Forest Management and Water in Lithuania

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1 Ministry of Environment Jakšto 4/9, Vilnius LT-01105, Lithuania. web: Forest Management and Water in Lithuania Zbignev Glazko, Silviculture Division, Nature protection and Forest Department Prepared on the basis of presentation made by: State Forest Service Pramonės 11a, Kaunas LT-51327, Lithuania. web:

2 Lithuania and its forests in brief Sweden Gulf of Bothnia B a l t i c S e a Poland Russia Finland Gulf of Riga Riga Lithuania Vilnius Gulf of Finland Tallinn Estonia Latvia Russia Belarus Country area Population mill. ha mill. Forest land area mill. ha Forest coverage % Water mill. ha Water coverage % Forest area per capita ha Growing stock volume: total mill. m 3 average m 3 /ha Annual increment mill. m 3 Mature stands (for wood supply): area ha volume mill. m m 3 /ha Annual harvest (stem volume) 9.0 mill. m 3

3 VISION Lithuanian forests a natural element of the Lithuanian landscape characterized by health, biodiversity, productivity and sustainability, providing timber, green energy, food products and opportunities for recreation of the urban and rural people, forming habitats for numerous flora and fauna species, preventing soil erosion, purifying air and absorbing carbon dioxide, protecting ground and surface waters, satisfying other ecological, economical, and social needs of society at national and global levels. Photo: Unseen Lithuania ( Neregėta Lietuva )

4 Law on Forests Forest definition Not a forest: - single trees or in groups, - tree lines <10 m in width, - plantings at road or railway, - urban parks. a land area not less than 0.1 hectare in size - forest roads, routes - technological and block lines, - firebreak belts, - wood yards, - forest nurseries, - forest seed orchards, - recreation and landscape sites, - game feeding places, - plantations (of raw material), - land for afforestation, - etc.

5 Protective forests Commercial forests Forests of special purpose Law on Forests Forest management regimes (forest groups) I Strict reserves forests 1% II 12% 16% 71% III IV

6 Forest ownership Forests of state importance ha Private forests ha ~ 250 thousand owners 49.7% 39.4% State forests reserved for restitution ha partial management 10.9% Data source: Lithuanian statistical yearbook of forestry 2012

7 Forest resources tree species Birch (betula pendula&pubescens) Spruce (picea abies) thousand ha 48 years old 218 m 3 /ha 8.3 m 3 /ha (increment) 19.7% 21.1% thousand ha 46 years old 200 m 3 /ha 7.1 m 3 /ha (increment) 3.6% Aspen 6.5% Black alder Pine (pinus sylvestris) thousand ha 67 years old 303 m 3 /ha 8.8 m 3 /ha (increment) 33.2% 5.9% Grey alder 1.9% Oak 1.6% Ash 1.1% Others 5.4% Not forested

8 Forest management financial support from EU EU support for protection of environment EU financial assistance contributes to sustainable forest management and helps to build strong economy and sustainable future more than 10 forestry and related measures/activities are supported from EU Rural Development Programme ; total amount allocated 130 mill. EUR (this makes 10-15% of total incomes in forestry sector in Lithuania); about 160 mill. EUR have been already used for forestry and related measures from RDP / (~8% of total amount used from RDP ) ~70% of this support were used for afforestation of non-forest land, >80% of this support were used for private forests (including private lands where forest was planted for the first time). EU support for first afforestation EU support for rural infrastructure

9 Forests in protected areas share between categories nature strict reserves nature reserves recuperational plots national parks regional parks biosphere reserves biosphere polygons Forest protection protected areas protected areas cover 15,7% ( thousand ha) of the countries area; ~ 30% of all forest land area is in protected areas (strict regulation of forest management in these areas is applied); > 60% of Natura 2000 areas falls in forest land areas; Forests of protective zones for water bodies ha (6.9 percent of all forests and 46 percent of Group III protective forests). 2 6 strict reserves biosphere reserve 271 reserves 5 national and 30 regional parks biosphere polygons 17% 17% 39% 1 24% NATURA 2000 AREAS - SPAs (Birds Directives) - psci (Habitats Directives) PROTECTED AREAS

10 Water protection measures Mission Protective Forests in water protection zones (Group III) are established for the: - supporting the water level regime; - reducing the variability of water level (protection against floods); - protecting water pools from pollution and producing wood.

11 Water protection measures Norm Group III (Protective Forests) in water protection zones is established, if forests are in protected areas of water pools close to: rivers (greater than 50 km) ponds and lakes with an area exceeding 50 hectares.

12 Water protection measures Definition Surface water body protection zone - a stretch (area) of a coastline (a land adjacent to a surface water body) is identified near the surface water body, in which are restricted the economic activities, which may have a negative influence to the surface water bodies;( m width -clear forest fellings are prohibited on the slopes with side slope greater than 10 ). Coastal protection belt of a surface water body - a part of the protection zone adjacent to a surface water body,established near the surface water body, where the economic activities carried out may have a direct negative influence on the surface water body or restrict the possibilities of its use for the public needs, therefore it prohibits a particular economic activity;( m width - are prohibited clear forest fellings, destruction of the forest floor).

13 FSC Principles and Criteria Interim Standard for Assessing Forest Management Forest management shall respect all applicable laws of the country in which they occur, and international treaties and agreements to which the country is a signatory, and comply with all FSC Principles and Criteria Ecological functions and values shall be maintained intact, enhanced, or restored, including: Natural cycles that affect the productivity of the forest ecosystem Forest areas not affected by existing drainage ditches shall not be drained, except cases when new roads are being built Preparing the soil for afforestation (only in temporally wet and wet soil types forests) the maximum deep of the furrow shall be up to 70 cm if needed.

14 Water protection measures Action plan In order to improve the water bodies management and protection system, safeguarding more sustainable use of water resources, protection of the good status of water bodies and water quality assurance, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania adopts list of measures. According to the Program of Water Development in adopted an action plan for its implementation. Measures related to the forests: On the territory of the Free State Land Fund to form new plots for the establishment of new forests in the Bartuva river basin, Lielupe, Nevėžis and Šešupė sub basins, and to transfer these plots to the State Forest Enterprise; The plan envisages more cooperation with neighboring countries, strengthening of state environmental control.

15 More comprehensive information about Lithuanian forests and forestry could be found in Lithuanian Statistical Yearbook of Forestry 2014, also available on web page: Thank you! Ministry of Environment Jakšto 4/9, Vilnius LT-01105, Lithuania. info@am.lt, web: State Forest Service Pramonės 11a, Kaunas LT-51327, Lithuania. vmt@amvmt.lt, web: