State of Europe’s Forests 2015

FOREST EUROPE, Liaison Unit Madrid 4 November 2015, Engelberg

Silva 2015

Large scale and collaborative process (1/2)

• State of Europe’s Forests 2015 report covers FOREST EUROPE signatories

• Structured around the pan-European set of Criteria and Indicators

• Mainly based on the data provided by the governments

• Additional information has been also provided by several International Data Providers, namely ICP-Forests, EC-JRC, Bioversity International, EUROSTAT and UNECE

Large scale and collaborative process (2/2)

• 200 National experts have provided information on Quantitative Indicators

• 100 National experts have provided information on Qualitative indicators

• Process guided by the Advisory Group on the elaboration of SoEF 2015

• 16 Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors who have coordinated the work of over 60 experts. 6 external reviewers are working assuring the internal consistency of the report

Outline SoEF 2015

PART I: OVERALL POLICIE,

INSTITUTIONS AND

INSTRUMENTS FOR SFM

Part I: Overall policies, institutions and instruments for SFM

18 countries with “formal NFP process”

Success: broader and stronger participation of

stakeholders than ever before

are increasingly guided by “modern” governance mechanisms: “National forest programmes”

C1.Forest resources and their contribution to Global Carbon Cycles

C1.Forest resources and their contribution to Global Carbon Cycles (1/2)

Forests Area and Growing Stock) continue to increase since 1990, with growing stock larger than the world’s average

The forest area is expanding according to the defined targets in the countries

with a low forest cover

Carbon stocks and stock changes by forests and the climate change mitigation

and adaptation are the most frequently mentioned objectives

C1.Forest resources and their contribution to Global Carbon Cycles (2/2)

Forests absorb about 9% of the total green house gas emissions in the European region. Carbon is stored in different tree compartments, and specially in the forest soil.

C2.Forest ecosystems health and vitality

C2.Forest ecosystems health and vitality

• Deposition of air pollutants has decreased, except for N • Soil organic Carbon has increased following a South-East to North-West trend • Forest damage

Most countries have specific objectives in relation forest health and vitality, e.g. enhanced resistance, monitoring systems for e.g. forest fires, pest and diseases, invasive species and climate change adaptation. EC legislation on pests control a major instrument in this period.

C3. Productive functions of the forests

C3. Productive functions of the forests

Europe remains on the largest producers of roundwood in the world

Most forests in Europe have a management plan An area of over 155 million hectares is covered by forests under management plans or equivalents in the reporting countries, representing over 70% percent of Europe

C3. Productive functions of the forests

Few changes regarding wood production, but those (2/3 of the countries) were related to increasing the bioenergy sector. About 1/3 of countries reported enhancement of information means. Non-wood services managed under the forest law; about 25% reported enhancement for the quantification of non-wood services.

C4. Biological diversity in forest ecosystems

C4. Biological diversity in forest ecosystems

Forests are essential reservoirs of wildlife and provide habitats for threatened species.

More than 90% of the countries have specific objectives in relation to biodiversity and more than have have reported reinforcement in legislation, often triggered by the EU’s biodiversity policy.

C4. Biological diversity in forest ecosystems

C5. Protective functions in forest management

C5. Protective functions in forest management

More than 110 Million ha of forests in Europe are designated for the protection of water soils and ecosystems, as well as protection of infrastructures.

Countries show a long-term commitment on the protection of water and soil in Europe, but also biodiversity since 2007.

C6. Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

C6. Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

C6. Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

Tendency to privatization of forest holdings, which has increased 18% since 1990

. Forest sector contributed 0.8% to the GDP in the region, with 475 cubic meters produced in the last reported period. Europe has shifted from a net importer to a net exporter of primary wood and paper products, with a large contribution to the renewable energy targets.

Forest sector plays an important role for employment, providing employment to 3 million people

C6. Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

90% of forests and other wooded land are available for recreational purposes and include 1.25 million cultural sites, mainly in Sweden.

Research in the forest sector has increased in relevance, as well as interest en cultural and spiritual values of forests

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. Forest resources have increased steadily in the FE Region 2. Forest show an adequate state of health and vitality, although threats may

come from climate effects, which may accentuate biotic and abiotic damages 3. Forest resources are an important economic asset in the region and have an

essential socio-economic contribution through the provision of wood and non-wood products and services.

4. Forest are a reservoir of biodiversity and provide essential protective functions, and social services.

5. The forest sector is moving towards integrated multifunctional management, as required to balance the provision of a multiplicity of ecosystem services.

6. Forest policies and institutions have evolved positively to enhance conservation and protection of forests, and to ensure the provision of ecosystem services.

Issues are: 1. How to maintain biodiversity, protective and social services of forests,

including risks of a changing climate, and how to finance these services. 2. How to ensure that forest resources not only provide renewable materials but

also decent jobs and livelihoods in rural areas.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Silva 2015

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