Kick-Off meeting
CONFOREST
The question of CONversion of coniferous FORESTs
on sites naturally dominated by broadleaves
for sustainable fulfilment of society's needs
A Project Centre of the
European Forest Institute (EFI)
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19-20 February 2004 Zvolen, Slovakia |
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Organisers:
Project Centre ConForest
Local organisers:
Forest Research Institute Zvolen
Co-organized by:
European Forest Institute, EFI Headquarters
PROJECT CENTRE OUTLINE
Changing
needs of society and the enhanced understanding of forest ecosystems have
recently lead to increased research activities regarding the question whether
society would benefit if secondary, pure, even-aged coniferous forests on sites
naturally dominated by broadleaf species will be converted hoping to improve
sustainability, resilience and biodiversity. To investigate this topic for the
species most prominent in Central Europe, namely Norway spruce, a Regional
Project Centre RPC-CONFOREST was founded under the auspices of EFI and has made
a considerable scientific contribution to enhance understanding of the
processes related to conversion measures. To follow this path further, an
enlarged consortium will expand its activities as new Project Centre ConForest to all coniferous species.
One
obvious way to enhance sustainability, resilience and biodiversity in (pure, even-aged)
secondary coniferous forests might be to re-organise stands by admixing
site-adapted species. As a second option, introduction of uneven-aged
structures by silvicultural measures may upgrade the services of these forests.
Of course, re-introduction of broadleaves can also be performed in conjunction
with silvicultural development of stand structures, e.g. by age variation
combined with variation in tree size. It must be noted that these two options
can be combined in various intensities, which represent a large range of
silvicultural approaches that all serve the ultimate purpose of risk
minimisation and elimination in contemporary European forests. The impacts of
such conversion activities on soil processes, nutrient fluxes,
pathogen susceptibility, wood production, disturbance risks, and timber markets
will be studied. ConForest aims
at an integrated evaluation of conversion strategies with respect to the
ecological and socioeconomic goals of forestry on various levels. Researchers
from various European countries are invited to participate in order to ensure
that all regions faced with issues regarding pure coniferous forests will be
covered by this EFI Project Centre.
Information
gathered by ConForest will be
essential to minimise ecological and economic damage by proper assessment of
conversion priorities. Results will improve the understanding of effects of
pure secondary coniferous forests as compared to mixed broadleaved forests
including phases of transition.
BACKGROUND
Interference by human management has not only expanded the borders of coniferous species distribution beyond their respective natural range but has also implanted coniferous species on many sites naturally dominated by broadleaves. This development has been part of changes in growing stock on a large-scale, which forest managers conducted in favour of coniferous trees. This process, that began as early as the Middle Ages and continued up until the 20th century, was characterised by a preference for coniferous trees, notably Norway spruce and pine (cf. Figure 1). Widespread over-exploitation and devastation of forests as well as the fear of timber shortage are seen as the main underlying reasons for this change in growing stock. Consequently, even-aged coniferous forests were established on many sites naturally dominated by broadleaves.
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Figure 1: Changes in tree species composition in central European forests. The area of broadleaved species has been reduced while the area of conifers has increased. |
Changing needs of society and an enhanced level of understanding raises the question whether these secondary coniferous forests need to be converted to improve sustainability. Sustainable forest management comprises a wide range of forest management strategies that optimise the maintenance, conservation and utilisation of forest ecosystems in such a way that the economic, ecological and socio-economic functions are fulfilled in a sustainable way. In recent years secondary coniferous forests growing on unsuitable sites have been more prone to damage, e.g. by storm, fire, snow, ice, drought, insects, fungi and possibly soil degradation, than mixed and / or structured forests composed of site adapted species. Introduction of stand structure and admixture of site-adapted species may reduce these risks, may eventually increase biodiversity and upgrade the genetic potential of forests. It will also affect future wood markets, economic results of forestry, and various other goods and services, which forest ecosystems provide to society.
The AIMS of ConForest
Using the proven approach of subdivision and interdisciplinary consultation, the ConForest consortium intend to ensure that beside ecological issues silvicultural, operational, economic and political aspects of conversion continue to be investigated with the same priority for all coniferous species, namely Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.] Carrire), Scots pine (Pinus silvestris Linne) and other pine species, and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel] Franco). Project results will be relevant to and beneficial for a large proportion of the European forestry community.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The activities of ConForest will be structured into topical research areas to
make accelerated progress in the search for possibilities to introduce or
improve sustainability of secondary (pure) coniferous forests. The main
objectives to be achieved during the lifetime of EFI's Project Centre ConForest will be:
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to
identify those coniferous species of relevance in European forestry
whose stability and / or resilience have been insufficient when managed as pure
stands or as the predominant speciesand
/ or
that are envisaged as key initial species for conversion
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to
establish the area covered by these unstable / low resilience and / or
conversion forests for each species across
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to examine whether or inasmuch the research results achieved for Norway
spruce can be transferred to other coniferous species
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to
investigate the gain in stability and resilience
achievable for each species by the creation of (age) structures alone (no
admixture of site-adapted species)
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to
develop tools for the evaluation of forest management change (necessity,
priority of measures, silvicultural feasibility, economic impact etc.)
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to
compile the effects of typical baseline scenarios (for each species)
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dissemination
of research results by presentations, publications and possibly a dedicated
international conference
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME of
the
ConForest
Kick-Off meeting
Date:Thursday
and Friday, 19 and 20 February 2004
Venue:Forest Research Institute, Zvolen, Slovak Republic and
Technical University Zvolen
Meeting rooms
T.G.Masaryka 22, 960
92 Zvolen,
Phone: +421-45-5314171 or 172, e-mail: novotny@fris.sk
Thursday,
19 Feburary 2004
08:00-09:45lRegistration
and payment of 40 by each participant to cover board during the meeting (lunch
on 19Feb04 and 20Feb04, dinner on 19Feb04, and refreshments during coffee
breaks)
10:00lWelcome and introduction to the Project Centre ConForest
lGeneral information about the concept of EFIs PCs
lOrganizational structure of ConForest: board, chairman, advisory group, co-ordinator
11:00�������������� l Coffee break
11:15�������������� l� Application for the 2nd Term
����� l�������� Memorandum of Understanding
12:30�������������� l�������� Lunch: canteen of the Technical University Zvolen
14:00�������������� l�������� Round of introduction and forming of groups for areas of
interest
14:30�������������� l�������� Group sessions: Presentation of ideas by each participant
regarding ConForests future work
programme and funding sources
16:00�������������� l������� Coffee break
16:30�������������� l�������� Group sessions continued:
Brainstorming regarding ConForests
future work programme and funding sources
18:00�������������� l�������� End of first day session
����� l�������� Transfer
to Hotel
19:30�������������� l�������� Joint dinner: Entrance hall of Forest Research Institute
Friday, 20 February
2004
09:00�������������� l�������� Moderators of the group sessions: Presentation of
brainstorming results regarding ConForests
future work programme and funding sources
10:30�������������� l�������� Coffee break
11:00�������������� l�������� Joint discussion of ConForests
future work programme
���������������������������������� Development
of concepts in order to apply for funds
����� l�������� Forming
of working-groups, distribution of tasks, nomination and election of working
group leaders
12:30�������������� l�������� Lunch: canteen of the Technical University Zvolen
14:00��� l�������� Review
of ConForest structure
����� l�������� Election
of ConForest Board / confirmation
of competencies
lMilestones
and time schedule
lNext
steps and next meeting
lMiscellaneous
16:00lEnd of Meeting
REGISTRATION
As the regular deadline for registration was
VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION
The ConForest Kick-Off meeting will take
place in Zvolen /
Slovakia at the Forest Research Institute, Zvolen.
Please find a printable city map for Zvolen here.
The participants are asked to make their own
arrangements for reservation of rooms. Please find detailed information on
accommodation options here.
DETAILS FOR TRAVELLING
The participants are asked to make their own
travel arrangements to Zvolen. Travel details regarding transport from airport
Wien/Schwechat to
The airport Sliač is next to Zvolen
(approx. 7 km) offering flights e.g. from
departure from
departure from Sliač at
FURTHER INFORMATION
On scientific issues for the
Kick-Off meeting
Prof. Dr. Heinrich Spiecker,
Institute for
E-mail: mailto:instww@uni-freiburg.de
For registration
Mrs Marianne Stadler, Institute for
E-mail: marianne.stadler@iww.uni-freiburg.de
Regarding
organisational matters and accommodation
Prof. Dr. Julius Novotny, Forest
Research Institute, Zvolen
Please send your e-mail messages
to: novotny@fris.sk with a copy to pacutova@fris.sk .