Forest Management

Summary

The forest management demonstration plots of the Pasaules dabas fonds (associate partner of WWF Latvia), being the basis for the contract solution, have different owners, but their views on the forest are similar: forest owners work for the benefit of the present values while retaining the ability to exploit the vast forest values of tomorrow. There are three demonstration areas: • "Kalna Gavniesi" in Skujene parish, Amata municipality of Vidzeme region • "Lejas Kleperi" in Launkalne parish, Smiltene municipality of Vidzeme region • "Pūpoli", the territory forms the farm "Pūpoli" in Kurmene parish, Vecumnieki municipality, the farm “Alksnāji” in Mazzalve parish, Nereta municipality, and the farm “Renderi’ in Jaunjelgava parish, Jaunjelgava municipality of Zemgale region. The demonstration areas differ in size, forest stand and natural conditions. Through contractual agreements (cooperation) with forest owners on a voluntary basis, seminars and internships are organized for other forest owners, students, etc. to maintain the forest and not to cut down all trees, to manage the forest in an environmentally friendly way and also to achieve economic benefits. There are about 5-10 events per year with a total number of 200-300 participants.

Data and Facts - Contract

Participation: Three farms are involved in the forest management project, about 300 people annually participate in the seminars. Cooperation is based on a cooperation agreement. 
Involved parties: The contracting parties are the Pasaules dabas fonds and the three demonstration farms. 
Management requirements: No requirements for forest management 
Controls/monitoring: No monitoring as it is an educational programme 
Renewal / termination: No regulations 
Conditions of participation: 
• Pasaules Dabas Fonds supports the establishment of infrastructure and provides the facilities for seminars; 
• Pasaules Dabas Fonds supports and organizes the training for the owners of the demonstration territory; 
• All forest management activity in the forest is economically justified by the demonstration territory owner and does not receive financial support from Pasaules Dabas Fonds; 
• Pasaules Dabas Fonds does not offer financial compensation for owners’ time spent organising/managing seminars.
Risk/uncertainties of participants: Risks of the long term cooperation, risk that there are too many participants and high interest from target groups in the forest farms. Funding/Payments: State funding, private funding, EU project support (in collaboration with Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre). In some periods, there is no external funding for educational activities in demonstration areas, then the costs are covered by Pasaules Dabas Fonds
Requirements: The demonstration areas are managed with non-clear cutting methods, which, as opposed to widely used clearcutting, is more environmentally friendly and often more beneficial to the owner than the opportunities and risks of random felling. During the seminar, participants are able to ask questions and discuss own experiences. The method of avoiding clear cut allows to obtain money from the forest all the time without diminishing its value. Practically, anyone can see the demonstration areas. Interested forest owners are able to learn about different types of forest growing conditions, and listen to interesting experiences. Examples of good forest management practices to demonstrate adaptive forestry practices that promote forest value are shown. To stop and prevent unsustainable forest management leading to forest degradation, depletion of forest resources in Latvia. Full-time forest owners.

Demonstration area "Kalna Gaviesi" 
The area is located in Skujene parish, Amata region of Vidzeme region. The farm is well-developed for firewood trade, pond farming and beekeeping. Forest is about 1000ha, divided into several properties. The demonstration area was established in 2003. In spring 2001, 160 ha of forest were certified according to FSC standard requirements. These 160 ha include areas that have been fully preserved for natural development and where no economic activity is planned, such as broadleaf, spruce forest on the Amata slope, old spruce forest.
Demonstration area "Lejas Kleperi" 
The territory is located in the Launkalne parish, Smiltene municipality of Vidzeme region. The farm is owned by a family and has a local history, forest museum. The total area of the farmland is 119,4ha including 86.1ha forests. The demonstration area was established in 2004. Due to the hilly terrain, the farmland is used mainly for grazing and hay production. Inferior agricultural land is gradually being naturally forested. Forest management is carried out, using the equipment from the farm. The area depicts the use of random felling, planning, care felling.
Forestry demonstration area "Pūpoli" 
The territory is made up of the Kurmene parish farm "Pūpoli" in Vecumnieki municipality, the Alksnāji farm in Mazzalve parish in Nereta district and the Renderi farm in Jaunjelgava parish in Jaunjelgava municipality. The demonstration area was established in 2012. The total area of participating farms in the demonstration area is 37.6 hectares. Out of these, 23.2 hectares are covered by forest land. Deforestation of overgrown agriculture land is not planned in the future.

Context features

Landscape and climate: Unfortunately, despite the ecological, economic and social benefits that the forest brings to us as human beings, deforestation in the world as a whole continues to progress at a tremendous pace, with 13 million ha of forests being destroyed every year, with irreparable consequences for the climate. The forest ecosystem accounts for one third of the Earth's terrestrial area. In Europe, forests account for more than 44% of the country's continental territory and, apart from traditional timber and other forest products, provide many benefits to European society and the environment, including clean air, clean water, homes, over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Forests represent a nature protection against climate change. Sustainably managed forests not only provide environmental benefits, they also maintain sustainable economic development and growth, creating green jobs through climate friendly and renewable raw materials. Forests provide livelihoods for millions of private forest owners as well as budget revenues. Sustainable management of Europe's forests is implemented by the Europe 2020 Strategy: "Innovation for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe", the latest "Climate and Energy Program 2030" and the "EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020". To manage following the principles of sustainable forest management and to reduce deforestation globally by 2020, all countries were encouraged to take local, national and international measures. 
Farm structure: Two farms are located in the central highlands of Vidzeme and one in southern Latvia in the lowlands of Central Latvia. Forests in Latvia have a great variety of natural conditions, which are more pronounced in the alternation of hills and valleys and the diversity of soils. In the central part of Vidzeme, spring arrives a few weeks later than in other parts of Latvia, also precipitation is higher. A small proportion of the forests in the demonstration areas exists since 100 years. Most forests have however developed over the past 40 to 70 years. The demonstration areas include both artificially forested grasslands and pastures with coniferous cultures of the same age and natural forests of different tree species at different ages.

Success or Failure?

Successful collaboration experience with demonstration site owners 10-20 years, demonstration of practical, environmentally friendly forest management in private forestry.

Reasons for success :

• Formulation and analysis of an idea to a successful goal.
• Evaluation of potential demonstrability.
• Identification of cooperation partners.
• Analysis of target audiences.
• Selection of demonstration areas, incl. applicability of site owners.
• Integration of the results of the demonstration project into a wider goal realization.

SWOT analysis