Transcript FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Planning
FROM
biodiversity
Best practices in
forest management in Natura 2000
Spain
Planing for Biodiversity, Warsaw, November 2011
WHAT ARE WE PLANNING FOR
•Forests can live without people. In fact, they love to!
• But people cannot live without forests… although many people don´t know it
•Forests ARE biodiversity. Forests without biodiversity are only “agriculture”
•So let's be selfish: Let's plan FOR us, let's plan FOR people FROM biodiversity
WHAT PLANNING FROM BIODIVERSITY MEANS
•Mainstreaming biodiversity and Natura 2000 into the forestry policy
• Mainstreaming biodiversity and Natura 2000 into the forest management
Forests in Spain
• After Sweden, the largest forest area among
EU member States
• 56,27 million has. (57% of the country area,
from which 60% are forest and 40% scrubland)
• 4 biogeographical regions and wide alttitudinal
differences: 17 different forest types
• Ownership: 10% Estate-regional authorities,
24 % municipalities, 66% private
• Timber production: 37% forest area
• Timber harvesting: 15,7 million m3/year
Nearly 27% of Spain
(plus marine areas)
4 Biogeographical Regions
116 habitat types (including 27 forest habitats
Sustainable management in practice: Valsain Forest
Guadarrama mountains (North slope)
Region: Castilla y Leon
Distance from Madrid: 73 km
Royal property from 1768 to 1934
Property of National Heritage from 1934 to 1982
Property of National Parks Body from 1982
Starting of timber extraction: XV C.
Starting of active management: XVIII C.
• TOTAL AREA: 10,668 ha
• OWNER: National Parks Body (Ministry of the Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs)
• VASCULAR FLORA: 867 taxons (excluded 69 alochthonous species)
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MAMMALS: 45
BIRDS: 150 (over 100 nesting species incluing Aquila adalberti and Aegypus monachus)
REPTILES: 15
AMPHIBIANS: 10
FISH: 5
• NATURAL HABITATS: Pinus sylvestris forest as most predominant habitat. Quercus
pyrenaica forests, Quercus ilex forests, riparian forests, mixed forests (Corylus avellanus,
Salix sp., Fraxinus angustifolia, Prunus avium, Populus tremula, Betula alba...), Ilex
aquifolium forest
• PROTECTION DESIGNATIONS:
Special Protection Area (SPA), 1988
Site of Community Importance (SIC), 1998
Critical Area (Spanish Imperial Eagle Recovery Plan), 2003
USES
Timber production
Cattle grazing
Mushroom and firewood picking
Hunting
Recreational use
Research (Scientific fieldwork)
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND
COMMUNICATION
- Resource Centre (Ministry of
the Environment and Rural and
Marine Affairs) supporting public
or private groups carrying out
environmental education
programmes or activities, and
environmental communication
activities.
- Supports environmental
education and information
activities carried out at Valsain
Forest.
VALSAIN SAWMILL
- Owner: National Parks Body
- Processes the timber felled from Valsain forest
- Production: 30.000 m3 plank under the trade mark
„Maderas de Valsain” (registred trade mark, 1991) plus
biomass pellets and briquettes
MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS
Forestry
Cattle grazing, other economic activities
Hunting
Public use, environmental education/information
Conservation of habitats and species
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
(6th Review in force)
Complementary instruments:
Plan for the Valsain Forest Hunting Estate
PROCEDURE RULES
FOR FELLING CONTROL
FOR FIRE FIGHTING
FOR PLAGUE MANAGEMENT
FOR DEAD WOOD MANAGEMENT
FOR CONTROL AND MONITORING OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
FOR ASSESSMENT OF HABITATS AND FLORA AND FAUNA
TAXONS
FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
WHO?
- National Parks Body (coordination and approval)
- National Ministry of the Environment and Rural and
Marine Affairs (Several Departments)
- Regional Government of Castilla y Leon (Several
Departments)
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PLANNIN
San Ildefonso Municipality
National Heritage Body
Representatives of cattle breeders
Representatives of hunters
Representatives of hospitality and active
tourism sectors
CENEAM (National Center for Environmental
Education and Communication)
CSIC (National Council for Scientific Research)
Environmental NGOs
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
IN THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
Forest timber stocks and potential
Species
m3
Pinus sylvestris
2.622.190
Pinus nigra
2.393
Quercus pyrenaica
58.793
Quercus ilex
3.822
Pinus sylvestris potential
32.374,75
Quercus sp. potential
500
General goal: To maintain an irregular forest including trees of all ages
(planning from biodiversity) while producing a sustained yield of timber,
and other economic benefits (planning for people)
Forest is divided into 25 working circles for different purposes (mostly
production)
One circle devoted to recreational purposes (3 recreative areas,
Interpretation Centre, CENEAM)
At least in 1working circle of pine forest timber is not felled in order to
mantain an area of mature natural forest
METHOD: Floating periodic blocks/felling method group
shelterwood cutting
Classification of different stands in the working circle by maturity of the
trees:
A) Regeneration group: during the review period regeneration should
be begun, continued or completed (Thinning)
B) Improvement group: stands in which regeneration has been achieved
(Mature trees are felled and liberation felling is carried out to achieved
optimum density)
C) Preparation group: stands with full density and almost mature trees
Pines maturity: 120 years
NO LOGGING in pine forest:
* In a radius of 100 m around Black Vulture and Imperial Eagle nests
* In a radius of 500 m around Black Vulture and Imperial Eagle nests during
breeding period
* In high visibility areas (impact on landscape)
* Holly tree forests, mixed forests, holm oak forests
* In, at least, one working circle of pine forest (working circle = 400 has
approx.)
CERTIFIED FOREST
Timber production: 32.500 m3/year.
Pasture for 1403 cows, 165 horses, 2500 sheeps
Game (1.296 has. 220 shooting, 41 hunting)
Recreation for 500.000 visitors/year
CO2 sink (net sequestration 33.904 t/year)
Job creation: 10% of active population in the municipality
STAFF AT VALSAIN FOREST
52 PEOPLE UNDER THE FOREST AND SAWMILL DIRECTOR (Field
workers, sawmill staff, administrative staff, forest rangers, environment
agents, 4 qualified specialists)
Plus assistance from public and private enterprises taken on for different
technical matters
[email protected]