forest biological diversity - unece · 2011-05-03 · by jari parviainen, organisation metla how to...

Regional Forest Information WeekState of forests and forest management in the UNECE region in the context of current needs and challenges

United Nations, Geneva – 21 March 2011

FOREST BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

By Jari Parviainen Metla Finland

By Jari Parviainen, Organisation Metla

Main indicators for forest biological diversity

• Naturalness = the quality of being natural or the degree of human impact on forests

• Protected forest areas = explicitly designated protected areas on conserving biological diversity

• Indicators for showing the characters of forest managementsuch as: tree species composition, introduced species, regeneration methods, deadwood component, threatened species, landscape pattern, genetic resources

Preparation of Criterion Biodiversity:Jari Parviainen, Andreas Schuck, Jo van Brusselen, Jaakko Koskela, Markus LierChristine Estreguil, Winfried Bücking, Michaele Spielmann


How to define naturalness ?

Undisturbed by man (primary forests)

the natural forest development cycle has remained or been restored, and that show characteristics of natural tree species composition, natural age structure, deadwood component and natural regeneration andno visible sign of human activity

Semi-natural forest

neither undisturbed by man nor plantations, but display some characteristics of natural ecosystems

Plantation

established artificially by planting or seeding, and are intensively managed


Share (%) of forest area by classes of naturalness in UNECE Region

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Undisturbed

Semi‐natural

Plantations

Percent of total forest area


Share of the classes of naturalness (%) of the forest area in Europe and Russia by countries


In Europe semi-natural forests and plantations show an increase during the last 20 years

Plantations cover 20 million ha ( 9%) of total forest area in EuropeThe area dominated by introduced tree species totals 9 million ha(less than half of the area of plantations), only one introduced speciesis invasive, namely False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)

European countries with a share of over 5% of plantations of the total forest area, 2010


Key message of the forest naturalnessin UNECE Region

• The majority of European forests have been influenced by humansLong historical use of wood, the high population density, fragmented forest landscapes and forest ownership structure - mostly small forest holdings under private ownership – reflect in about 87 percent of Europe’s forests being classified as semi-natural. These forests provide multitude of services. Undisturbed forests, with a share of 4 percent are mainly located in remote and inaccessible areas in Eastern and Northern Europe and plantations covering 9 percent of the forest area are located mainly in Central-West Europe.

• In Russia and North-America one third of all forests is primaryforests


Protected forests for biodiversity

• The MCPFE Assessment Guidelines for Protected and Protective Forest and Other Wooded Land in Europe were created in 2001–2003 especially for European conditions where protected forests areas are often small, most of which are located in fragmented landscapes with other land use categories and are protected with various management options and regimes.

• IUCN categories are approaching a global, worldwide view, often in vast untouched, continuous and state owned areas with overlapping functions of protection and have not been especially well developed for classifying forest protection alone.

The MCPFE Assessment guidelines appear stricter than IUCN classification in terms of legal basis of protection, separatingthe protection functions and development for statistical and reporting purposes.

• Natura-2000 network focuses on the conservation of habitats and species in the European Union


MCPFE Classification in FOREST EUROPE Region

Main Management Objective Biodiversity

1.1 No Active Intervention

1.2 Minimum Intervention

1.3 Conservation Through Active Management(f.ex. restoration)

Main Management Objective2. Landscapes and Specific Natural Elements


Protected Forests (%) for Biodiversity in UNECE Region

Percent of total forest area, %

Europe and Russia based on MCPFE classification

North –America based on IUCN classes


Share of protected area (%) of the total forest area in FOREST EUROPE region by countries


The protected forest area of active management for biodiversity and landscape protection has increased

MCPFE Classes

protection for landscape and specific natural elements

conservation through active management

minimum intervention

no active intervention

in Europe


Key message of the protected forests in Europe

• The area of protected forests is expandingIn Europe the area of protected forests has increased by around half a million hectares annually over the last 10 years due to a increase in policies for improving biodiversity. Nearly one fifth of the total forest area, or almost 40 million hectares, are protected forests with no or minimal intervention. Almost half the area of protected forests is located in the Russian Federation.

• The strictness of protection for biodiversity varies considerably within Europe: In North Europe and in some Eastern European countries the restrictive protection with no or minimal interventions dominate, whereas in Central and Southern European countries active management in protected areas is emphasized. This shows the different policies applied across Europe due to natural conditions, traditions and population density


Indicators for showing the characters of forestmanagement

Tree species composition, +Regeneration methods, +Genetic resources + (-)

Deadwood component, +Threatened species, - (+)

Landscape pattern,showing fragmentation in landscape


Key message of forest management in Europe• Forest management practices increasingly promote biodiversity

Forest management practices have changed towards more integrated management in ways that biodiversity aspects such as deadwood component and important vulnerable small biotopes are left in the forests alongside measures for wood production. These changes can be observed in accumulated deadwood, increased use of natural regeneration and more mixed tree species stands.

• A wide network of areas for gene resources ensures the adaptation capacity of trees in changing climate.Work is still required to widen the network of areas among the European countries for in situ gene conservation of European forest tree species while considerable gaps exist compared to the distribution maps of tree species.


More information:

www.metla.fi/jo [email protected]

Thank you for your attention

forest biological diversity - unece · 2011-05-03 · by jari parviainen, organisation metla how to...

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