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Examples on Natura 2000 forest management on private areas

Timo Soininen, M.Sc. ForestryForestry Development Centre Tapio 28.8.2003

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Introduction

Ministry of EnvironmentMinistry of Agriculture

and Forestry

Forestry Development Centre Tapio

Finnish Environment Institute

Regional EnvironmentCentres (13)

Forest Centres(13)

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Introduction to forestry

• Forest Act 1.1.1997• Nature Conservation Act 1.1.1997

Forest management guidelines and recommendations.

• Forest certification, 37 criteria, for instance, valuable habitats, retention trees, water buffer zones, threatened species.

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Valuable habitats

Valuable habitatsin commercial forests;

key biotopes

Forested nature types

under the protectionof the Nature

Conservation Act

Habitats of specialimportance;

For. Act, Section 10

Other valuable habitats

in the forestecosystem

VALUABLE HABITAT = HABITATS WHERE DEMANDING, RARE AND TREATENED SPECIES ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR

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Implementation of Natura 2000 -network

• Nature Conservation Act 2 200 000 ha• Wilderness Act 1 487 000 ha• Water Act 975 000 ha• Outdoor Recreation Act 25 000 ha• Land use and Building Act 25 000 ha• Land Extraction Act 50 000 ha• Forest Act 15 000 ha• Contracts or other means 103 000 ha

• Total area is 4 880 000 ha, in which land • 3 570 000 and water areas 1 310 000 ha.

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Forest management planning in Natura sites

Planning is used in sites which are maintained according to Forest Act and Land Extraction Act.

Forest Centre makes planning if private landowners order it.

In forest planning key habitats and living sites of certain species are surveyed.

There has been several planning and mapping projects in the Natura sites.

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Forest management planning

• Planning is done in co-operation with regional environment centre.

Landowner get the forest plan and forest management instructions and recommendations.

Important tool to guide forest management in Natura sites.

It is recommended that in the near future all sites should be planned.

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Forest management

• Landowner have to make an forest use declaration to Forest Centre at least 14 days before forest management.

Forest Centre inform the Regional Environment Centre about the cuttings in Natura site, if needed.

In sites which are maintained according to Forest Act and Land Extraction Act cuttings are done similar manners than in commercial forests.

In Sites which are maintained according Nature Conservation Act cutting is not possible.

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Conclusions

• Private landowners have to be informed what kind of forest management is possible in Natura sites and get to participate in the forest planning.

• Co-operation between forest and environment professionals and organisations is important.

• Possible compensations for private landowners according to forestry environmental grant (Financing of Sustainable Forestry) or conservation compensations.