Ioan Vasile Abrudan

The Natura 2000 Ecological Network and Forests in Romania: Implications on Management and Administration

SUMMARY The present forestry guidelines and related legislation in Romania promote the natural forest type and seek a sustained yield in terms of both timber production and other forest functions regardless the ownership and administration. Therefore, forest management could be considered compatible with the conservation requirements of the Natura 2000 network. At present, this network covers roughly 18% of the country area. It was implemented without a thorough field analysis and without a proper stakeholder consultation process. Additionally, all sites were declared protected areas although no compensation system exists for owners. The authors propose that, at least for sites covering large areas and including diverse forms of ownership, the administration is more efficient at the level of existing forest districts than at site level. They also stress that, for an efficient Natura 2000 network and a sustainable forest management, financial compensation schemes should cover all types of ownership currently existing in Romania.

Conservation gains through HCVF assessments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania

This paper analyses the conservation gains through High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) assessments in two South-East European countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania). These are based on the review of the Draft Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) National Standards and HCVF Manuals and the results of the certification process of seven forest management units in the two countries. The review indicates that the application of Principle 9 (High Conservation Value Forests) and Criterion 6.4 of the FSC in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania was influenced by the size and nature of tenure (i.e., public or non-public land), rather than geographic location per se. The study also revealed that the assessment of HCVF has, for the first time, raised the question of conservation of cultural, historical and religious values as well as the sustainable management of those forests relevant for the basic needs of communities. These are values not currently covered at the present by the national conservation legislation in either of these two countries. Findings of this study in both countries demonstrates that there are certain conservation gains as a result of the HCVF assessment, especially related to ecosystem services, prevention of soil erosion and conservation of threatened, endangered and endemic species.

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement: the Ghanaian and Malaysian experience

SUMMARY This paper looks at how the Voluntary Partnership Agreement is working by using the Ghanaian and Malaysian experiences on this process. The difference in the forest management system in both Ghana and Malaysia, in itself poses some challenges to the implementation of the VPA. Further, the multi-stake holder approach used in Ghana, and the inter-governmental approach used in Malaysia presents different scenarios that may influence the implementation of the VPA. It is important to realize that measures that properly address circumvention and illegal imports from non-partner countries are of crucial importance for Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) to be a success. Therefore, the only way for Ghana and Malaysia to see VPA as a success is to be assisted in every way to build capacity among the law enforcement agencies.

Chain of custody (COC) certification among Malaysian wooden furniture manufacturers: status and challenges

SUMMARY Malaysia, a major producer and exporter of wood products has been slow to embrace wood products certification. A study was carried out with the intention of assessing the status of chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers. A structured questionnaire was used to interview firms who participated at the annual Malaysian International Furniture Fair in 2007. Results indicate that the readiness to adopt chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers was low. The lack of price premiums, limited market potential and high cost were cited as the primary reasons deterring furniture manufacturers from adopting chain of custody certification. Furthermore, the use of plantation wood resources, such as Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.), were perceived by many respondents to be certified wood resources, reflecting a lack of understanding among manufacturers. It was concluded that the promotion of chain of custody certification in Malaysia must focus on increasing awareness as well as highlighting the tangible and intangible benefits to be gained from such a scheme.

Comparison of structure, regeneration and dead wood in virgin forest remnant and managed forest on Grmecˇ Mountain in Western Bosnia

This paper compares the forest structure, regeneration and distribution of dead wood in a virgin forest remnant and a close-to-nature managed beech–conifer mixture situated on Grmeč Mountain in Western Bosnia. The investigations were carried out in a 1 ha permanent sample plot and 35 circular plots (20 m radius) in the virgin forest and in 17 circular plots (25 m radius) in managed forests. The number of trees in the managed forest was significantly (p = 0.05) higher than that in virgin forest and the distribution of the number of trees per diameter classes had a decreasing trend, but with a different shape in the virgin forest compared to the managed stands. In the lower diameter classes, the stock volume recorded in virgin forest was half of that in the managed forest, whilst for higher diameter classes the cumulated volume of the growing stock was almost double in virgin forest. The young crops had a significantly lower presence in the virgin forest and a larger volume of dead wood was identified in the virgin forest than in managed stands. The study results are important in assessing the consequences of close-to-nature management on the forest structure and regeneration when compared to the condition in virgin forests.

Chain of Custody certification in Romania: profile and perceptions of FSC certified companies

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to assess the evolution and profiles of CoC certified companies in Romania and to explore the main challenges they are facing. The number of CoC certified companies has increased rapidly in recent years; by the end of 2011, 86 companies had been FSC certified in Romania, producing and exporting (especially to Western Europe) a wide variety of certified wood products. The primary motivations for obtaining CoC certification relate to the market benefits of the companies and good reputation/international recognition. The certification cost is considered less relevant, while the lack of certified raw material on the local market and some of the FSC standard requirements were identified as more important impediments to certification. The study revealed the need for some measures to stimulate the development of CoC certification, including some fiscal facilities for certified companies, a stronger awareness campaign on the benefits of certification and a more transparent harvesting licensing process.

Chain of custody certification: an assessment of Ghanaian timber sector

Although Europe represents a major market for Ghana, information on how local companies are addressing chain of custody certification is scarce. A survey of 103 timber firms, in particular, was conducted in order to determine the current status of chain of custody certification in Ghana. Results collated indicate that the readiness to adopt chain of custody certification among the sector was low. The lack of stakeholders’ awareness and price premium was cited as the primary reasons deterring the sector from adopting certification. This study analysis suggests that company size is an important variable to be considered when analyzing the adoption of chain of custody certification by timber companies. This study shows that an increasing adoption of chain of custody certification among the sector in Ghana can be realised with good stakeholder consultations and resource rights.ZusammenfassungObwohl Europa für Ghana ein großer Markt ist, gibt es nur wenig Information darüber, wie lokale Unternehmen die Chain-of-Custody-Zertifizierung handhaben. Aus diesem Grund wurde eine Studie unter Einbeziehung von 103 Holzfirmen durchgeführt, die den Stellenwert einer Chain-of-Custody-Zertifizierung in Ghana ermitteln soll. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Bereitschaft zu einer COC-Zertifizierung in dieser Branche gering war. Als Hauptgründe dafür wurden das fehlende Bewusstsein der Firmen sowie fehlende Preisvorteile genannt. Die Studie ergab, dass die Unternehmensgröße eine wichtige Variable ist, die es bei der Analyse der Akzeptanz der Chain-of Custody-Zertifizierung in der Holzbranche zu berücksichtigen gilt. Desweiteren zeigt diese Studie, dass eine stärkere Akzeptanz einer COC-Zertifizierung in dieser Branche in Ghana mit einer guten Beratung der Firmen in Verbindung mit Einschlagsrechten erreichbar wäre.

Forestry and Forest Products Industries in Zambia and the Role of REDD+ Initiatives

SUMMARY Zambia has one of the largest forest resources in southern Africa with almost 66% of its land mass under forest cover. However, indiscriminate harvesting of valuable timber resources for commodity-type products such as sawn-timber, charcoal and fuel-wood are the main drivers of forest depletion. Challenges related to customary-lands, land-tenure, lack of information about forest resources as well as the weak institutions is contributing factors that have accelerated to steady reduction of forest cover in the country. The need for investments in the forest products sector and an equitable sharing of benefits with local communities are pre-requisites to shift into higher value-added manufacturing. In the context, the implementation of the REDD+ initiatives, which aims to build capacity and technical knowledge on the ground together with improved monitoring, reporting and verifying of the forest resources data from a centrally planned command could help to arrest the depletion of the forest through better planning and management of the resources.