National policy and landscape reality – new approaches needed

Przemyslaw Majewski – Baltic Landscape Project, Sweden and Silver Taiga Foundation, Russia; Gun Lidestav – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå; Johan Svensson - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå; Leif Jougda – Swedish Forest Agency, Vilhelmina; Marcus Hedblom - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala; Erik Ederlöf – Swedish Forest Agency, Kristianstad

Assumption and verification

Assumptions:1. Policy and legislation at national level is main condition for sustainable governance in the landscape. 2. Local implementation is made by routine channels of transfer from policy to ground level.Verification:Landscape experience does not support the assumptions orLandscape reality is more complex then policy declarations.

Pristine forest of the Komi Republic, RussiaUntouched, European conservation value and logging

resource

Photo P. Majewski – Komi Model Forest

Logging frontier in pristine taiga – River Nizhniaja Puzla - 2011 – The Republic of Komi, Russia

Pristine forest after logging – no consideration for landscape and river basinRiver Yolva Mezenskaya , the Republic of Komi, Russia

logging

Result of pristine forest inventory in productive forests of the Komi Republic.

Area covered by the inventory 21 mln ha

Area of identified pristine forests 4,8 mln ha (23%)

Silver Taiga FoundationState Forest ServiceTerritorial Fund of Information

5 stakeholders

Obiachevo

Logging regimes in pristine forestsKomi Model Forest

limited logging - 43 000 ha

out of logging - 15 000 ha

normal logging - 35 000 ha

Legend

Silver Taiga Foundation

State Forestry Agencyfor the Komi Republic

800 000 ha

100 km

8 stakeholders

9

45

53

24

47

63

11

4

14

34

7

38

12

58

6

30

3

51

5

2

57

36

10

54

35

1632

1

33

22

56

31

18

394020

55

19 268

23

44

37

59

60

48

25

15

17

64

41

13

Conservation value of pristine forest landscapes (HCVF)expressed as traffic lights - Udora region

high value

medium value

fragmented areas

river basins

Total area 3 500 000 ha

Pristine forest 1 200 000 ha (34%)

100 kmSilver Taiga FoundationState Forest ServiceTerritorial Fund of Information

6 stakeholders

100%100%

100%

80%

90%

Progress (in %) in solution of pristine forest problem in the Komi Republic until 2012.

Silver Taiga FoundationState Forest ServiceTerritorial Fund of Information

Pristine forest case - Russia

Conclusions:1. Policy and legislation at national level is late in

comparison to speed of development of market and social demands.

2. Local initiative can solve also large scale problems even if national policy is not existing.

3. Knowledge on the ground is needed to deal with landscape challenges.

Pristine, remote river is depleted from fish resources.Model River Mezen, Russia

Photo Przemyslaw Majewski, Komi Model Forest

Salmon harvest in Mezen River 1946-2002 (Zakharov A.B. 2010)

1946

1949

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1994-1996

1999

2002

0

200

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800

1000

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Годы

ц Salmon1946= 100%2002= 1%Other fish1980= 100%2010= 15%

,00 kg

years

Why planning is separating people, river and forest?

Photo P. Majewski – Komi Model Forest

Model River Mezen case - Russia

Conclusions:1. Policy and legislation at national level presence is

not enough to ensure implementation. 2. Landscape reality is often not visible from national

perspective.3. Sectorial approach is not summing up in efficiency.

Drainage case – Belarus Water drainage in forest and on meadows is separated even if they belong to the same river valley.

Photo P. Majewski – Baltic Landscape

Drainage case - Belarus

Conclusions:1. Policy and legislation based on sectorial borders is

not enough for landscape management. 2. Integration of landscape planning is blocked by

sectorial approach and formal borders of competence.

3. Even obvious needs of integration are not addressed for years.

Territorial planning case - Poland

Democracy vs ExpertiseAdvantages: Advantages:flexibility expertise

local area for locals detailed plan

Disadvantages: Disadvantageslimited relevant knowledge very expensivecorruption charges city experts

no flexibility

90% of land has no territorial plans

Territorial planning case - Poland

Conclusions:1. Policy and legislation good intentions are not

enough on landscape level. 2. Timed reaction for feedback from local level is

needed. 3. Small gaps in strict policy can cause large scale

problems.

Hydropower case – Sweden - River Ångermanälven, 1936

es.

Fosmo, Ångermanälven , courtesy of Vilhelmina Model Forest

Hydropower case – Sweden - River Ångermanälven, now.No ladders for migratory fish and river temporary without water

photo Mikael Strömberg, courtesy of Vilhelmina Model Forest

Hydropower case - Sweden

Conclusions:1. Policy and legislation based on sectorial borders is

not enough for landscape management. 2. Green light for green energy is creating landscape

“secret, saint cows” which are sometimes good sometimes destructive.

3. Nationally declared participation of stakeholders is often superficial.

What is needed?

1. National policy and legislation should be followed by local efficient and agreed tools for implementation,

2. Cross sectorial gradual integration of planning is needed on landscape level,

3. Efficient feedback and timed corrections should be included into national programs,

4. Localities should be supported by relevant knowledge and experience,

5. Network of case landscapes should be developed to support identification of local needs and barriers and development of local new approaches and innovations.

National policy and landscape reality – Paddling on both ends is more efficient