Jura Čavlović

Importance of Priority Areas for Multi-Objective Forest Planning: A Central European Perspective

SUMMARY In the framework of multi-objective forest management, ‘priority areas’ which are relatively more important for the selected management objectives are commonly designated. Using a comparative analysis of guided interviews, we examined the use and importance of priority areas in forest planning in nine Central European countries. In all countries, priority areas have been widely used, forest function areas and protected areas being the most common. According to management objectives, more than 20 types of priority areas were recognised, with priority areas for protection against natural hazards, nature conservation, recreation, welfare, and production being the most prevalent. Criteria for the designation differ among the countries; however, site conditions and infrastructure facilities are most often used. The scale of designation ranges from 1:10 000–1:50 000, and the size of priority areas varies from 0.1 ha to several hundreds of ha. The level of participation of stakeholders involved in the designation of priority areas differs among and within the countries. The effectiveness of priority areas for forest management can be improved by transparent designation criteria, objective oriented management measures, and efficient financial instruments.

Long-term and country scale projection of even-aged forest management: a case study for Fagus sylvatica in Croatia

Abstract Out of the 901,848 ha forests of the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Croatia, 383,473 ha are even-aged beech forests with irregular age-class structure. Potential forest management of the even-aged beech forests (including the conversion of coppice even-aged beech forests) was studied using a dynamic model system, in the context of long-term planning at the national level in Croatia. Three management policy scenarios were defined regarding the area control method, that is, planned area for annual regeneration felling was given as a function of (1) total forest area (conservative approach scenario–CAS), (2) area of stands older than 50 years (moderate approach scenario–MAS), and (3) area of stands older than 80 years (intensive approach scenario–IAS). Projections of future trends in the annual area of regeneration, age-class distribution, standing volume and annual felling, and thinning cut were obtained for each scenario. Management according to the Scenario 3 would lead to achievement of a best age-class balancing and more sustainable management in the next 50 years. The structure of the growing stock and the quality of harvested timber would also improve as a result of this approach. Intensive regeneration felling (4460 ha per year) and conversion of coppice forests (420 ha per year) is required to reach this goal.