NON - TIMBER FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS, MONETARY VALUES AND CARBON BALANCES FOR AUSTRIA AND GERMANY

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1 INSTITUTE OF FOREST SECTOR POLICY AND ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY FOR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, VIENNA NON - TIMBER FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS, MONETARY VALUES AND CARBON BALANCES FOR AUSTRIA AND GERMANY Project manager: Walter Sekot Project assistants: Marcus Stefsky Ulrich Arzberger Report from Austria for the Task Force Meeting in Luxemburg from 14 th to 15 th May 2002 This project is co-financed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water management of Austria.

2 CARBON BINDING Comment on table E1 a + b The Austrian Forest Inventory (AFI) and the Austrian Forest Soil Inventory (AFSI) serve as the main data input for the Carbon balance model of the Federal Environment Agency (FEA) which in turn provides the figures for Table E1. The basic data will be most likely updated in a ten-year rotation based on the framework of the AFI as designed by the Austrian Federal Forestry Research Centre (AFFRC). Furthermore, the FEA intends to calculate and to publish annual data in order to bridge the time span between the field surveys. Annually Basic data: about every 10 years Calculated and modelled data output: Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF tables the FEA s data about Carbon binding in Austria is on the whole sufficient. The Austrian Carbon Balance Model (ACBM) provided by the Austrian Research Centres could be a feasible alternative. It includes all sectors involved in a national carbon balance such as agriculture, forest, energy, production and waste in contrast to the Carbon Balance of Austrian Forests of the FEA. The ACBM derives the annual harvest data from the Austrian Carbon Database Project provided by the International Institute for Applied System Analysis in Laxenburg. And this project in turn refers to the Austrian wood balance as basic data, which suggests significantly higher removals from the forests than those indicated by the AFI. Splitting up the total carbon stored in forest soil and biomass into the required fractions could make some problems, due to the structure of the model. To use the data provided by the FEA and to encourage an (ultimately to ensure) annual updating of the results. 1

3 Comment on table E3 See comment on table E1 a + b 5 years Basic data: about every 10 years Calculated and modelled data output: Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data is on the whole sufficient in Austria. According to the definition of the AFI, the category not available for wood supply comprises unmanaged protective forests. Data about increment and removals are not recorded for this category and can therefore not be provided. A separate record for the increment of afforestation after 1990 could be based on estimates only. It has to be specified, whether all afforestation and indeed the respective gross increment or only the net afforestation and also the net increment is to be accounted for. --- To skip the category not available for wood supply. Comment on table E4a See comment on table E1 a + b 5 years Basic data: about every 10 years Calculated and modelled data output: Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data is on the whole sufficient in Austria. The total amount of the category Ground vegetation is regarded as negligible and no respective data is available. --- To skip the item ground vegetation. 2

4 Comment on table E4b The data for this table are available from the Austrian Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (AFOMS). The data cover information about the different categories of land use but do not refer to the different categories of land cover. 5 years Annually (starting from the coming year) For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data is insufficient. The main problem with the AFOMS data is, that due to differences in definition and the means of data gathering, the forest area of the land use survey does not correspond to the forest area as recorded by the AFI, which is underlying the calculations of the carbon balance of Austrian forests. Although the data are being updated annually, they are not necessarily actual and valid, as only the known changes are recorded and no full survey is carried out. Data about afforestation, deforestation, natural colonisation or regression, other changes and changes in land classification is not available at all. Under condition that other types of land cover but forests can be disregarded, the AFI could serve as a date source, providing information on changes of the forest area with a periodicity of some 10 years. Such data would directly fit to the Carbon model. On the other hand, the CORINE LAND COVER could become a feasible instrument for a pan-european monitoring system in case the proposed reference period of 5 years is extended. A revision of the CORINE LAND COVER database in Austria is planned for every years. The recent one for Austria is just in progress and should be finished in The relevance of data on other kinds of land cover than forests in the context of Carbon balances should be verified. Primarily, the AFI data should be used. Additionally, it is proposed to investigate CORINE LAND COVER as a means for harmonized sources of data and land cover categories. In any case, the reference period should be extended to at least 10 years. 3

5 Comment on table E5 See comment on table E1 a + b 5 years Basic data: about every 10 years Calculated and modelled data output: Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data in Austria is more or less sufficient. For the time being, however, there is no respective data available as regards the category wood products. Although the importance of this item is acknowledged, there is a severe lack of respective information. Peat land does not play an important role in Austria and the total amount is too small to be considered. --- To commission research on the topic Carbon stored in wood products so that ultimately the respective requirements for filling in such data can be met on a regular basis. 4

6 FACTORS LINKED TO BIODIVERSITY Comment on table E6 Data about forest-occurring species as require by this table are not available in Austria. Data from the Red List are revised permanently and new editions are available about every 10 years. An assessment of forest-occurring species based on the Red List has so far been carried out for the group of vascular plants only. With a revision of existing animal and plant databases it should be feasible to derive the results for other species groups as to their occurrence in forest ecosystems. At the federal level the Red List according to Niklfeld is effective. Reasonable post-1950 year and First: 1986 the most recent year Recent: 1999 For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data about forest-occurring species at risk or endangered is insufficient. Data of the Red List Austria provide an overview concerning total flora and fauna in Austria, that means, it comprises the total number of endangered species, not considering the distribution of species among different types of ecosystems. The Red List deals with indigenous species, occurring in Austria at least since That means, exotic species immigrated after 1850 are not taken into consideration. Data on species endangered or at risk in Austria are a part of the Main Report of the United Nations (Forest Resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand; UN-ECE FAO, 2000). However, there is no established source for such data, the respective figures reflecting expert opinions collected from experts of the zoological and botanical departments of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna. Further data sources could be National programmes for the protection of species from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (FMA) and the World Wildlife Found for Nature (WWF) respectively the Fauna- Flora-Habitat and the Conservation of Wild Birds Directive from the EU. To commission research into the relation of endangered species as recorded by the Red List to forests as their habitat, so that forest occurring species can be denominated according to the still missing definition of forest occurring. As a first step, it is proposed to carry out the revision of the animal and plant databases so that the gaps in table E6 can be filled. 5

7 Comment on table E7 Aggregated data about protected forests will be available in spring 2002 and will be published by the FEA. 5 years --- A thorough evaluation can be provided as soon as the data become available. However, it is most unlikely that it will be possible to provide detailed data on change items as requested by table 7. A further feasibility to classify protected forest areas is to replace the IUCN categories with the classification of the European Environment Agency (EEA). On the other hand the classification of the Ministerial Conference of the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) could be a feasible alternative. It distinguishes protected areas according to three main protection objectives: 1. Management Objective Biodiversity 2. Management Objective Protection of Landscapes and Specific Natural Elements 3. Management Objective Protection Functions (Soil, Water, Natural Hazards) It is proposed to supplement table E7 with a further (maybe only national) category for forests protected as genetic resources. Respective data are available from the FMA, AFFRC and FEA. The change items should be regarded as optional. Comment on table E8a Respective data are taken up and published in the context of the AFI, provided by the AFFRC. 10 years About every 10 years For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data about regeneration of forest and other wooded land is almost sufficient. However, it is not possible to differentiate between ordinary species and precious species. The data represent average regeneration areas. --- It should be clarified how to deal with mixtures of natural and artificial regeneration and whether total or reduced area should be recorded. Skip the partition in ordinary species and precious species. 6

8 Comment on table E8b Annual data about afforestation and deforestation are part of the Forest Statistics of the FMA. (Note: areas subsidized under the heading of rural development are not included). 10 years Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data about extension of forest land is sufficient. Respective data are taken up and published in the context of the AFI, provided by the AFFRC. The recorded information of the AFI cover the increment and decrement of the forest area but do not allow for a distinction between artificial afforestation and natural colonisation / conversion. To skip the categories Of which: Natural colonisation and natural conversion and Changes in land classification. s for additional tables specifically for Austria o Naturalness of forests (hemeroby): area and changes o Proportion of Dead wood: standing or lying, divided into diameters and qualities and changes o Proportion of elder forest stock: area and changes o Changes of the area of mixed forests o Area of bushes on forest land 7

9 RECREATIONAL FUNCTIONS Comment on table E9 The information about the forest areas of national parks can be derived from the management of the individual national parks. The survey and publication are implemented by their own. The area of 43,700 ha given in table E9 is definitely underestimated due to insufficient and not standardized survey methods. --- For Austria, a national survey of urban recreation areas is missing. Only few data for some cities are recorded. If parks are included in the category other public owned recreation areas few information is remaining. 5 or 10 years Data collection on request For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data about recreation areas of forests are insufficient. Only for national parks are data available in Austria. It has to be stressed, however, that basically all forest land is open to the public for recreational purposes. As the exceptions are not recorded systematically, it is not possible to directly provide a respective net figure. All of the items in Table 9 (opening area, changes, closing area) should be quoted in absolute numbers as well as given in ha per habitant. Respective research as to the recreational function of the forests in Austria, especially in the context of urban forestry, should be stimulated. Further indicators such as the following could be considered so as to extend the documentation on recreational capacity: o percentage of area with public access (in Austria practically 100 % with the exceptions of legal restrictions) o percentage of area with high or even dominant significance of recreational functions according to the forest development plan; o length of forest road network available for recreation (in Austria practically 100 % of the existing roads); o length of trails available for or devoted to mountain biking or horse riding; o length of marked hiking trails. To skip the words public owned in the category other public owned recreation areas. 8

10 Comment on table E10 At the moment, hardly any data exists about visits to forests and their purposes as required by this table. The data collected by way of the micro-census in December 1998 allows just for the estimation of the total number of visits by Austrian citizens. 5 or 10 years depending on specific measures For the time being, there is a severe lack of respective information. Apart from the micro-census the Österreichische Gästebefragung as well as standardized market research may serve as tools for gathering specific information. Proposals for modification: o Instead of the item Percent of total (%) it is proposed to differentiate between visits from local residents 1 and touristic visits. o For international comparison it might be better to use numbers per hectare instead of total numbers. o The distinction between Day visits and Longer visits should be reconsidered especially in regard to approaches for monetary valuation. o The item Regulated by law lacks an operational definition. o Because of the lack of data regarding recreation visits to forests by main purpose it is proposed to commission research (e.g. telephone survey) to receive respective information in Austria. 1 Discussion if owner of weekend houses are included in this category or not. 9

11 PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS Comment on table E11 Respective data are taken up and published in the context of the AFI, provided by the AFFRC. Other primary management objectives, like protection of water resources and avalanche protection, are definitely covered by the category soil protection, too. But there is not information available about the extent of the other categories. 10 years about every 10 years For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data for soil protection is sufficient in Austria. About the forest areas for the proposed categories protection of water resources and protection from avalanches relevant data are not available. For the forth category Other or multiple objectives there exist areas called Bannwald which are dedicated to the protection of an object as defined in the Austrian Forestry Act from That includes the protection against avalanches and noxious emission as well as the protection of special water resources (mineral springs), forest infrastructure and power supply lines, among others. Basically it could be possible to use the FDP as a source to provide the areas of the different protective functions as requested by table E11. But the problem is that aggregated data are not available in Austria yet. It is proposed to extend table E11 with a further category protection from wind. In a few months from now the latest revision of the Forest Act will come into force, which introduces a differentiation between the function of protecting the forest site as such and the protection of any objects outside the forest. Maybe this distinction will allow for a more thorough documentation of the protective functions of the Austrian forests. 10

12 HEALTH OF TREES Comment on table E12 The data are taken up in the context of the Forest Damage Monitoring System (ICP Forest Grid Level 1), provided by the AFFRC. The data are published annually (in the middle of each year) by the Programme Coordinating Centre (PCC). The survey and the presentation of the results are in accordance with the Manual on Methods and Criteria for Harmonized Sampling, Assessment, Monitoring and Analysis of the Effects of Air Pollution on Forests from the UN/ECE (edited by Programme Coordinating Centre West, Hamburg, 4 th edition 1998). proposed Annually Annually For the application in the proposed IEEAF table the data about defoliation in Austria is definitely sufficient. In the context of the Forest Damage Monitoring System the AFFRC supplies information about the state of the most common species in Austria, which are Spruce (Picea abies), Fir (Abies alba), Larch (Larix deciduas), White pine (Pinus sylvestris), Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Oak (Quercus spp.). In addition to Level 1 approximately 860 intensive monitoring plots have been established in the frame of what is called the Level 2 network. Here, intensive investigations are carried out on site and stress factors as well as on biological and chemical ecosystems condition. The different factors are taken up in different periods and are coordinated and published by the Forest Intensive Monitoring Coordinating Institute (FIMCI). The Austrian Bio-Indicator Grid is an Austrian wide monitoring of the nutrition and air pollution situation based an needle analyses. The data are taken up and published annually. The data are available from the internet (homepage AFFRC) or can be ordered at the AFFRC. It is proposed to investigate the Level 2 of the ICP Forests monitoring as a means to find out correlations between trees and the environment. In principle, it would be possible to relate the results also to corresponding area and /or standing volume as proposed by the IAAEF. 11