The main purpose of the present national Forest Strategy 2020 is to reach a sustainable forest management in the Federal Republic of Germany. Great care is taken that the amount of timber used does not exceed the amount that grows back in the forests. Forests provide a home for animals and plants. They assist in protecting climate, water and soil. At the same time they provide an area for recreation and sports activities. Forests are also a part of the cultural identity of Germany. Therefore, sustainable forestry pursues the goal of affording permanent, optimum protection to the diverse economic, ecological and social contributions of forests in the interest of both today's and future generations. This ambitious goal is pursued in Germany by means of an integrative approach to sustainable, multi-functional forestry. The specific Goal of the present Strategy is to develop a viable balance, adapted to future requirements, between the growing demands made on forests and their sustainable performance. The basis for this is equal consideration of the three dimensions to sustainability (ecological, economic and social). The Goal of the sustainable use of forests calls for the same weight to be given to economic viability as ecological responsibility and social justice. Part three establishes the areas of action and subordinate goals of the Forest Strategy 2020 as follows: 1) Climate protection and adaptation. The contribution of forestry and timber management to climate protection should be safeguarded and increased. Forests need to adapt to climate change in order to be able to continue to fulfil their functions for society, owners, nature and the environment. To reach these goals the following possible solutions are suggested: a) Forests are to be maintained as a CO2 sink; b) The climate and energy goals of the federal government are to be backed by measures to adapt German forests to climate change and to tap the CO2 reduction potential in forests and timber; c) Appropriate steps are to be taken to promote the use of timber from sustainable forestry as a substitute for energy-intensive materials with an unfavourable environmental impact assessment and carbon footprint; d) In the EU and in the international climate negotiations, the federal government advocates the crediting of timber and timber products in the national climate/CO2 footprint; e) research on the impact of climate change on forests, their productivity and suitable adaptation measures is to be stepped up; e) The climate adaptation potential of available, unused forests is to be examined and tips passed on to forestry services. 2) Property, work and income (value added). The economic foundations of forestry enterprises, value added and jobs in the forestry and timber industry are to be preserved. Some of the possible solutions are outlined as follows: a) The federal government advocates a wide dispersal of private property and will continue to work to protect this; b) Economically viable forest enterprises and associations of forest owners are the basis for the responsible sustainable management of forests and the safeguarding of all their functions. Forestry is the foundation for a highly productive and internationally competitive timber industry. The overall conditions should be shaped in such a way that forests' ecological and social functions and, by extension, the related jobs and value added are safeguarded in the future, too, and can be developed further; c) To prevent any job losses it is necessary to fully exploit the sustainably available coniferous raw wood potential and, in this way, to reduce the risk of important large-scale employers in the timber and pulp industry moving away, particularly from rural areas; d)) The employers recognise their responsibility for their employees. Here, the emphasis is on tried-and-tested social standards, effective health and accident insurance, the introduction of up-to-date working time schemes and adequate pay in relation to performance. 3) Raw materials, use and efficiency. The production of timber from sustainable forestry is to be ensured and the framework conditions improved for the sustainable provisioning of raw materials for the timber, paper and energy industry. After 2020 as well, the growing domestic demand for timber is to be mainly covered from indigenous supplies and from the sustainable exploitation of other raw material sources. Some of the possible solutions are: a) The timber harvest is auctioned up to the maximum average annual growth. Forests are to be preserved as a CO2 sink; b) The first step towards tackling dwindling resources is, therefore, more efficient, i.e. material-saving use. The essential pre-requisite for increasing resource efficiency is the avoidance of waste and the return of recyclable materials from waste to the economic cycle. In principle, the sensible cascaded use of scarce resources in the timber and paper industry should be increased further. Here, there are additional reserves which can be tapped with the help of research. 4) Biodiversity and forest conservation. Forest biodiversity is to be further improved by suitable measures. The links between forest management and biodiversity are to be researched more extensively and the findings factored into further decision-making and planning processes. Some of the possible solutions are: a) The friction between the use of biological resources and maintaining biodiversity should be defused and dealt with; b) The high level of biodiversity in forests today is nurtured. Biodiversity in forests should be further improved in line with the goals of the National Biodiversity (NBS), e. g. through non-managed areas, an increase in the proportion of deadwood, a rise in the number of natural forest patches along with the implementation and linking up of the Natura 2000 areas. Publicly owned forests, in particular state-owned forests, serve as a model here; c) In order to clarify the status quo regarding the proportion of non-managed forest areas, the Federal Environmental Ministry has commissioned a research project through the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN); d) Additional constraints on forestry should be carefully weighed up on the national and EU levels when it comes to the achievable sustainable benefits taking into account ecological, economic, social, and climate-relevant aspects. 5) Silviculture. The forest area in Germany is to be maintained and, if possible, enlarged. The stability, productivity, diversity and naturalness of forests are to be further improved through the proven integrative approach of sustainable, multi-functional forest management. The planting of site-specific, mainly indigenous species of trees is an important contributory factor here. Some suggested solutions are: a) The forest area in Germany should be maintained and the stability, diversity and orientation by nature of forests should be increased. The planting of site-adapted and mainly indigenous species of trees makes an important contribution to this; b) Wherever possible the forest area should be increased and the land consumption for settlement and infrastructure measures should be reduced. Within the framework of regional possibilities, new forest sites, offering particularly advantageous climate benefits and positive effects on nature and the landscape, should be planted; c) By means of an close to nature and environmentally compatible increase in forest productivity, the tapping of additional land potential and the sustainable use of large timber reserves, particularly in small private forests, a major contribution can be made to increasing the stability and vitality of forests and securing the future timber supply. The following approaches are suitable ways of achieving this: a) Creation of diverse, stable and high yield mixed forests; b) Risk reduction by avoiding unstable density or excessive stocks as a consequence of consistent forest tending (cleaning, thinning); c) Planting of site-adapted species of trees with a high level of resistance and growth rate; d) Forest planting concepts and production periods which lead to optimum yields in harmony with nature conservation and environmental protection requirements; d) Use of high quality, site-adapted, resistant and high yield forest plants; e) Maintaining the genetic diversity of forest lands. 6) Hunting. Hunting makes a special contribution to sustainable forestry plays an important role in sustainable forestry. Strict, efficient hunting ensures the preservation of the forest ecosystem and promotes natural forest regeneration. 7) Protection of soil and water management. Soil, an important production factor for forests, is to be protected and harmful effects reduced. The contributions of forest management to water supply are to be assessed and opportunities for improved remuneration examined. Some possibile solutions are: a) The emission of air pollutants is to be reduced further. The critical loads and levels for acidifying and eutrophying air pollutants, heavy metals and ozone are to be complied with by 2020. The high nitrogen inputs are acontinued source of dissatisfaction. The main sources of nitrogen contamination are ammonia from animal husbandry and fertilisation as well as nitrogen oxides mainly from traffic as well as from the energy sector and household fires. The corresponding provisions should be consistently applied and, if necessary, refined; b) Support for compensatory measures for acidifying inputs like forest liming is maintained; c) The admixture of wood ash may not lead to pollutant accumulation in forest soil. Nor should any fertilisers be used in future to increase yield; d) The federal government is against a European framework soil directive; e) Given the importance of soil as a valuable production capital, clear cutting should be avoided within the framework of the Land forest law; f) Specialised machinery, which makes sense for ergonomic, health, work and economic reasons, must be used in such a way that it protects forests, soil and the environment. In order to meet these requirements, the use of trained, qualified staff is essential. The federal government and Länder will support the competent technical institutions when it comes to the testing of new technologies and methods and the drawing up of recommendations; g) If, for soil protection and nature conservation reasons, greater care must be taken during timber harvesting then particularly low impact methods are to be used and promoted (e.g. use of cable cranes and skidding horses); h)Any further opening up of protected areas, particularly in Natura 2000 areas, should only be undertaken if no protection goals are considerably impaired or destroyed; i) In the case of full-tree harvesting, account must be taken of the requirements of soil protection and nature conservation. As little use as possible should be made of the clearing of root stocks; j) Uniform recommendations for the priority mapping of locations with a sufficient nutrient supply and a stable soil structure should be developed for the additional, sustainable use of energy timber assortments from forests; k) In order to further reduce soil and vegetation damage, more initial and further training courses should be staged on state-of-the-art, innovative timber harvesting techniques and effective forest inventory methods. 7) Protection of soil and water management. Soil, an important production factor for forests, is to be protected and harmful effects reduced. The contributions of forest management to water supply are to be assessed and opportunities for improved remuneration examined. Some possibile solutions are: a) The emission of air pollutants is to be reduced further. The critical loads and levels for acidifying and eutrophying air pollutants, heavy metals and ozone are to be complied with by 2020. The high nitrogen inputs are acontinued source of dissatisfaction. The main sources of nitrogen contamination are ammonia from animal husbandry and fertilisation as well as nitrogen oxides mainly from traffic as well as from the energy sector and household fires. The corresponding provisions should be consistently applied and, if necessary, refined; b) Support for compensatory measures for acidifying inputs like forest liming is maintained; c) The admixture of wood ash may not lead to pollutant accumulation in forest soil. Nor should any fertilisers be used in future to increase yield; d) The federal government is against a European framework soil directive; e) Given the importance of soil as a valuable production capital, clear cutting should be avoided within the framework of the Land forest law; f) Specialised machinery, which makes sense for ergonomic, health, work and economic reasons, must be used in such a way that it protects forests, soil and the environment. In order to meet these requirements, the use of trained, qualified staff is essential. The federal government and Länder will support the competent technical institutions when it comes to the testing of new technologies and methods and the drawing up of recommendations; 4 If, for soil protection and nature conservation reasons, greater care must be taken during timber harvesting then particularly low impact methods are to be used and promoted (e.g. use of cable cranes and skidding horses); 4 Any further opening up of protected areas, particularly in Natura 2000 areas, should only be undertaken if no protection goals are considerably impaired or destroyed. 4 In the case of full-tree harvesting, account must be taken of the requirements of soil protection and nature conservation. As little use as possible should be made of the clearing of root stocks; 4 Uniform recommendations for the priority mapping of locations with a sufficient nutrient supply and a stable soil structure should be developed for the additional, sustainable use of energy timber assortments from forests; 4 In order to further reduce soil and vegetation damage, more initial and further training courses should be staged on state-of-the-art, innovative timber harvesting techniques and effective forest inventory methods; 8) Recreation, health and tourism. The value of forests for recreation and leisure and their specific cultural functions and contributions are to be maintained and suitable measures taken to avoid any negative impact on nature, forest property and management. Some of the solutions: a) The tried-and-tested instrument of visitor flow management is to be used extensively in highly frequented and ecologically sensitive areas and refined in order to reconcile, to a greater degree, the needs of nature conservation and landscape protection, forest visitors, forest owners and forestry; b) Ensuring nature-compatible recreation within the framework of the right of free access continues to have priority over specific recreation concepts (forest rallies, fitness trails etc). As far as possible individual and non-profit recreation activities are to remain free of charge; c) Special recreational offers, in particular professionally organised events, are in principle to be remunerated financially by the user as well. The federal government and Länder are to elaborate recommendations for the nature-compatible leisure use of forests together with the representatives of forest owners, forestry, local authorities and the associations concerned (for instance, the German Olympic Sports Confederation [DOSB] / Sport and Nature Committee); d) New tourism, environmental education and leisure schemes are to be supported in consultation with forest owners; e) Suitable offerings are to be developed to provide information and raise awareness amongst forest visitors about the nature they experience and the mode of action and contribution of sustainable forestry. This is a good opportunity for close cooperation between the relevant associa. 9) Research, education, awareness-raising. Major research efforts are needed in order to avoid and reduce conflicting goals in the above areas of action. At the same time, it is about promoting understanding of the forest ecosystem, the contributions of sustainable forestry and the use of renewable resources within the framework of educational schemes and greater awareness raising amongst consumers about the forest ecosystem. Some solutions to reach this goal: a) The Federal Ministry of Nutrition and Agriculture is examining the setting up of an Advisory Council for sustainable forestry education and consumer education. Forest related education work, which draws on the concept of education in sustainable development, is to be supported and promoted in cooperation with all kinds of forest owners; b) The federal government will assign greater importance in departmental forest research to the following areas:i) Impact of climate change on forests and ways of increasing the climate protection performance of forests and timber; ii) Impact of climate change on the biodiversity of forest ecosystems; iii) Environmental forest monitoring and biodiversity monitoring in forests; iv) Development of more effective approaches to the preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in managed forests, clarification of the links between biodiversity and the economic and ecological functions of forests; v) Ongoing scientific estimates of future timber needs and ways of sustainably securing supply including suitable biomass potential outside forests. The responsibility of the enforcement of the present Strategy is above all incumbent to the Federal State, the Länder and local authorities. But also forest owners, the private industry, nature conservation associations, institutions and foundations, such as National Natural Heritage are responsible for the implementation of the Strategy. Moreover, the Federal Ministry of Nutrition and Agriculture is examining the setting up of an Advisory Council for sustainable forestry education and consumer education. The text consists of 3 Parts as follows: Introduction (1); Vision and Goal (2); Areas of Action (Initial Situation, Challenges, Possible Solutions) (3).
Allemagne · 2011-01-01