Sustainable Forestry

							Project “Integrated Wetland and Forest Management in the
   Transborder Area of North-Livonia (Estonia-Latvia)”

                           Sustainable Forestry
Project Start – End Dates           01.10.2003 (10.03.2004) – 31.12.2005
Reporting Period                    2004


Project background
The PIN-M ATRA funded project “Integrated Wetland and Forest M anagement in the
Transborder Area of North-Livonia (Estonia-Latvia)” is being implemented between
M arch 2003 – December 2005. A principal project component is the elaboration of
comprehensive transborder management plan for the territory. The plan should reflect
the current status of protection and management of the territory and proposals for the
development and management of a coherent transborder ecological network based on
the hydrological conditions of the area.

Project objectives
Long-term project objective of the project is:
   The protection and sustainable management of the mire complexes, wet forests
   and semi-natural grasslands in North Livonia through the elaboration and
   implementation of an integrated transborder management plan.

General Objective of the Forestry programme:
   To harmonise forest management with the requirements of the protection of
   biodiversity in North Livonia Transboundary project area

Based on this general objective for the forestry programme, three direct objectives
have been formulated:
   • Contribute to the overall sustainable management of North Livonia project
       area.
   • Public relations and raise awareness on multiple values of forests.
   • Improving the knowledge and capacities in sustainable forest management.

Previous activities (2004)

•    Forest coverage distribution analysed in Latvia as well as most valuable and
     potential valuable forest habitats in the project area in terms of biodiversity
     identified in Latvia (expert M.Lukins, A.Leivits)
An overview on forests in North Livonia project area consists on several steps. The
first task we set up was to evaluate the most usual forest parameters – the proportion
of forest cover in different parts of area and calculate proportion of state and privately
owned forests in project area. First of all, the general overview of forest coverage
distribution in project area is given. It should be noted that data for all performed
analyses are obtained from forestry databases and maps, so certain proportion of
forests that are not described in databases therefore are no included in calculation
either. In order to perform forest cover analyze the grid of uniformed 1km² cells was
generated. The area selected corresponds to scale of landscape assessment.
Next task was to evaluate distribution of private owned forests. To fulfill the task we
generated patches of privately owned forests, and using statistical methods analyze
patch some of patch properties - size and perimeter - area relationships.
The third analyze deals with wet forest types distribution in project area. The forest
types are divided into 4 main classes and 4 subclasses including those types that are
most influenced i.e. drained forests. For stratifying forest types into 4 classes wet
mineral and wet peat soils were grouped separately. The same division was applied
for drained forests, which have been developed from wet peat or wet mineral soils.
Selected forest types of each class were joined together in a case if they were adjacent
to each other. So the clusters of each forest’s types group were acquired.
As a resulting map most valuable and potentially valuable forest types without
drainage impact are depicted. The map is complemented with layer of woodland key
habitats, SPA i.e. Natura 2000 sites and specially protected areas in forests. As a
separate layer deciduous forests associated with wet forest types are selected.
Last analyze deals with bogs’ marginal areas in both privately owned and State
ownership classes. All together 3 zones: 100m, 200m and 400m around bogs are
distinguished. For each zone land cadastre number, list of stands’ number and area in
each property are given in database. For private owned forests the species
composition and stands of certain age class were selected separately.

At the moment works are continued for analysis of forest coverage distribution and
identification of most valuable and potential valuable forest habitats in the project
area in Estonian site.

Information about forest coverage distribution and most valuable and potential
valuable forest habitats will be used for elaboration of proposal for zoning of
protected areas and bufferzones as well as guidelines for forest management.

• Overview on private forests in project territory (experts L.Vilkriste, J.Rozitis)
Continued previous analyses about forest coverage distribution overview about
private forestry and private forests have been prepared. In this overview has included
character of private forestry (structure of private forest property, cooperation,
certification, previous education activities for private forest owners) and private
forests (forest type distribution, tree species, protected areas, restriction of forest use,
forests age structure). These overview and analyses of forest coverage distribution
will have used for planning of training programme for private forest owners.

• Interviews of private forest owners (expert L.Vilkriste)
There were interviews carried out in the project area. The results of the interviews
allow to specify levels of awareness about forest, legislation considering it and
protection of the natural values. It also allowed to identify target groups for the
information and awareness activities. The results will be sent out to other projects in
the area and will be used to build up the educational program more effective.

• Concept of education program
The concept for the education program was prepared based on the overview on
private forests in project territory, the summary of interviews as well as discussions
with employees of State Forest Service of Latvia and forest coverage distribution
analysis in Latvia. It is planned that the education program will be prepared till
M arch.

•   Seminar about continued forest model for private forest owners and local State
    Forest Service employees (expert T.Kalnars)
Seminar was organized in the project territory (Ramata municipality) for private
forest owners in the project territory and local State Forest Service employees about
continued forest models and their application in various forests. Objective of seminar
was demonstrating forest management including selective logging with recreational
and environmental requirements.
A seminar was being carried out in cooperation with the State Forest Service and a
Latvian forest management consultant from Wales, T.Kalnars.

•   Two seminars Preservation of Biodiversity in Forest Management for private
    forest owners and local State Forest Service employees in Staicele and Ramata
    (experts M.Lukins, R.Bermanis, J.Rozitis)
Two seminars were organized in the project territory (Ramata and Staicele
municipalities) for private forest owners and local State Forest Service employees.
The aim of the seminars was of forest owners, State forest service employees about
biodiversity in the forest (natural processes, structures for biodiversity, forest
continuity structures for biodiversity) as well as use of environmental friendly forest
management methods in final cut, thining and afforestation activities. 38 participants
attended those seminars. The participants of seminars could receive various
informative materials about environmental friendly forest management and FSC
certification.

•   Seminar Natural forest development, phases of succession and the role of dead
    wood in the forest ecosystem (experts R.Bermanis, J.Rozītis)
Seminar has been organized for Valmiera Regional Forest District, State Forest
Service employees, incl. State Forest Service employees of the project area. The
objective of the seminar was to improve knowledge about natural forest ecosystem,
natural disturbance regimes, succession as well as one of most important natural
structure for biodiversity – dead wood. 44 participants attended those seminars.

•   Lecture material (Power Point presentation) for training of private forest owners
    about maintenance of biodiversity in forest management (experts M.Lukins,
    J.Rozitis)
The lecture material about maintenance of biodiversity in forest management was
prepared to make the lectures more perceptible. The lecture material consists of three
parts. The first part is about biodiversity, its significance, overview of the features that
determine the biodiversity of the forest, and tips in forest planning.
The second part is about legislation considering protection of biodiversity in forest
management. But the third part of the lecture material contains advices in practical
forest management with aim to maintain biodiversity.

•  Lecture material (PowerPoint presentation) for training of private forest owners
   about FSC certification (expert G.Laguns)
Lecture material (PowerPoint presentation) for trainers (State Forest Service
employees) of private forest owners about FSC certification has been prepared. In
these materials have included information about FSC, requirements for certification
and Group certification.

• Project working group
The project working group was established. There are 9 members representing
Limbaži Regional Forest District, Valmiera Regional Forest District, SJSC Latvia`s
state forest and North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. Until this time representatives of
each institutions has been acquinted with objectives of project component Sustainable
forestry and planned activities. Next workshop of working group will be planned on
M arch when will be presented education program.


Planned activities (2004.20.12. – 2005.01.07.)

•   Elaborate a proposal for zoning of protected areas and bufferzones (landscape
    level) including a proposal for possible change of land use system
•   Elaborate guidelines for forest management (stand and landscape level) in
    protected areas, bufferzones and commercial forests
•   Organize workshops, round tables with stakeholders about zoning issues and
    sustainable forest management
•   Establish the demonstration objective for sustainable forest management in
    private and state forests
•   Organize workshop for private forest owners about protected areas (roundtable
    discussion)
•   Elaborate education program
•   Elaboration of the concept of promotion of the forest use for general public
•   Communicate to the general public, special target groups through website and
    local mass media about sustainable forest use
•   Organize working group meeting/workshop