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Sustainable forestry was practised in Central Europe in the 19th century
and the culture of sustainable use has survived until today in some parts
of the region, particularly in Slovenia. In many parts of Western and
Central Europe, however, monocultures, especially those consisting of
fast-growing commercially valuable coniferous species, have displaced
indigenous broadleaved forest species; they are unable to support high
biodiversity and are more vulnerable to acidification.
All countries in the region are making efforts to decrease wood production
from natural forests and enhance biological diversity and other environmental
services and protection functions by managing them in a more sustainable
manner. To support these efforts, a framework for Pan-European Forest
Certification (PEFC) provides a voluntary mechanism for forest certification
and makes provision for mutual recognition of different European national
systems and non-European schemes. National PEFC governing bodies have
been established in 15 European countries (FAO 2001b).
Another solution to the problem of deforestation is the imposition of
fines and other economic instruments on illegal as well as legal cutting.
In Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland revenue for
forest protection and reforestation activities is generated through timber
extraction charges or fines. In Romania, however, the abolition of self-imposed
restrictions on wood exports in 1995, combined with increased prices for
sawn timber, have led environmentalists to fear increases in illegal cutting
and overexploitation (REC 2000).
In addition to national actions, European countries are parties to international
collaborative efforts which directly or indirectly address forest issues.
Several broad international agreements covering the protection of species,
such as the CBD, CITES and RAMSAR Convention, also indirectly protect
forests. The European Community Council Directive 92/43/EC on the conservation
of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive) entered
into force in June 1994. However, two of its requirements - incorporation
in national legislation and the submission of national lists of Natura
2000 candidate sites - have not been fulfilled by all Member States.
There have been three Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests
in Europe (MCPFEs) since 1990. The second (Helsinki 1993) agreed on a
common definition of sustainable forest management (see box). The third
(Lisbon 1998) put special emphasis on the socio-economic aspects of sustainable
forest management. Resolutions were adopted on People, Forests and Forestry,
on Pan-European Criteria (see box) and on Indicators and Operational Guidelines
for Sustainable Forest Management (MCPFE Liaison Unit 2000). The resolutions
are now being integrated into an overall work programme (FAO 2001a).
| Pan-European criteria for sustainable forest
management |
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'Sustainable management means the stewardship and use of forests
and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity,
productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential
to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic
and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and
that does not cause damage to other ecosystems' (Resolution H1,
2nd meeting, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests
in Europe (MCPFE)). Criteria for sustainable forest management adopted
by MCPFE in 1998:
- maintenance and appropriate enhancement of forest resources
and their contribution to global carbon cycles;
- maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality;
- maintenance and encouragement of productive functions of forests
(wood and non-wood);
- maintenance, conservation and appropriate enhancement of biological
diversity in forest ecosystems;
- maintenance and appropriate enhancement of protective functions
in forest management (notably soil and water); and
- maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.
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| Source: MCPFE Liaison Unit (2000) |
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