A shared future - balanced development
10. Forestry
Forests and woodland areas should be used and managed in such a way as to allow them to play a part in fulfilling Denmark's nature, environmental, financial, and social needs, now and in the future. We should bolster the role of forests as one of society's welfare assets. Forests should provide opportunities for outdoor activities, protect biodiversity and contribute to a varying landscape. Forests should produce wood products and help protect the environment, including both the groundwater and through absorption of CO2.
Previously, forests were primarily meant to produce wood and serve as shelter. Today, they play multiple roles for our welfare - especially in terms of recreation. Danish forestry policy must be based on sustainability and multiple roles, and it is in line with the concept of sustainability which, since Rio, has become the cornerstone of daytoday forestry - both internationally and nationally and on the individual property.
Ensuring sustainable forestry, based on nearnatural management and natural processes, presents a central challenge. This will lead to more sustainable forests based on tree species adapted to the location (particularly domestic species) and increased continuity in the forest cover. There will be more space for nature, and the forests will be able to adapt more easily to an uncertain future, for example with regard to climate change, social developments, etc.
The long-term perspectives of forestry call for persistence and continuity in forest management. These are very difficult goals, as coniferous tree production is dominant in Denmark, and large volumes of coniferous trees from our neighbouring countries put pressure on prices.
Objectives and activities in the future
The policy for new and old forests will be specified in a new National Forest Programme, expected to be finalised in 2002 after public hearing in the spring.The Programme will constitute an overall plan, presenting concrete objectives and means.The Programme will build on a comprehensive technical foundation, and objectives will be laid down in close dialogue with parties involved in forestry. The basic elements of the forest policy are outlined below.
The forested area of Denmark must be increased so forest landscapes cover 20 - 25 percent of the Danish area in the course of one tree generation (80-100 years).Work should aim at having nature and biological diversity as the primary operational objective in 10% of the total forest area.
The new forested areas should meet our needs for diversified forests. Urban forests give more opportunities for outdoor recreation, and forests protect water catchment areas and lend character to the landscape. New forests can create the framework for biodiversity and ensure cohesion between existing nature and forest areas in open country.The forest programme is to ensure that all these targets are met. One special objective calls for the replanting of 15,000 hectares of healthy, resilient forests to replace the fallen trees that occurred in the storm of 1999.This objective is now within reach through subsidies under the "windfall scheme" to restore forests, and coupling with a new insurance scheme against losses incurred in future storms.
The Government will promote near to nature and environmentally friendly forest management and protect the natural assets in forests.This entails more deciduous trees and more mixed stands. Adaptation to locations, in particular, domestic species will become more visible in Danish forests.
For environmental reasons, the use of pesticides will be phased out in state forests, and be limited in private forests through knowledge development and information. At the same time, the ability of forests to protect the environment should be better promoted and exploited.This applies in particular to protection of the groundwater, and storage of CO2 in trees and soil as part of fulfilling Denmark's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Through a legislative revision, the Government will ensure more flexible forestry legislation allowing forest administration a greater degree of freedom to work with near-natural forestry and also ensuring continued area utilisation for forests and forest resources.The framework for the amendment to the Forestry Act will be outlined in the National Forestry Programme.
Dialogue, confidence, information, guidance, and voluntary agreements are key aspects of the future forestry policy.The Danish Government wants to promote the development of the forestry industry on the basis of voluntary agreements and confidence in the individual, thus allowing room for both nature and economic considerations.This places great demands on knowledge building and dissemination.
Sustainable forestry A new set of guidelines for sustainable forestry at property level serves as a topical example of how Denmark is operationalising the concept of sustainability.The Danish Forest and Nature Agency and eighteen stakeholder associations have jointly established thirteen voluntary operational principles. The principles aim at forestry that supports nature's ecosystems, while also making allowances for and combining a range of social, ecological and economic considerations. |
The Government will promote voluntary environmental certification for forests as a tool in
this connection so that sustainable forestry can compliment enhanced marketing.
The population should be more involved in decisions concerning forests.This could be through public debate about forestry policy, and with regard to state forests through the user councils in the state forest districts.The importance of forests to outdoor recreation should also be emphasised and developed.
The forestry sector must enhance its earning capacity. High-quality forestry and wood products must constantly be developed, with seed and plant material suited to the location.The Government will support a stable, market-oriented basis for supplying wood chip for energy purposes. It is important to provide information about the consideration rendered to nature and the environment in Danish forestry production. Increased use of wood and wood products may reduce the consumption of more environmentally harmful raw materials and contribute to financing the forest as a welfare benefit. A more liberal framework for forestry through more flexible forestry legislation is expected to promote forest administrators' opportunities to manage their finances.
Targeted research and an improved data situation are important ancillary tools for forest-related activities. Forest research should improve our knowledge of sustainable forestry methods.The health of forests is already monitored, and in 2002 a more extensive nationwide forest monitoring programme was initiated that will also provide a number of data about the nature content in forests, CO2 absorption ("sink" properties) and other environmental and social services.
Denmark will continue its efforts aimed at gradually more binding international cooperation on forests through international agreements and conventions. Denmark will follow up international agreements, promote sustainable forestry and make experience gained available to others. Danish environment and development assistance should assist recipient countries in implementing international conventions, agreements and recommendations on nature and forests. Furthermore, we must make sure that in our use of imported wood, we favour the products that are produced sustainably and legally. This goal is to be accomplished by, among other things, reinforcing measures on certification.