The situation of virgin and old-growth forests in Romania – seen from an outsider´s perspective Rainer Luick / University of Rottenburg
The Treasury of European Forest Biodiversity
Romania harbours about 60 to 70% of all European virgin forest areas.
Is not Germany or any other Western European country.
But where there is treasure there is also theft and plunder.
The Tangle of Terms & Definitions
virgin, primeval, primary, quasi-virgin, old-growth, mature, natural, pristine, ancient, undisturbed, intact
FORESTS
virgin = primeval = primary: A forest undisturbed by man, i.e. where there has been no known significant human intervention, or where the last significant human intervention was so long ago that the natural species compo-sition and processes have re-established themselves.
VEEN & BIRIS 2005, WIRTH et al. 2009, CAMMERMOND et al. 2013
The Tangle of Terms & Definitions
old-growth = quasi-virgin: Forests previously managed but which have been left to develop naturally. They thus also show characteristics of old-growth forests, e.g., mixed tree ages, development phases with senescent and dead trees, and deadwood in all decay stages.
virgin, primeval, primary, quasi-virgin, old-growth, mature, natural, pristine, ancient, undisturbed, intact
FORESTS
VEEN & BIRIS 2005, WIRTH et al. 2009, CAMMERMOND et al. 2013
In its lifecycle, a virgin forest goes through various stages, characterized in terms of low vs. high biodi-versity, homogeneity vs. heterogeneity, growth vs. decay, stability vs. disturbance. All are inherent to natural forest ecosystems.
Development Optimal Differentiation Decay
SCHERZINGER 1996
600 years
Development Optimal Decay
What we experience
20 - 30%
SCHERZINGER 1996
120 years
In its lifecycle, a virgin forest goes through various stages, characterized in terms of low vs. high biodi-versity, homogeneity vs. heterogeneity, growth vs. decay, stability vs. disturbance. All are inherent to natural forest ecosystems.
Differentiation
Development Optimal Decay
70 - 80%
What we do not experience
SCHERZINGER 1996
480 years
In its lifecycle, a virgin forest goes through various stages, characterized in terms of low vs. high biodi-versity, homogeneity vs. heterogeneity, growth vs. decay, stability vs. disturbance. All are inherent to natural forest ecosystems.
Differentiation
Development Optimal Decay
BIODIVERSITY
20 - 30%
70 -80% What we
see What we do not
get to see
70 - 80%
SCHERZINGER 1996
In its lifecycle, a virgin forest goes through various stages, characterized in terms of low vs. high biodi-versity, homogeneity vs. heterogeneity, growth vs. decay, stability vs. disturbance. All are inherent to natural forest ecosystems.
Differentiation
Development Optimal Decay
BIODIVERSITY
2 2 6 11 14 15
Birds characteristic of large-scale virgin beech forests
SCHERZINGER 1996
Differentiation
Comparison of deadwood in various old-growth and virgin
beech-forests in Europe m3 / ha
CHRISTESEN et al. 2005
Germany “old-growth“
“Virgin“ Forests
Vilm 149
Serrahn 155
Eisgraben 177
Fauler Ort 235
Heilige Hallen
244
Suserop Skov (Denmark)
168
Gorce NP (Polen) 179
Kyjov (Slowak. Rep.) 194
Salaika (Czech. Rep.) 224
Rozok (Slowak. Rep.) 232
Pecka (Slowenia) 283
Badin (Slowenia) 288
Sinca (Romania) 550
Deadwood in virgin beech forests in Slovakia in various lifecycle stages
SANIGA & SCHÜTZ 2001
Development Optimum Decay
300m3
40m3
Deadwood in virgin beech forests in Slovakia in various lifecycle stages
SANIGA & SCHÜTZ 2001
Development Optimum Decay
300m3
40m3
For Comparison: In managed forests in Germany the average percentage of dead-wood per ha is ca. 20 m3; of this 50% is
lying deadwood, 20% is standing deadwood and 30% are stumps (BWI III, 2016)
Distribution of Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Still natural and large-scale distri-bution
Only fragmented, small-scale distribution with mostly secondary regrowth
UNESCO Heritage European Beech-Forests Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
In July 2007, the World Heritage Committee added the “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians” (Slovakian Republic & Ukraine) as a natural heritage property on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The next step was to include a cluster of beech forests in Germany in 2011.
With the transboundary extension in 2017 the UNESCO Heritage of European Beech-Forests (now called Ancient and primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and other Regions of Europe) now stretches over 12 countries.
UNESCO Heritage European Beech-Forests Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests
of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1133
Country Area (ha) Year
Albania (2 areas) 3.391 2017
Belgium (1 area) 269 2017
Bulgaria (9 areas) 10.989 2017
Germany (5 areas) 4.391 2011
Italy (7 areas) 2.217 2011
Croatia (2 areas) 3.321 2017
Austria (2 areas) 3.734 2017
ROMANIA (8 areas) 23.982 2017
Slovakia (5 areas) 5.766 2007 / 2011
Slovenia (2 areas) 795 2017
Spain (3 areas) 885 2017
Ukraine (11 areas) 24.652 2007 / 2017
UNESCO Heritage European Beech-Forests Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Country Area (ha)
Romania (8 areas)
- National Park Cheile-Nerei-Beusnita
- Codrul Secular Șinca
- Codrul Secular Slătioara
- Parts of National Park Cozia
- Parts of National Park Domogled- Valea Cernei
- Izvorul Șurii and Preclui (Grosii Tiblesulu)
- Izvorarele Nerei within National Park Semenic-Cheile Carasului
- Strimbu Băiut
23.982
4.292
338
609
3.389
9.732
346
4.677
598
UNESCO Heritage European Beech-Forests in Romania
The Loss of Romanian Virgin Forests / Need of
Protection At the end of 19th century: 2 million ha of virgin forests 1947-1948: 0,7 million ha at the beginning of communist period 1984: 0,4 million ha 2005: 0,25 million ha Example of PUTNA Forestry District in Bucovina:
Year Virgin Forest Share (%)
1878 82
1898 70
1922 52
1944 33
1968 0
ENESCU, M. (2016): Identification of virgin forests in Romania, Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests
http://www.greenpeace.org/romania/Global/romania/paduri/2015-12-22_Virgin_forest_Romania_Summary.PDF
Inventory and Strategy for Sustainable
Management and Protection of Virgin Forests in Romania (PIN-MATRA / 2001 / 018)
This project was funded by the International Nature Management Programme (MATRA) of the Dutch Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, and Foreign Affairs. The project was executed by the Royal Dutch Society for Nature Conservation (KNNV) in co-operation with Romanian Forest Research & Management Institute (ICAS), IUCN and external experts.
Jovu-Adrian BIRIS & Peter VEEN (eds.)
Results of the PIN-MATRA Study 2005
There is a clear concentration of remaining virgin forests in the Southern Carpathians; little is left in other areas.
Results of the PIN-MATRA Study 2005
In total 218.500 ha of virgin forests were identified as of 2004.
There is a clear concentration of remaining virgin forests in the Southern Carpathians; little is left in other areas.
Results of the PIN-MATRA Study 2005
In total 218.500 ha of virgin forests were identified as of 2004.
It was calculated that if the category old-growth / quasi-virgin had been considered as well, another 200.000 ha could have been added.
There is a clear concentration of remaining virgin forests in the Southern Carpathians; little is left in other areas.
Developments & Making use of the PIN-MATRA Study since 2005 -1
In 2008, the Forest Code stated that all virgin and quasi-virgin forests were to be protected. But the legal status remained unclear.
BUT
Unfortunately, for at least four years, a by-law explaining which areas qualify as virgin forest was missing, causing further loss of primary forests.
Developments & Making use of the PIN-MATRA Study since 2005 -2
In 2012, this flaw was partially
addressed by Ministerial Order No. 3397. It stated that: (1) Identified primary forests (as mapped with the Veen /Biris inventory) are only allowed to be logged if the respective Territorial Inspectorate for Forest and Hunting Regime (ITRSV) attests that the defined criteria for the identification of primary forests are no longer fulfilled.
Developments & Making use of the PIN-MATRA Study since 2005 -3
AND Additionally (2) this also includes forests where logging was already permitted in the decadal management plan.
So, these legal obligations
can and were “interpreted”
Developments & Making use of the PIN-MATRA Study since 2005 -4
This unclear situation was almost an invitation for rapid cutting activities at sites with outstanding timber volumes. And the localities were due to the PIN- MATRA mappings even known.
Various research projects based on satellite image comparisons show massive losses of clearly identified and mapped virgin and old-growth forests.
Continued loss of old-growth forests in the Romanian Carpathians despite
protection measures
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/continued-loss-of-temperate-oldgrowth-forests-in-the-romanian-carpathians-despite-an-increasing-protected-area-network/D25025B9929FDC670C56FBFCA6152242
KNORN et al. 2012
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/continued-loss-of-temperate-oldgrowth-forests-in-the-romanian-carpathians-despite-an-increasing-protected-area-network/D25025B9929FDC670C56FBFCA6152242
KNORN et al. 2012
Project was conducted by:
Humboldt University Berlin PIK Institute Potsdam University of Wisconsin Czech University of LifeSciences / Prague WWF / DCPO ICAS / Bucharest
Continued loss of old-growth forests in the Romanian Carpathians despite
protection measures
Scary developments in protected areas
KNORN et al. 2012
a) Retezat National Park
b) Apuseni Natural Park
d) Maramures Natural Park
c) Ciucas Mountains
Scary developments in protected areas
a) Retezat National Park
b) Apuseni Natural Park
c) Ciucas Mountains
d) Maramures Natural Park
Example of a 1.000 km2 area (Landsat-Satellite-Image) from Northern Romania. The colours show the loss of virgin and ogf forest areas (all in protected areas) in various periods: blue 1988-89; yellow 1989-94; green 1994-02; orange 2002-06; red 2006-09.
Northern Romanian Carpathians / Maramures Natural Park
Findings:
Picture: HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY BERLIN
Picture: HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY BERLIN
Findings: 70% of all disturbances (cuttings) were located in protected areas.
Designations like NATURA 2000 sites, (SCI / SAC), National Parks, protected virgin and old-growth forests have practically little to no meaning.
Northern Romanian Carpathians / Maramures Natural Park
Semenic NP / UNESCO WHA Izvoarele Nerei 2017: Dot-like logging at the boundary within the buffer zone
How it starts!
Semenic NP / UNESCO WHA Izvoarele Nerei 2017: Dot-like logging at the boundary within the buffer zone
How it starts!
Irregular shelterwood cutting: As practised detrimental to forest ecosystems
Fagaras Mountains, Arpaselu Valley, July 2016: Clearcut in an old-growth beech forest with SCI status
Picture: SCHICKHOFER
Maramures, 2015: Vanishing (Destruction) of the entire forest habitat with still significant shares of old-growth forests including SCI sites
SCI Fagaras Mountains, Ucea Mare valley, October 2016: >
100 ha clearcut, much of it in virgin forests
Picture: SCHICKHOFER
ALBA County, May 2016:
“Conservation & Salvation Cuttings“ in forest areas
with SCI status
V
Picture: SCHICKHOFER
V Hygiene cuttings: removal of dead wood mostly, in small percentages, normally under 5 m3/year/hectare (T2 - T6).
Definitions: In theory, legal; in practise, often corrupt and criminal
Conservation cuttings are used for the regeneration of stands with a special protection (only in T2) in order to ensure the permanent forest and its eco-protective functions. Normally in forests on high slopes and skeletal soils under sub-series M, forests with special conservation status (performed as cuttings of 15% of the standing volume every ten years).
Accidental cuttings: removal of dead trees, wind fells and
insect attacks, could be over 5 m3/year/hectare and in much greater volumes (T2 - T6).
Picture: SCHICKHOFER
(Sustainable)
Forest Management
Forest stated in the management plan as important for anti-erosion shelter and river protection functions
Case Study APUSENI MOUNTAINS / Western Carpathians
Subsistance economy or destroying your own basis of life?
PIN-MATRA & Developments since 2005
The area of virgin forests declined from 220.000 ha to probably not more than 120.000 ha in 2017 if even less ???.
The surface of old-growth / quasi-virgin forests of larger areas dwindled from approximately 200.000 ha to probably less than 50.000 ha.
“This Pin Matra Inventory study is a fake thing and does not exist.
“We do not have it, ICAS does not have it, ROMSILVA does not have it.”
Istrate Stetco, State Secretary / Ministry of Waters and Forests stated in a press release in June 2017:
Weaknesses, Limits, Arguments
about PIN-MATRA -1
Recent surveys of the PIN-MATRA areas reveal that some of the data and descriptions in the report are inaccurate (perhaps due to over-reliance on management planning documents because of limited resources for field study?).
Some areas presented in PIN-MATRA as virgin forest may have been so in the past but then changed their character due to human impacts / forest interventions in recent years / decades.
The PIN-MATRA methodology does not comply with current standards regarding accuracy of data.
The findings of the PIN-MATRA survey were kept secret by the official institutions in Romania.
Today PIN-MATRA must be seen as a worthy early attempt to highlight the treasure of Romanian forest biodiversity, which disapp- eared for years in the government’s “toxic chamber.” In spite of its imperfections, it is the only a baseline we have to calculate the remains and losses of virgin forests in Romania.
So since 2005 until recently, there was little to no dissemination of the PIN-MATRA project to the forestry administration & agencies, land-owners, or the public.
Weaknesses, Limits, Arguments
about PIN-MATRA -2
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/02/23/romanias-huge-anti-corruption-protests-divide-family-friends.html
Alison Mutler / The Associated Press, Feb. 23, 2017
1 DENMARK 90 91 92 91 90
2 NEW ZEALAND 90 91 91 91 90
3 FINLAND 89 90 89 89 90
4 SWEDEN 88 89 87 89 88
5 SWITZERLAND 86 86 86 85 85
6 NORWAY 85 88 86 86 87
7 SINGAPORE 84 85 84 86 87
8 NETHERLANDS 83 84 83 83 84
9 CANADA 82 83 81 81 84
10 GERMANY 81 81 79 78 79
https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016
Romania is ranked 57 on the global CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX in 2016. For the last 10 years
Romania is continously downranked; one main reason was: corruption in the landselling & forest sector
57 ROMANIA 48 46 43 43 44
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/4787-romania-illegal-logging-declared-a-threat-to-national-security
“Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed a law on Monday (Monday, 11 January 2016) defining illegal logging and any action ´which endangers the country’s water, forests and lands´ as a national security threat, reported Balkan Insight”.
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/4787-romania-illegal-logging-declared-a-threat-to-national-security
“Over the past 20 years, Romania has lost 80 million cubic metres of wood worth an estimated € 5 billion (US$ 5.4 billion) to illegal logging, according to Balkan Insight”.
https://www.globalwoodmarketsinfo.com/2719-2/
https://www.google.ro/search?q=ikea+harvard+romsilva+fraud&client=firefox-b&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7iJjtvKDXAhWlIpoKHXBkC_8Q_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=945#imgrc=qfds1AkdKKzlkM:
“Crooked businessmen,
dirty politicians and corrupt
administration
“Local firms that sold the logs to the processing plants owned by HOLZINDUSTRIE SCHWEIGHOFER are connected to former Schweighofer directors, local politicians or businessmen with criminal records. According to documents now turned in to the official investigators some of the logging companies received loans from Schweighofer in order to maintain and expand their private activities”.
https://www.riseproject.ro/investigation/schweighofer-in-the-center-of-illegal-deforestation-scandal-in-romania/
RISE FOUNDATION 08, June, 2015
https://www.riseproject.ro/investigation/schweighofer-in-the-center-of-illegal-deforestation-scandal-in-romania/
ROMSILVA & HOLZINDUSTRIE SCHWEIGHOER and their business relations seem to be pivotal in the issue of legal and illegal logging
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/harvard-ikea-corruption-romania_us_56d86cbbe4b0000de4039509
HARVARD, IKEA & SCHWEIGHOFER are just the “Iceberg“ of
landgrabbing, exploitation and destruction of resources like virgin and old-growth forests in Romania
In July 2016 the Romanian Government started a process to allow experts and NGOs to identify and register primary forest remains all over the country and to submit them (after evaluation) to be put under protection by the ”National Catalogue of Virgin Forests“. Comments: It is neither understandable nor acceptable that responsibility for a task so crucial to the national interest is given to NGOs & volunteers. There was no budget, information, advice, technical support provided (e.g. access to register data, mappings, forest management plans, GIS data, aerial images). In contrast, the administrative bodies that had to be included were not helpful and even opposed to this project.
Achievements so far During the initial short period of application of this Ministerial Order through 30.09.2016, 102 studies for a total area of 34.948 ha were submitted to the forest administration:
- Of these only 42 studies were analysed for an area of 13,618 ha and - Of these 42 only 11 studies were approved for an area of 7,617 ha. (=11%)
Achievements so far
Status August 2017:
5.898 ha of virgin forests and 12.397 ha of quasi-virgin forests have entered into the national catalogue. = 18.295 ha so far, That is 8.4% of what was in Pin Matra back in 2004.
Achievements so far Latest information is that the Romanian Ministry of Forestry & Waters is providing financial assistance of 500.000 € as to populate the catalogue. But this “support” comes along with immense bureaucracy and so Romanian and other NGOs have decided that they can not comply with such obligations:
And there are only 3 years left for populating the “Catalogue Project on Virgin Forests“
KOZAK, J, OSTAPOWICZ, K, BYTNEROWICZ, A. & WYZGA, B. (2013): The Carpathians: Integration Nature and Society Towards Sustainability, Springer, 717 pp.
Adding Value to Virgin Forests
Regarding compensation there is at least one official legislation for compensation for the loss of revenue from T1 and T2 category forests (HG 447/2017).
Compensation for private forest owners of virgin & quasi-virgin sites – a crucial topic
The problem is that private owners often do not know about such offers or / and do not trust the Government and are unlikely to apply for these compensations.
Compensation for private forest owners of virgin & quasi-virgin sites – a crucial topic
There would be more money available from EU (CAP Pillar 2
schemes) but Romania does not access it sufficiently so far.
E.g. Romania has not achieved within 10 years – although obliged
to do so within 6 years - to turn the provisional SCI status of N2000
sites into legal SAC status.
SCI Fagaras Mountains, Boia Mica Valley, 2017:
> 1.000 ha virgin forest: no road, no trail ... but no sufficient protection yet…
Picture: HOBAN
SCI Fagaras Mountains, Boia Mica Valley, 2017:
Discussions have been startet with local stakeholder groups owning large areas of virgin forests to apply for the compensation scheme and to think of soft tourism concepts.
Picture: HOBAN
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