Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest
Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy
Prag Oct 7 2016
ROUNTABLE discussion
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Key statement (1)
Energy change: conflict of interest between intensified wood production
and biodiversity enhancement or unique chance to bring the two sides
together?
Intensified wood production can be reached via intensive short rotation
plantations or the old system of coppices with or without standards. On the
other hand instruments of biodiversity enhancement are forest reserves,
extensively managed forests (including deadwood, habitat trees, step-stone
habitats) but also clear forests bringing more light on the forest floor.
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Key statement (2)
Climate change is challenging forest management as risks and
uncertainties are high and difficult to predict.
In Switzerland, as example, a straightforward strategy could be risk reduction
and risk distribution through enhancement of biodiversity in general, but
specifically diversity of tree species, stand structures and genetic resources.
Hence enhancement of biodiversity as a strategy to increase forest
resistance to changing environmental conditions?
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Key statement (3)
Optimization of wood production and biodiversity enhancement is
certainly a question of segregation versus integration.
But I see another challenge, namely the planning of this concept on
different spatial scales – from a single habitat tree, to stepping stone
habitats bridging forest reserves across intensively managed forests,
organizing coppice forests, intensive plantations and reserves on a landscape
scale or even country scale – and different temporal scales.
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Key statement (4)
Forest management respecting the different forest services from the single
tree to the landscape level is a very sophisticated and demanding
management task, where the forest service and the foresters with their indepth knowhow are the experts and should be the logic leader…
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Key statement (5)
Planning of forest management respecting the different forest services from
the single tree to the landscape level must include ideally all forests
including state forests, communal forests and private forests.
Hence compensation/subsidies for public services is necessary as incentive
for the forest owners. This was suggested by Pia Mayer-Gampe in her
presentation bringing up the idea of “Nature Conservation contracts”.
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016
Questions from the audience
Integration of Biodiversity Enhancement in Sustainable Forest Management in the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; Prag Oct 7 2016