UNECE seminarUNECE seminar on Strategies for on Strategies for the sound use of woodthe sound use of wood

Romanian and Bulgarian Romanian and Bulgarian timber trade opportunity for timber trade opportunity for

the regionthe region

Presentation by George DinicuPresentation by George Dinicu

March 2003, Poiana BrasovMarch 2003, Poiana Brasov

Romania’s and Bulgaria’s forests – some of the Romania’s and Bulgaria’s forests – some of the most biologically important temperate forests in most biologically important temperate forests in the worldthe world

Carpathian forests belong to one of 200 most Carpathian forests belong to one of 200 most important ecoregions defined by WWF in the important ecoregions defined by WWF in the worldworld

Forest area covers 10,4 mil. Ha in both countriesForest area covers 10,4 mil. Ha in both countries Annual allowable cut volume over 22 mil.cm in Annual allowable cut volume over 22 mil.cm in

both countries both countries

IntroductionIntroduction

Producer Group in the regionProducer Group in the region

Promote responsible timber tradePromote responsible timber trade

Protection of High Conservation Value ForestsProtection of High Conservation Value Forests

Support to forest managers and primary wood processorsSupport to forest managers and primary wood processors

Characteristics of timber marketCharacteristics of timber market

Forest sector is, at present, dominated by stateForest sector is, at present, dominated by state Restitution of forests to new private ownership in Restitution of forests to new private ownership in

progress progress in 2001 the value of Romania’s export of forest in 2001 the value of Romania’s export of forest

products (excluding furniture) to countries in the products (excluding furniture) to countries in the European Union reached 210 million USD, and European Union reached 210 million USD, and total value of exports was 474 mil USDtotal value of exports was 474 mil USD

Characteristics of timber marketCharacteristics of timber market

Romania forest products export-excluding furniture(source:INS and FAOSTAT)

0

100

200

300

400

500

1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

mil.

$

Total export of forestproducts exludingfurniture

Export in ECC

Romanian/Bulgarian Producer Romanian/Bulgarian Producer Group – part of WWF’s Global Group – part of WWF’s Global

Forest and Trade NetworkForest and Trade Network

Information and training on how to reach Information and training on how to reach certification through a modular approach certification through a modular approach

Links to markets for certified forest productsLinks to markets for certified forest products

Training and capacity building on RFMTraining and capacity building on RFM

High Conservation Value ForestsHigh Conservation Value Forests

Significant concentrations of biodiversity values Significant concentrations of biodiversity values (endemism, endangered species,)(endemism, endangered species,)

Significant large landscape level forests where Significant large landscape level forests where viable populations of most if not all naturally viable populations of most if not all naturally occurring species exist in natural patterns of occurring species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.distribution and abundance.

Forest areas that are in or contain rare, Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystemsthreatened or endangered ecosystems

High Conservation Value ForestsHigh Conservation Value Forests

Forest areas that provide basic services of Forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical situations (watershed nature in critical situations (watershed protection, erosion control)protection, erosion control)

Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communitiesneeds of local communities

Forest areas critical to local communities’ Forest areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity.traditional cultural identity.

ConclusionsConclusions

Promote responsible timber trade through a Promote responsible timber trade through a Producer Group in the regionProducer Group in the region

Protection of those forests with outstanding or Protection of those forests with outstanding or critical biological, environmental or social values critical biological, environmental or social values defined as High Conservation Value Forests defined as High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF). (HCVF).