Close to Nature ForestryClose to Nature Forestryandand

Forest Policy Challenges in EuropeForest Policy Challenges in Europe

Ilpo Tikkanen, European Forest Institute

Zvolen, Slovakia 14-19 October, 2003

Together with Olga Zyrina and EFI researchers

CClose-to-Naturelose-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 for forest research?

ContentsContents

• 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 Close-to-nature” forestry has appeared in various forms has appeared in various forms

at international forest policy agenda at international forest policy agenda

since 1990’s: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 Policy output of international forest policy processes:forest policy processes:

• Consensus of the concept of sustainable forest management – Helsinki Resolution 1

• International conventions (CBD, FCCC)

• 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: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 Room for innovative policies?policies?

Annual fellings and annual Annual fellings and annual incrementincrement

in some European countriesin some European countries0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Russian Fed.

Sweden

Germany

France

Poland

Finland

Turkey

Belarus

Ukraine

Italy

Spain

Austria

Norway

Czech Rep.

United Kingd.

Latvia

Slovak Rep.

Hungary

Bulgaria

Estonia

Switzerland

Denmark

Annual Increment

Annual Fellings

Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

European total fellingsEuropean total fellings

0.00E+00

1.00E+08

2.00E+08

3.00E+08

4.00E+08

5.00E+08

6.00E+08

7.00E+08

8.00E+08

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060

Fe

llin

gs v

olu

me (

m3)

Historic Multi-func Efiscen -ETTS

Max-sust-prod Bus-as -us ETTS V

COMTRADE data ( removal u.b.) ETTS-Kuusela

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1950

1955

1960

1970

1980

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

2040

2045

2050

Year

Gro

win

g s

tock (

m3 h

a-1)

Historic forest resource assessments Multi-func

Efiscen -ETTS Max-sust-prod

Bus-as-us ETTS V

European average growing stock, European average growing stock, historic and projected, current climatehistoric and projected, current climate

Regeneration by different Regeneration by different regeneration types in some regeneration types in some

European countriesEuropean countries0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

CyprusSwitzerland

GeorgiaSlovenia

AustriaRussian Fed.

CroatiaLiechtenstein

ItalyNorway

GermanyBulgaria

FranceMoldovaPortugalFinlandTurkey

NetherlandsSwedenBelgium

LithuaniaBelarus

HungaryDenmark

Slovak Rep.Ukraine

United KingdomPoland

Czech Rep.Ireland

Natural regeneration Natural regeneration enhanced by planting Coppice sprouting Planting or seeding

Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

Trends in demand and Trends in demand and forest product markets – forest product markets –

pressure on economic pressure on economic viability?viability?

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

Bruce Michie, EFI

European political European political framework for Close-to-framework for Close-to-

Nature forestryNature forestry

Policy Issues at 4th MCPFEPolicy Issues at 4th 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. H1)

MCPFE issues cont.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 ResolutionsVienna Resolutions

•Strengthen synergies for SFM through cross- sectoral co-operation and national forest programs

•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

V1: V1: Cross-sectoral Co-operation Cross-sectoral Co-operation and National Forest Programmesand National Forest Programmes

• “MCPFE Approach to National Forest Programmes”

- 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

V2: Enhancing Economic V2: Enhancing Economic Viability of SFMViability 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 socio-economic and policy research

V3: Preserving Social and V3: Preserving Social and Cultural Dimensions of SFMCultural 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!

V4: Conserving Biological DiversityV4: 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

V5: Climate Change and SFMV5: 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: EU – Forest Strategy: need for a reform?need for a reform?

The EU Forest StrategyThe 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

PrinciplesPrinciples

• Decentralized approach - subsidiarity

• Based on national policies and programmes

• Forest-based commercial activities within the rules of open market economy

Aims of the StrategyAims 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 StrategyChallenges 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 enlargementImpact of EU enlargement

Forest Area1997, mln. ha

EU 15:113.6

New EU:33.4

(+ 29%)

Growing Stockbln. m3

EU 15:13.4

New EU:6.26

(+ 47%)

Private ForestOwners

EU 15:~ 12 million

New EU:~ 4 million

(Total 16 million)

EU Enlargement:EU Enlargement:Forest Policies at Cross-road in Forest Policies at Cross-road in

Europe?Europe?

• Forest resource scenarios: increasing potentials provide scope for design of innovative forest policies

• Expanding markets; increasing demand for forest products

• Restitution and privatization processes: new private forest owners

• Foundations of forest policy-making changed

EU Enlargement (cont.)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 StrategyDo We Need a New Forest Strategyfor Europe?for Europe?

Policy options: regulative means, financialinstruments, informational tools and developmentof institutions - policy mix of these

Political reality: starting points of EU ForestStrategy; International commitments

Conclusion: New political foci, new innovationsand institutional solutions are needed!

Challenge for Pan-EuropeanChallenge for Pan-EuropeanForest StrategyForest 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 Draft Convention on on

the Constitution of Europe the Constitution of Europe (July 18, 2003)(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!