Development of Afforestation Programs
and their Implementation
1) Strategic Considerations
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134
Contents
1. Strategic considerations
2. Decision making process
3. Technical aspects
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134
Preliminary remark
The presentation includes in particular experiences and results
gained inter alia in the frame of the
 project to increase the resilience of forest stands in the Southern
Caucasus financed by the European Union
and
 the project „ Mitigating impacts of Climate change through
restoration of Forest landscapes in the Southern Caucasus“
funded by the German Government,
implemented by WWF Caucasus Programme Office
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134
Objective of presentation
•
Starting point for further technical discussion
•
Support to the joint development of site specific
concepts
•
Development of decision making flow chart
• Development of a blueprint for afforestation programs
Strategic considerations on country level
 Existence of an initiative to increase the forest cover
 Legal instruments to support afforestation
 Relation to the planning of other sectors
 Roadmap to increase forest cover ( by time and area)
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134
Example Germany
Kazakhstan
• EU support for
• Green Development
establishment and
• …….
protection of forests
• Incl. financial subsidies
for private and
communal forest
owners
• German Forest Law
protects existing forests
by quantity and quality
Hessian Forest Law :
• Due to their economic value
(productive function), their
importance for the
environment (protective
function) and for the recreation
of the citizens (recreational
function) forests should be
protected. The forest area
should be increased, where
necessary.
• Obligation to avoid conversion
of forests
• Public planning has to consider
forest issues and to inform
forest authorities in advance
Strategic considerations on provincial level
 Forest framework planning
 Matching of forest activities with other sectors (e.g.
agriculture, infrastructure development, mining)
 Criteria favouring or limiting afforestation
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134
Example:
 Federal Republic of
Germany
 State of Hesse
• Administrative
Region of
Northern Hesse
Example Hesse
Administrative Region of Northern Hesse
Land use pattern
%
Area (sq km)
Forestry
42,1
3489,2
Agriculture
46,4
3845,6
Settlements etc.
11,5
953,1
100
8 288
Example: Hesse (Germany)
Regional Land Use
Planning
• Settlements
• Energy
• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Traffic
• …..
Forest
Framework
Planning
To match the different interests and to
allow sound planning at a very early
stage the designation of priority and
reserved areas was done within the
province (regional) land-use planning
process.
Regional planning principles with regard to forestry
• Priority Forest Areas : In these areas the forest cover
and the forest functions should be kept permanently.
Forestry has priority over other land-use interests.
Land-use and interventions which do not comply with
forestry are excluded.
• Reserved Forest Areas: Areas without actual forest
cover, where afforestation activities are prior to other
activities and should be implemented. Land-use that
may exclude afforestation are not allowed.
Forest Framework Planning
On province level:
1. Assessment and evaluation of
1.1 Natural elements
1.1.1 Climate
1.1.2 Geology
1.1.3 Natural forest associations
1.2 Forest structure and forest organisation
1.2.1 Land use
1.2.2 Deforestation
1.2.3 Afforestation
1.2.4 Sites and growing stock
1.2.5 Forest structure and organisation
1/3
Forest Framework Planning
1.3 Forest Functions
1.3.1 Production
1.3.2 Income
1.3.3 Employment
1.3.4 Protection
1.3.5 Recreation
1.3.6 Climate
1.3.7 Forest protection
2/3
Forest Framework Planning
2. Objectives and measures
1. Preservation of forests
2. Increase of forests
3. Limitation of forests
4. Safeguarding of forest functions
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
Production
Income
Employment
Recreation
Protection
Biotope and species Conservation
3/3
Criteria favouring increase of forest area
Due to the manifold positive impacts of forests the
increase of forest cover should be aimed at in particular in
areas with forest cover lower-than-average (Germany
32%, Hesse 42%). Preference should be given to sites
• with high growth potential,
• enhancement of landscape and recreational function,
• improvement of habitats,
• improvement of protection against immissions
• Increase of climate protection,
• Increase of soil protective function
Criteria limiting afforestation
The following sites should be excluded from afforestation:
• Where biotope and species conservation would be
affected negatively (e.g. nature conservation areas,
swamps),
• Where landscape and recreation would be affected (e.g.
meadowland).
Areas suitable
for afforestation
Dark green :
Actual forest
cover
Light green:
Potential forest
sites
The clarification of these general conditions is an essential
precondition to allow further detailed planning and
decision making on forest management unit level and to
avoid conflicts with other land users.
Project financed by the European Union
Astana
24 April 20134