Close to Nature Forestry and Forest Policy Challenges in Europe Ilpo Tikkanen, European Forest Institute Zvolen, Slovakia October, 2003 Together with Olga Zyrina and EFI researchers

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?

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

“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

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

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

Room for innovative policies?

Annual fellings and annual increment in some European countries Source: UNECE/FAO (2000)

European total fellings

European average growing stock, historic and projected, current climate

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

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

Bruce Michie, EFI

European political framework for Close-to-Nature forestry

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

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

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

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

V2: Enhancing Economic Viability of SFM Economic viability key pillar of SFM -key issue: how to finance the enhanced concept of sustainability? -especially challenging to implement in new EU member countries -challenge for inter-disciplinary socio- economic and policy research

V3: Preserving Social and Cultural Dimensions of SFM Policy issue for both rural livelihoods and 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 social sustainability and related policy implications!

V4: Conserving Biological Diversity Policy issue: how to preserve - or enhance? Socio-economic consequences and scope for innovative policies? -challenge for research: impacts of various policy instruments on preserving biodiversity and enhancing forest management towards close-to-nature; evaluation of policy failures; cross-sectoral policy impacts

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

EU – Forest Strategy: need for a reform?

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

Principles Decentralized approach - subsidiarity Based on national policies and programmes Forest-based commercial activities within the rules of open market economy

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

Challenges for EU Forest Strategy expectations have not been fulfilled forest sector is a major economic sector in EU but, environmental issues, such as biodiversity and climate change are dominating forest policies need to further strengthen integrated regional and local level approaches to balance cross- sectoral issues

Impact of EU enlargement Forest Area 1997, mln. ha EU 15: New EU: 33.4 (+ 29%) Growing Stock bln. m 3 EU 15: 13.4 New EU: 6.26 (+ 47%) Private Forest Owners EU 15: ~ 12 million New EU: ~ 4 million (Total 16 million)

EU Enlargement: Forest Policies at Cross-road in Europe? Forest resource scenarios: increasing potentials provide scope for design of innovative forest policies Expanding markets; increasing demand for forest products Restitution and privatization processes: new private forest owners Foundations of forest policy-making changed

EU Enlargement (cont.) How to balance the demands on forest conservation, close-to-nature forest resource management, economic utilisation and social sustainability in market economy? Financing of sustainable forest management? Implementation of Pan-European and global commitments? Cross-sectoral policy co-ordination in new political context?

Do We Need a New Forest Strategy for 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!

Challenge for Pan-European Forest Strategy Joint Pan-European programme of EU Forest Strategy and MCPFE, focusing on informational policy means, capacity building, network strengthening and partnership arrangements - new inter-institutional solutions

A question remains …

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?

Thank you!