Utilizing the potential in private forestry in nature

protectionInternational NATURA 2000 conference

“Restoring Ecosystem, Benefits and Value”

21 October, Tallinn, Estonia

Morten ThorøeSecretary General

2

CEPF – in 23 countriesFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIreland

LatviaLithuania

Luxemburg

Forests and forest owners• Over 60% of forests owned by families

generation bridging management and experience• 16 million family forest owners • Small scale forest holdings (cooperation)

average size 2-50 ha• Sustainable forest management

Balancing economic, social and ecological requirementsRespecting the diversity across Europe

• The forest owners are the managers on site! • “Managing for the future” is not new to foresters and

forest owners

NATURA 2000 in forests

36 % of bird species listed in the Birds

Directive are forest-related

61 % of mammal species

Over half of all proposed sites for the NATURA2000 include

forest areas

30 % of the habitat types of the Habitat

Directive are forests – types

15-20% of EU forest area is covered by NATURA 2000 sites

EU 2010 Biodiversity BaselineHabitat types/species

Conservation status Favourable (%) Unfavourable(%) Unknown (%)

Agro-ecosystem 7/3 76/70 17/27

Grasslands 5/15 76/56 19/29

Heath and scrub 14/13 60/47 26/40

FORESTS 21/15 63/52 16/33Wetlands 10/14 73/64 17/22

Rivers and lakes 15/13 64/64 21/23

Costal ecosystems 8/11 70/56 22/23

Marine ecosystem 10/2 50/24 40/74

Forests have a greater share of habitats in favourable condition

Forest owners are organized a variety of forms of political and

economic cooperation among forest owners

strong roots in historical and cultural background

social networks and stronger relations between forest owners

strong commitment towards Sustainable Forest Management

cost effective management Forest owners have the knowledge and long-term experiences on their ground.

They are the best partners in implementing the EU regulations

in the forest

Forests are important in NATURA 2000

• Slovenia: – 71 % of NATURA 2000 sites is located in forests– over 42 % of Slovenian forest is in NATURA 2000 – 71 % of forests is privately owned 

• Estonia:– Forests cover 51 % of land– NATURA 2000 sites cover 18% of Estonia, out of

27% private land and 73% state land• Lithuania:

– Forests cover 32% of land– 23% of forest land is also included in NATURA 2000 network

• Latvia: – Forests cover 45% of land– In 2006 13% of the total forest area was NATURA sites – more than 50% of all

NATURA sites in the country

Forest owners are motivated Their activity spans over generations They have experience, knowledge and interest in forestry that

focuses on diversified utilisation and consideration of the environment

They invest in the conservation of biodiversity to ensure the ecological balance in their forests

They treat forests with respect, as an integral part of their livelihood

Forest owners are self-committed to carry out their responsibility,

thus motivated to invest in biodiversity conservation

National procedures and organizing schemes for the NATURA 2000

Natura site

Forest owner

Ministry of

Agriculture

NGO-s

Local authorities

Nature protecti

on agencie

s

Ministry of

Environment

Management plan

INPUT

Forest owner

NATURA site and forest owner

Forest owner NATURA site

CEPF contribution

a better recognition of the on the ground situation collecting feedback from forest owners reviewing positive and negative examples and lessons learned

• European level Increasing the visibility of the role of forest owners in

the management of the sites• National level

Reality check on forest owners involvement, problem identification and conflict solving strategies for:

.Different national approaches to organization of the Natura 2000 site management

what could be the role of forest owners in the national scheme for

management of the Natura 2000 sites? how to use their knowledge, expertise and experience in developing

and implementing management plans? how to clarify the procedures for directing funds to the forest

owners for management activities? how to promote private forest owner associations as professional

site managing organizations?

Thank you for your attention!

www.cepf-eu.org