Research in Forest Reserves and Natural Forests in European Countries : Country Reports for the COST Action E4: Forest Reserves Research Network

Joensuu

European Forest Institute

1999

303 S.

Bandaufführung

71646

EFI Proceedings ; Nr. 16, 303 S.

Natural and semi-natural forests mainly exist as forest reserves in different European countries. The occurrence of original forest structures has decreased during the last centuries. The political forum and the public have become aware of this decline. The high degree of biological diversity in these forests, the high potential of genetic variability, their naturnalness and uniqueness are important from the points of view of forest protection, forest management planning and silvicultural practices. International activities, such as the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992, and the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe in Helsinki, 1993, and the follow-up of the Helsinki process for developing indicators and criteria for sustainable forest management, also underline these facts. The EU COST Action E4 "Forest Reserves Research Network" was launched on 11 November, 1995. The end of this Action is scheduled for 7 November 1999. Its objective is to create a European network of forest reserves in order to collect ongoing research and unify research methodologies, and create a central data bank for the exchange of research results. The following tasks are outlined: - to achieve a common understanding of definition, terminology and management approaches to forest reserves and other categories of forest protection, - to survey and analyse current information available on forest reserves and ongoing research, - to collect the published research reports on structure and forest dynamics in forest reserves, - to collect, compare and harmonise research methodology for monitoring the stand structure and changes, - to promote the establishment of a common permanent sampling plot system, and to create a data bank for the gathered information. To initiate scientific discussion and exchange of information, preliminary country reports were presented in the 2nd Management Committee meeting, which was held between 12-14 September, 1996, in Fonainebleau, France. These proceedings contain the final reports written and approved by the country delegates.