INTRODUCTION OF CLOSE TO NATURE FORESTRY IN THE DANISH STATE FORESTS
Mads Jakobsen and Mads Jensen
Danish Forest and Nature Agency, Haraldsgade 53, DK 2100 Copenhagen Ø
Abstract
Jakobsen, M., Jensen, M.: Introduction of close to nature forestry in the Danish state Forests.
The forest area of Denmark is approx. 486.000 ha or 11% of the total area and the state forests cover 113.000 ha or about 1/4 of the total forest area. According to the Danish Forest Act the state forests have a special obligation to protect biological diversity, to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, to preserve the cultural heritage and to enhance environmental protection as well as to produce timber.
After the last ice age some 12.000 years ago Denmark was covered with forest but as farming started forests were cleared. The remaining forests were used intensively for supply of firewood, fences, building materials and for grazing. The deforestation and overexploitation of the forests continued until some 200 years ago when only 2-3% of Denmark was covered with forest. The need to protect the remaining forests was realised and in 1805 all remaining forests were protected as forest reserves. Grazing in the forests were prohibited and reforestation was obligatory.
Reforestation mainly with conifers also began especially on the poor sandy soils in the western part of the country with large areas with heather and frequent problems with sand drift. Since then Danish forestry has been intensified and developed towards the use of even-aged monocultures mainly based on non-indigenous conifers that today covers approx. 63% of the forest area. Many of these stands have proven to be unstable in relation to storms, unfavourable climatic conditions, pests and pollution. Forests dominated by even-aged conifers have also left little room for biological diversity and many important nature types especially those related to old deciduous forest or wet forest types have declined.
In 2002 a National Forest Programme was formulated for Denmark. An important objective of the National Forest Programme is to promote a conversion to close to nature forestry in the whole forest sector. As the majority of the Danish forests are dominated by monocultures and as the experience with the concept of close to nature forestry is very limited this is expected to be a long-term process where the full conversion based on the status of the actual stand can take several tree generations. The use of well adapted, especially native tree species, permanent forest cover by avoiding large clear-cuttings, use of natural regeneration, development of diverse forest structures and single tree management have been identified as the key principles for close to nature forestry.
To promote close to nature forestry in the forest sector as such it has been decided that the total state forest area shall be converted to close to nature forestry. It is estimated that such a conversion can take place over 80-100 years and that the principles of close to nature forestry can be implemented in 25% of the state forests within 10 years. An action plan for close to nature forestry in the state forests shall be ready by the end of 2004.
The action plan will develop guidelines for close to nature forestry in the Danish state forests. An important aspect will be to define the long-term aims for future forest management in the form of forest development types. The forest development types will describe forest types and structures that are expected to be stabile and self-regenerating on specific sites. The economic consequences, future planning methods and the need for training activities will also be investigated. To ensure local ownership the action plan will to a very high degree be based on the knowledge and input of the foresters of the local state forest districts. NGO’s and other stakeholders will be invited to comment on and contribute to the action plan and information to the public about the action plan and the concept of close to nature forestry will be given high emphasis.
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