SURF Nature booklet on forest biodiversity

The main strength and at the same time opportunityis sustainable forest management in Europe.Experience with the application andimplementation of ERDF fundsParticularly the administrative loads, especiallydue to reporting regulations, should be reducedfor the project participants: Controlling, reporting,accounting, first level and second level controlrequire a lot of time. Public funds should be usedmore efficiently and more emphasis should be puton the capitalisation of the projects. The promotionof knowledge transfer to the user could possibly bea project, which could be particularly focused ontowards the end of such a programme period.Discussion with Gerald Pfiffinger , ManagingDirector, Birdlife AustriaProblems and threats in the field of forestbiodiversitySome of the most important problems are climatechange and the trend of planting foreign treeswhich influence birds in a very sensitive way. Thelack of Natura 2000 management plans is also areason for concern.We need to involve all the important players in thefield of native forests and we need more targetedresearch in the area of extensive forestry practices.Discussion with Matias Garcia Morell,Delegate for the Region of Murcia, Associationof Forest Engineers of the Region of MurciaProblems and threats in the field of forestbiodiversityForest and mountain ecosystems are extremelyvaluable and fragile. Problems and threats as adirect result of the excessive and inappropriate useof natural resources will have greater relevancein the future, with special emphasis on the mostpopulated areas. We need sound rules in terms ofplanning and management instruments as well astools for the diagnosis and early follow-up of themain problems.Experience with the application andimplementation of ERDF fundsMore funds should be available for a series ofinfrastructures and to gain the knowledge neededfor the improvement of biodiversity conservationand the monitoring of forest risks.Discussion with Irene Lucius, Head of Policy,WWF Danube Carpathian Programmegood governance and short term profiteering areother factors that lead to a reduction on forestbiodiversity. A new threat is that the search fornew renewable energy sources can lead to theextension of biodiversity poor plantations for woodproduction.Experience with the application andimplementation of ERDF fundsThe contract conditions for spending ERDF fundsare very difficult to work under, at least in somecountries with management authorities andpayment agencies not trained well enough and prefinancingoften a problem. ERDF funds potentiallyfill a very important funding gap for biodiversityissues. Other aspects that should be taken intoaccount are: shorter pre-financing time spans;better contract conditions; faster processing ofapplications; more training of fund managers inforest biodiversity issues; more “advertisement” ofusing ERDF for (forest) biodiversity issuesDiscussion with Virginie Fabre Ayala, Director,GEIE FORESPIRProblems and threats in the field of forestbiodiversityThe main threats are: climate change, agro-pastoralpressure, fire risk and lack of forest management.Pyrenean forests remain underexploited due to highoperating costs if we compare it with other areasboth at European and global level.Experience with the application andimplementation of ERDF fundsSome rules have obstacles which make participationdifficult for small organisations. There is need foradvice and technical support addressed to smallorganisations that do not have enough capacity tomaintain such complex project management.Problems and threats in the field of forestExperience with the application and biodiversityimplementation of ERDF fundsThe main problems and threats stem from theMore funding for biodiversity-related issues should strong focus on the use of wood from forests and notbe available and we should definitely ensure that sufficient emphasis on preservation and sustainablethis increasingly continues to happen.use of other forest ecosystem services. Lack of22 23