countries. The European Community faces a dilemma. How to support ecological forestry in their area and at the same time cover the growing demand for wood? Is importing raw materials from outside Europe the proper solution? Imported timber, in order to be cheap and profitable, should either derive from plantations or from non-sustainable logging. In this way we protect forests in our home country but we cause forests degradation in other, poorer regions of the world. |
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One solution is to follow a more rational approach to multifunctional forest management at local level such as adopting a system for certifying the origin of wood raw material. Certified products guarantee that all proper procedures during the entire cycle of production, transportation and processing were followed.
There are around 90 different forms of protection for European forests. National Parks and nature reserves (with a different protection status) are the first to be mentioned. Other forms include areas of protected landscape forests of aesthetic value. A comparison among different forms of nature protection between countries in Europe is a difficult task, due to the different importance of each one of them. In each country these forms are defined differently and include different methods for forest conservation. Some of the forests in central Europe that protect water and soil have a higher felling age or restricted uses. Sometimes tree felling in “normal” high forests (mountains of Italy), is even more restricted, i.e. cutting down only single trees. The percentage of forests under strict protection does not always guarantee high level of natural resources protection. This percentage varies from 1-2 %, up to over 10 % (Slovakia and Portugal), and up to 24 % (in Liechtenstein). Strict protection rules give the chance to observe and sustain natural processes occurring in isolated ecosystems. In some cases, strict protection leads to significant changes in the forest ecosystem.
There are around 90 different forms of protection for European forests. National Parks and nature reserves (with a different protection status) are the first to be mentioned. Other forms include areas of protected landscape forests of aesthetic value. A comparison among different forms of nature protection between countries in Europe is a difficult task, due to the different importance of each one of them. In each country these forms are defined differently and include different methods for forest conservation. Some of the forests in central Europe that protect water and soil have a higher felling age or restricted uses. Sometimes tree felling in “normal” high forests (mountains of Italy), is even more restricted, i.e. cutting down only single trees. The percentage of forests under strict protection does not always guarantee high level of natural resources protection. This percentage varies from 1-2 %, up to over 10 % (Slovakia and Portugal), and up to 24 % (in Liechtenstein). Strict protection rules give the chance to observe and sustain natural processes occurring in isolated ecosystems. In some cases, strict protection leads to significant changes in the forest ecosystem.
For the protection of nature, a programme covering the whole of Europe was established, named Natura 2000. The programme is an EU wide network of nature protection areas established under two EU Directives: the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. The aim of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. The programme aims at sustainable land management in Natura 2000 areas and should have social acceptance.
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The existence of Natura 2000 areas involves several obligations. Before giving permission for the implementation of projects that may affect these areas, their impact must be assessed first. If there is a negative impact, permission is not given because the ecosystem’s protection is more important. Any deterioration of natural habitats or birds population should be prevented, while their current status should be ensured. Moreover, it should be mentioned that natural habitats and birds protection also entails the protection of all the elements of the ecosystem. About 20 % of Europe's land area is under Natura 2000 protection where forests play the most important role.