Close to Nature Forestry and Forest Policy Challenges in Europe

1. Close to Nature ForestryandForest Policy Challenges in Europe Zvolen, Slovakia 14-19 October, 2003 Ilpo Tikkanen,European Forest Institute Together with Olga Zyrina and EFI researchers

2. Close-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?

3. Contents • 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

4. “Close-to-nature” forestry has appeared in various forms at international forest policy agenda 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

5. Policy output of international 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

6. Conclusion: • Progress atpolicy level • Issues and policy failures are related to • Policy implementation • Policy co-ordination • Law enforcement • Financing of ecological sustainability / SFM

7. Room for innovative policies?

8. Source: UNECE/FAO (2000) Annual fellings and annual incrementin some European countries

9. European total fellings

10. European average growing stock, historic and projected, current climate

11. Source: UNECE/FAO (2000) Regeneration by different regeneration types in some European countries

12. Trends in demand and forest product markets – pressure on economic viability?

13. Bruce Michie, EFI

14. Bruce Michie, EFI

15. Bruce Michie, EFI

16. Bruce Michie, EFI

17. European political framework for Close-to-Nature forestry

18. Policy Issues at 4th MCPFE Political commitments expressed andpolicy issues identified in Vienna Declaration and 5 Vienna Resolutions Overall policy aim: achieve balance between the economic, ecological, social andcultural roles of forests in the context ofsustainable development(cf. H1)

19. 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

20. Vienna 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

21. V1: Cross-sectoral Co-operation and 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

22. V2: Enhancing Economic Viability of SFM • Economic viability key pillar of SFM • key issue: how to finance the enhancedconcept of sustainability? • especially challenging to implement in new EU member countries • challenge for inter-disciplinary socio-economicand policy research

23. V3: Preserving Social and Cultural Dimensions of SFM • Policy issue for both rural livelihoodsand 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 socialsustainability and related policy implications!

24. V4: Conserving Biological Diversity • Policy issue: how to preserve - or enhance? Socio-economic consequences and scope for innovative policies? • challenge for research: impacts ofvarious policy instruments on preservingbiodiversity and enhancing forest management towards close-to-nature; evaluation of policyfailures; cross-sectoral policy impacts

25. V5: Climate Change and SFM • Inter-disciplinary research challenges: - socio-economic impacts (costs and benefits) of climate change - evaluation of policy impacts and policy options

26. EU – Forest Strategy: need for a reform?

27. The 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

28. Principles • Decentralized approach - subsidiarity • Based on national policies and programmes • Forest-based commercial activities within therules of open market economy

29. Aims of the Strategy • to better deal with the complexity of Community legislation influencing forest policiesin Member States • horizontal issues related to forestry favourcross-sectoral approach; e.g. rural development • EU should have a single voice in internationalpolicy processes, such as IPF/IFF/UNFF • to strengthen internal co-ordination

30. Challenges for EU Forest Strategy • expectations have not been fulfilled • forest sector is a major economic sector in EU • but, environmental issues, such as biodiversityand climate change are dominating forestpolicies • need to further strengthen integrated regionaland local level approaches to balance cross-sectoral issues

31. Impact of EU enlargement Forest Area 1997, mln. ha EU 15: 113.6 New EU: 33.4 (+ 29%) Growing Stock bln. m3 EU 15: 13.4 New EU: 6.26 (+ 47%) Private Forest Owners EU 15: ~ 12 million New EU: ~ 4 million (Total 16 million)

32. EU Enlargement:Forest Policies at Cross-road in Europe? • Forest resource scenarios: increasing potentialsprovide scope for design of innovative forestpolicies • Expanding markets; increasing demand for forestproducts • Restitution and privatization processes: new private forest owners • Foundations of forest policy-making changed

33. EU Enlargement (cont.) • How to balance the demands on forestconservation, close-to-nature forest resource management, economic utilisation andsocial sustainability in market economy? • Financing of sustainable forest management? • Implementation of Pan-European and globalcommitments? • Cross-sectoral policy co-ordination in newpolitical context?

34. Do We Need a New Forest Strategyfor Europe? Policy options: regulative means, financial instruments, informational tools and development of institutions - policy mix of these Political reality: starting points of EU Forest Strategy; International commitments Conclusion: New political foci, new innovations and institutional solutions are needed!

35. Challenge for Pan-EuropeanForest Strategy Joint Pan-European programme of EU ForestStrategy and MCPFE, focusing on informationalpolicy means, capacity building, network strengthening and partnership arrangements - new inter-institutional solutions

36. A question remains …

37. Draft Convention on the Constitution of Europe (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?

38. Thank you!