Planning FROM biodiversity Best practices in forest management in Natura 2000 Spain Planing for Biodiversity, Warsaw, November 2011

Mainstreaming biodiversity and Natura 2000 into the forestry policy Mainstreaming biodiversity and Natura 2000 into the forest management WHAT PLANNING FROM BIODIVERSITY MEANS WHAT ARE WE PLANNING FOR Forests can live without people. In fact, they love to! But people cannot live without forests… although many people don´t know it Forests ARE biodiversity. Forests without biodiversity are only “agriculture” So let's be selfish: Let's plan FOR us, let's plan FOR people FROM biodiversity

After Sweden, the largest forest area among EU member States 56,27 million has. (57% of the country area, from which 60% are forest and 40% scrubland) 4 biogeographical regions and wide alttitudinal differences: 17 different forest types Ownership: 10% Estate-regional authorities, 24 % municipalities, 66% private Timber production: 37% forest area Timber harvesting: 15,7 million m3/year Forests in Spain

4 Biogeographical Regions 116 habitat types (including 27 forest habitats Nearly 27% of Spain (plus marine areas)

Sustainable management in practice: Valsain Forest

Guadarrama mountains (North slope) Region: Castilla y Leon Distance from Madrid: 73 km

Royal property from 1768 to 1934 Property of National Heritage from 1934 to 1982 Property of National Parks Body from 1982 Starting of timber extraction: XV C. Starting of active management: XVIII C.

TOTAL AREA: 10,668 ha OWNER: National Parks Body (Ministry of the Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs) VASCULAR FLORA: 867 taxons (excluded 69 alochthonous species) MAMMALS: 45 BIRDS: 150 (over 100 nesting species incluing Aquila adalberti and Aegypus monachus) REPTILES: 15 AMPHIBIANS: 10 FISH: 5 NATURAL HABITATS: Pinus sylvestris forest as most predominant habitat. Quercus pyrenaica forests, Quercus ilex forests, riparian forests, mixed forests (Corylus avellanus, Salix sp., Fraxinus angustifolia, Prunus avium, Populus tremula, Betula alba...), Ilex aquifolium forest PROTECTION DESIGNATIONS: Special Protection Area (SPA), 1988 Site of Community Importance (SIC), 1998 Critical Area (Spanish Imperial Eagle Recovery Plan), 2003

USES Timber production Cattle grazing Mushroom and firewood picking Hunting Recreational use Research (Scientific fieldwork)

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION - Resource Centre (Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs) supporting public or private groups carrying out environmental education programmes or activities, and environmental communication activities. - Supports environmental education and information activities carried out at Valsain Forest.

VALSAIN SAWMILL - Owner: National Parks Body - Processes the timber felled from Valsain forest - Production: m3 plank under the trade mark „Maderas de Valsain” (registred trade mark, 1991) plus biomass pellets and briquettes

MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS Forestry Cattle grazing, other economic activities Hunting Public use, environmental education/information Conservation of habitats and species FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN (6 th Review in force) Complementary instruments: Plan for the Valsain Forest Hunting Estate

PROCEDURE RULES FOR FELLING CONTROL FOR FIRE FIGHTING FOR PLAGUE MANAGEMENT FOR DEAD WOOD MANAGEMENT FOR CONTROL AND MONITORING OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR ASSESSMENT OF HABITATS AND FLORA AND FAUNA TAXONS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

WHO? - National Parks Body (coordination and approval) - National Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (Several Departments) - Regional Government of Castilla y Leon (Several Departments) FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

San Ildefonso Municipality National Heritage Body Representatives of cattle breeders Representatives of hunters Representatives of hospitality and active tourism sectors CENEAM (National Center for Environmental Education and Communication) CSIC (National Council for Scientific Research) Environmental NGOs ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING

Speciesm3 Pinus sylvestris Pinus nigra2.393 Quercus pyrenaica Quercus ilex3.822 Pinus sylvestris potential32.374,75 Quercus sp. potential500 Forest timber stocks and potential SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY IN THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

General goal: To maintain an irregular forest including trees of all ages (planning from biodiversity) while producing a sustained yield of timber, and other economic benefits (planning for people) Forest is divided into 25 working circles for different purposes (mostly production) One circle devoted to recreational purposes (3 recreative areas, Interpretation Centre, CENEAM) At least in 1working circle of pine forest timber is not felled in order to mantain an area of mature natural forest

METHOD: Floating periodic blocks/felling method group shelterwood cutting Classification of different stands in the working circle by maturity of the trees: A) Regeneration group: during the review period regeneration should be begun, continued or completed (Thinning) B) Improvement group: stands in which regeneration has been achieved (Mature trees are felled and liberation felling is carried out to achieved optimum density) C) Preparation group: stands with full density and almost mature trees Pines maturity: 120 years

NO LOGGING in pine forest: * In a radius of 100 m around Black Vulture and Imperial Eagle nests * In a radius of 500 m around Black Vulture and Imperial Eagle nests during breeding period * In high visibility areas (impact on landscape) * Holly tree forests, mixed forests, holm oak forests * In, at least, one working circle of pine forest (working circle = 400 has approx.)

CERTIFIED FOREST Timber production: m3/year. Pasture for 1403 cows, 165 horses, 2500 sheeps Game (1.296 has. 220 shooting, 41 hunting) Recreation for visitors/year CO2 sink (net sequestration t/year) Job creation: 10% of active population in the municipality

STAFF AT VALSAIN FOREST 52 PEOPLE UNDER THE FOREST AND SAWMILL DIRECTOR (Field workers, sawmill staff, administrative staff, forest rangers, environment agents, 4 qualified specialists) Plus assistance from public and private enterprises taken on for different technical matters