Forest Habitats within CON, PAN, STE, BLS...
Transcript of Forest Habitats within CON, PAN, STE, BLS...
ICAS
Forest Habitats within CON, PAN, STE, BLS
Biogeographical Regions – practical management
challenges from specific Natura 2000 sites
Iovu-Adrian BIRIȘ,
National Forest Research and
Management Institute, Romania
Natura 2000 Seminar CON, PAN, STE & BLS Biogeographical Region,
29th June -1st July 2015, Luxembourg
ICAS
Aim:
presenting some practical habitat management experiences from specific Natura
2000 sites/ LIFE+ projects identified by Working Group on Forests and Woodland
in the frame of “LIFE platform meeting on the management of Continental,
Steppic, Pannonic and Black Sea habitats”, Sighisoara, 28-27 May 2015.
Aspects discussed within the Working Group:
• Habitats covered by LIFE projects;
• Key issues for each particular habitat;
• Solutions and recommendations for habitat conservation;
• Relation with stakeholders (and authorities) – problems;
• Solutions and opportunities for woodland and forest conservation learned
from concrete work that was done within LIFE projects;
• key conclusions
ICAS
I. Habitats covered by LIFE+ projects: 1. hygrophilous/alluvial forests:
91E0* - Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-
Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae);
91F0 - Riparian mixed forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus
minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia, along the great rivers
(Ulmenion minoris);
92A0 - Salix alba and Populus alba galleries.
2. termophilous oak forests:
91H0* Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens;
91I0* - Euro-Siberian steppic woods with Quercus spp.;
91M0 - Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak –sessile oak forests;
91AA - Eastern white oak woods;
ICAS
II: Key issues for each particular habitat:
91E0*:
• Replacement of the habitat with Norway spruce plantations in the floodplains
(DE);
• Channeling of streams/rivers (DE, RO, BG);
• Historical river regulation works/hydrological modifications (DE, RO, BG);
• Sand and gravel extraction from the riverbed (RO, BG);
• Forest restitution and fragmentation of ownership (RO). In Ro, management
planning is voluntary for forest properties below 10 ha according the new Forest
Code;
• Urbanization and infrastructure
network development (RO);
• Illegal cuttings, especially in the
proximity of villages (RO; BG);
• Excesive grazing (RO, BG);
• Household waste and excesive
human presures(RO).
• Hydroelectric power plants
on rivers/streams(RO);
ICAS
91F0:
• Historical river regulation works/hydrological modifications (RO);
• Invasive plant species (mainly Amorpha fruticosa, Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
(RO);
• Replacement of the habitat with black walnut (Juglans nigra) plantations in the
floodplains (RO);
• Inadequate forest management (mistakes in natural regeneration of oak, forest
harvesting without replanting, ) (RO);
• Forest restitution and fragmentation of ownership (RO). In Ro, management
planning is voluntary for forest properties below 10 ha according the new
Forest Code;
ICAS
92A0:
• Historical river regulation works/hydrological modifications (RO, BG);
• Sand and gravel extraction from the riverbed (RO, BG);
• Invasive plant species (mainly Amorpha fruticosa) (RO, BG);
• Replacement of the native poplars and willow species with hybrid poplars
plantations in the floodplains (≈ 100 000 ha in RO) (RO, BG);
• Danube and major rivers bank erosion (RO, BG);
• Forest restitution and fragmentation of ownership (RO). In Ro, management
planning is voluntary for forest properties below 10 ha according the new
Forest Code;
• Grazing by domestic animals (RO);
• Replacement of alluvial forests and wetlands with agricultural polders in
Danube Delta and Floodplain during 1960-1980 (RO).
ICAS
river terrace
dikes
Danube arm
Large Island of Braila: before (A) and after (B) river regularization works.
A B
ICAS
91AA, 91H0*:
• Clearcutting and inappropriate forest management which deteriorate stand
structure and natural regeneration process (by reducing the proportion of
pubescent oak and impeding natural regeneration and increasing the proportion
of scrubs – Fraxinus ornus, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus sp.) (RO, BG);
• Cutting without replanting followed by succession process to scrub communities
(illegal cuttings, especially for stands in the proximity of villages (RO).
• Costly management and conservation measures(RO, BG);
• Replacing of oak based forests with non-native species (eg. Robinia
pseudacacia, Pinus nigra) (RO, BG);
• Grazing by domestic animals (RO, BG);
• Drought/changing in temperature and precipitation regime, affect seed
production and quality, seed germination and trees dieback (RO, BG);
• Insects/defoliators and diseases which affect the trees health and seed
production (RO, BG);
• Land erosion and landslides (RO, BG);
• Illegal cuttings, especially for stands in the proximity of villages with
poor/unemployed people and gipsy communities (RO; BG).
• Forest restitution and fragmentation of ownership (RO). In Ro, management
planning is voluntary for forest properties below 10 ha according the new Forest
Code;
• Small isolated populations which causes inbreeding (RO).
ICAS
ICAS
91I0*, 91M0:
• Clearcutting and inappropriate forest management which deteriorate stand
structure and natural regeneration process (by reducing the proportion of oak
species and impeding natural regeneration and increasing the proportion of
scrubs – Fraxinus ornus, Acer tataricum, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus sp.) - (RO);
• Replacing of oak based forests with non-native species (eg. Robinia
pseudacacia) (RO);
• Costly management and conservation measures (RO, BG);
• Grazing by domestic animals (RO);
• Drought/changing in temperature and precipitation regime, affect seed
production and quality, seed germination and trees dieback (RO);
• Insects/defoliators and diseases which affect the trees health and seed
production (RO);
• Forest restitution and fragmentation of ownership (RO). In Ro, management
planning is voluntary for forest properties below 10 ha according the new Forest
Code;
ICAS
III. Solutions and recommendations for habitat conservation
(examples of concrete work that was done within LIFE projects,
techniques, restoration work put into practice etc.)
For habitat 91E0 (experience from DE - LIFE07 NAT/D/000214:
Rehabilitation of streams in the "Arnsberger Wald "):
• Eliminate the spruce with non-destructive methods;
• removing of young spruce is essential;
• restoring the stream to ensure the water level (re-flooding the
area);
• replanting the black alder and protecting it against browsing by
deer, grazing etc.
ICAS
For habitat 91F0 (experience from RO - LIFE05 NAT/RO/000176;
LIFE06 NAT/RO/000177):
• ensuring natural water regime by re-flooding the area;
• amending the current management plan (In Ro, the provisions of forest
management plans are compulsory, any changes should be approved
by the central authority for forestry);
• creating favorable conditions for oak regeneration (removing
understorey –herbaceous and scrub layers);
• applying regeneration cuttings by opening gaps (group shelterwood
forest system);
• planting oak seedlings and maintaining the existing/advanced
seedlings of accompanying species;
• weeding, removing of shoots;
• Controling of invasive plant species;
• enclosing against browsing/grazing;
• appropriate silvicultural activities;
ICAS
For habitat 92A0 (experience from RO - LIFE06 NAT/RO/000177);
• cutting the hybrid poplar stands;
• amending the current management plan (In Ro, the provisions of
forest management plans are compulsory, any changes should be
approved by the central authority for forestry)
• removing of Amorpha fruticosa by mechanical and chemical
methods;
• Soil preparation;
• replanting the white and black poplars;
• Supporting natural regeneration of poplar native species;
• weeding and controling Amorpha sprouts.
ICAS
For oak species based habitats: 91AA, 91H0*91I0*, 91M0 (experience
from BG - LIFE09 NAT/BG/000229; RO - LIFE11 NAT/RO/828)
• removal of coniferous plantations progressively to allow natural
regeneration of oak;
• amending the current management plan (In Ro, the provisions of
forest management plans are compulsory, any changes should be
approved by the central authority for forestry)
• regenerative cuttings: removing undesirable competing
vegetation/understorey –herbaceous and scrub layer. Clear-cuttings
must be banned!
• Soil preparation for planting acorns and saplings (manualy and
mechanised);
• planting acorns and saplings;
• protecting the regeneration/plantations against browsing / grazing;
• Care of the seedlings during the next growing sezons.
•
ICAS
Black Sea Oak Habitats - Conservation and restoration of Black Sea
oak habitats (LIFE09 NAT/BG/000229)
ICAS
IV. Relation with stakeholders (and authorities) – problems
• lack of knowledge of forest owners and/or administrators regarding the
conservation;
• lack of/or weak availability for cooperation among stakeholders.
• lack of technical education/ knowledge and training concerning forest
management and conservation needs among forest owners;
• negative attitude of forest owners and/or administrators concerning the need of
conservation of their forest area;
• divergent positions/expectations of forest/land owners and Natura 2000
administrators/custodians related to forest habitat;
• Low interest of some local authorities concerning Natura 2000;
• Lack of instruments/mechanism or too burocratic instruments to stimulate the
involvement of land/forest owners in conservation projects/activities;
• lack of funds for management and conservation for small forest owners;
• missing of approved management plans for Natura 2000 sites;
• conflicting provisions in forest and nature conservation legislation/un-
harmonized requirements between forest and nature conservation legislation
(eg. Wildlife vs forestry, biodiversity vs Forestry, agriculture vs forestry);
ICAS
V. Solutions and opportunities for woodland and forest conservation
learned from concrete work that was done within LIFE projects
Land owners:
• should be involved at every stage of the process (from the very
planning phase, i.e. the restoration project should be developed
together);
• must be permanently informed of the issues observed, actions initiated
etc.
• provide access to information/knowledge and training;
• funding instruments for forest habitat management and conservation
(subsidies, compensations for forest owners, tax dispensation etc.)
Natura 2000 sites administrators/custodians:
• Educate the youngsters!;
• Practice with students!;
• Gain the support of authorities!.
• Promote active citizenship-work with volunteers;
• Establishing longer/medium term management agreement with land
owners and/or local authorities.
ICAS
National level (government and policy-makers):
• harmonize nature protection with forest laws and regulations;
• capacity building for being able to approach the management of forests from an
integrated perspective (not a purely forestry or a purely conservationist one);
• should do continuous, sustained assessment and evaluation of the
conservation status of forest habitats as a whole (not just assess the forest
from a typical forestry point of view, which focuses mostly on the trees as
source of wood);
• provide adequate instruments for all stakeholders for supporting nature
conservation;
• arise awareness of stakeholders concerning nature conservation;
• adapt forestry activities/operations to nature requirements;
• provide compensation measures/payments for conservation activities;
• ensure law enforcement;
• communication platforms regarding forestry issues should be set up at national
level
• specific legislation should be developed and incentives provided to encourage
the protection of privately-owned forests (in agreement with the land
stewardship concept);
• land owners and specialized organizations/institutions, but also representatives
of local communities should be involved (as stakeholders) in the development
of forestry plans at all stages.
ICAS
The key conclusions of the group on Woodland and Forests:
• involve directly the stakeholders from the concept phase and at
every stage of the process. Project objectives should be very
clear/operational and easily understandable and accessible for all
the stakeholders ;
• better/less burocratic funding instruments for forest habitat
management and conservation (subsidies, compensations for
forest owners, tax dispensation etc.). Oak based habitats
management and conservation require higher costs and better
technical knowledge and training in comparison with other forests!
• adapt forestry activities to the requirements of habitat conservation
and use innovative and efficient habitat restoration technologies.
Review/update forestry norms/standards and consequently forest
management plans to ensure flexible and efficient measures for
habitat conservation;
ICAS
An brief overview on the status of forest habitats within CON, PAN, STE,
BLS BGR in Romania
BGR BGR area Forests pSCI
ha % ha
% from
BGR no ha
% from
BGR
ALP 5006703 21 3555363 71 125 1754352 35
CON 13473135 55 3058530 23 241 1349165 10
PAN 1400962 6 32543 2 40 113632 8
STE 3722028 15 240334 6 50 548665 15
BLS 531171 2 7467 1 9 152838 29
MARINE
BLS 231649 1 0 0 12 221208 95
Total 24365648 100 6894237
• Very low % of forest area in PAN, STE, BLS and below average at national level in
CON;
• in PAN, STE, BLS almost exclusively termophilous oak species based communities
(the silviculture of oak species is costly and more complex comparing with beech or
coniferous species);
• small and dispersed forest bodies;
• Intensive managed forests (→ lower % of natural forests);
• significant share of plantations with alochtonous species (eg. Robinia pseudacacia,
poplar clones, coniferous species, etc.);
• affected by natural disturbances (insects/defoliators, diseases, drought, etc.);
• Difficulties in natural regeneration of oak species;