MANDATE PROPOSAL OF THE WORKING GROUP MOUNTAIN FORESTS for the period

Transcription

1 MANDATE PROPOSAL OF THE WORKING GROUP MOUNTAIN FORESTS for the period Establishment of the Working Group/Platform Alpine Conference decision for the establishment of the Working Group/Platform The XII Alpine Conference, which met on September 7, 2012 in Poschiavo (CH) authorised the Permanent Committee to set up a Working Group on Mountain Forests in its decision B7.2. Following this decision, PC52 set up the Working Group on Mountain Forests. Here the relevant ACXIII decision, based on the agenda drafted by the Italian Presidency, will be highlighted. 2. Tasks within the context of the Alpine Convention Correlation with the corresponding protocol of the Alpine convention or the Framework Convention The Working Group will work towards the implementation of the Protocol on Mountain Forests to the Alpine Convention, taking into account also the links to relevant provisions of other protocols. In particular, the activities to be developed during the period will aim at implementing provisions set by art. 6 and art. 7 of the Mountain Forest Protocol. The WG will provide useful information to other WGs/PFs dealing with interconnected or crosscutting issues, as better reported in the following sections of this mandate. Contribution to the Multiannual Work Programme of the Alpine Convention (if existing) Because of the significant share of the area of the Alpine Convention covered by forests (46%) and their multifunctional use, links to almost all protocols to the Alpine Convention and other WG/PF exist: soil protection, nature and landscape conservation, mountain agriculture, planning and sustainable development, tourism, energy. See same section of the Mandate of the WG 1/5

2 Contribution to the cooperation in the Alpine region The WG proposes a few significant activities of regional cooperation on specific topics related to forests and forestry issues with a clear focus on the contribution of forests to regional economic processes (see below). Cooperation will be based on sharing of good practices, delivery of summary reports and illustration of research outcomes or available knowledge during workshops where experts from the Alpine countries and regions will be involved. The WG will also act as a network to foster fruitful discussions on forest and forestry topics within the Alpine countries and bring valuable international experience to national and subnational policies. 3. Activities within the mandate period (to be updated every two years) Description of core activities On the basis of the results of the Working Group during the years , the mandate will focus on the following tasks: 1) The protective function of Alpine mountain forests and its relationship with the productive function Taking into account Art. 6 of the "Mountain Forests Protocol" related to the mountain forests protective function, the WG will collect knowledge, good practices and methodologies to define forests with either direct (against avalanches, rockfall and landslides) and indirect (effect on water cycle, quality and quantity) protective function. Moreover, the WG will focus on the collection and analysis of policies and technical solutions already developed and/or suitable to be applied in order to be aware of the risks, for communication and compensation/payment for the protective function, also by taking into account the main international, national and regional information sources and practices. The WG will develop these tasks in close coordination and cooperation with the PLANALP Platform. Furthermore, with the awareness that the sustainable productive function (wood and non-wood forest products) is essential within a multifunctional forest management in order to maintain the interests of the owners for an active management. The WG will therefore analyse and share knowledge and experiences on possible strategies, measures and initiatives to promote sustainable patterns of production, discussing also potential synergies and conflicts. 2/5

3 2) Other ecosystem services and related economic mechanisms, communication, awareness raising and information on forests for the broader population Taking into account the main approaches, methodologies and good practices already identified during the mandate as well as the emerging conceptual framework related to green care, the WG will focus its activities on recognition and valorisation of Alpine forests ecosystem services. In particular, the WG will collect, analyse and spread information on existing knowledge and good practices aiming at the promotion, enhancement and compensation of specific socio-economic functions: recreation, tourism, non-wood forest products, contribution to social well-being, green care, nature and biodiversity conservation. Forest owners, managers and other relevant stakeholders will be involved in a discussion on a) the potential role of ecosystem services and the connected difficulties to shift from public interests and demands to income generation for forest owners; b) the ongoing changes in the relationship between society and forests, the understanding of forest value by the civil society and the citizens and the change happening in the social structure of forest owners. Communication activities of the Working Group/Platform The WG intends to organise a thematic workshop on each of the topics dealt with during the period of the mandate. Depending on the specific topic to be analysed, the workshop can be organised in cooperation with other WGs/PFs or other relevant stakeholders. Decisions concerning specific events will be discussed internally in the WG. The reports, once formally approved, will be sent to relevant stakeholders and published on the AC and other related websites. At any rate, all public information and materials (including presentations, documents, reports, papers, etc.) will be made available to experts and practitioners and spread to a larger audience throughout the Alps. The WG will contribute, if applicable, to the European Forest Week and silva2015, taking place at Engelberg from 2 to 6 November 2015 organised by UNECE/FAO and hosted by Switzerland. 3/5

4 Preparation of documentation The WG will draft specific reports concerning each specific item included in this mandate (namely: 1. Sustainable production and use of wood from Alpine mountain forests; 2. Cooperation on communication, awareness and information on forests for the broader population; 3. Ecosystem services and related economic mechanisms), where available figures on shared criteria and indicators, good practices, policy options, innovative approaches, etc. will be added. Cooperation with other WG-PF The WG, looking for a greater cooperation on cross-cutting themes among WGs and PFs, wants to cooperate positively with other WGs and PFs of the Alpine Convention, namely with the PLANALP and/or Water PF in terms of the role of protection forests and their related policies; with the Mountain Farming PF especially in terms of ecosystem services and potential food-energy conflicts, where appropriate (e.g. on land use change and its consequences on mountain farming); with the Energy PF in terms of sustainable production, use and consumption of wood from Alpine forests (e.g. with regard to sustainable energy production from biomass); with the Ecological Networks PF in terms of forest ecosystem services. Joint workshops and common thematic sessions of the WGs / PFs involved can be organised on the basis of an agreement with the WGs/PFs involved. Activities in the scope of EUSALP By taking into account also the ongoing development of the EUSALP Action Plan and the related future decisions for the prioritisation of its strategic activities, the WG points out some topics related to Alpine forests, wood and sustainability that could be relevant for the strategy: Eco-innovation, research & development, decent jobs as well as methods to promote the use of sustainable wood, non-wood forest products and energy in an Alpine green economy by supporting the creation of Alpine local added value chains and green job markets through the promotion of Alpine smart, inclusive and sustainable growth paths (e.g. communication and outreach, certification, green procurement, etc.) The contribution of mountain forests ecosystem services to biodiversity conservation as well as to the sustainable management of Alpine natural and human habitats by supporting the identification of the overall societal value of nature, biodiversity, landscape (e.g., protection and enhancement of ecosystem services and of connectivity;, efficient use of renewable, local energy sources; spread of knowledge and information on risks and opportunities related to potential impacts of climate change, etc). 4/5

5 4. Participants and method of work Presidency Italy is available to hold the presidency of the WG in Participants The WG will be made up by experts appointed by the parties, as it was the case in the period of its mandate. Its activities can be developed in cooperation with national and territorial administrations, research institutions, expert representatives from business communities, and other national and international stakeholders, according to the topics treated by the WG during its meetings. Method of work The WG plans to keep the adopted format of having the WG meeting in the afternoon, holding a workshop that is open to the public (usually involving regional stakeholders) on the second day. The Workshop has both the function to collect ideas and information for the WG and to inform on the WG topics and outcomes as well as involving a few influential regional stakeholders (research institutions, regional and local players, business sectors, etc.) in some points of discussion. The WG proposes to add also a thematic field trip/excursion to this format in order to foster knowledge, technical discussion and good practice exchange for the participants. The WG intends to meet twice a year. One meeting will be held jointly with the PLANALP Platform. 5/5