downloaden - Borgman Beheer

Summary
Municipal forests and the role of the municipality of Ede
The municipality of Ede, Netherlands, has about 2400 hectares of “green areas”, of which 2000
ha comprise forests and 400 ha are defined as “nature” (meaning: heath lands, short vegetations
and so-called “drifting sands”). Since 1893 the municipality has been a forest-owner. The
municipality is of the opinion that the forest is there to serve the people of Ede. Besides that,
the forest supports the green image of the city. The municipality of Ede fulfils a leading role
within the South-West Veluwe region, for example where it comes to implementation of the
Natura 2000-policy and experiences with the participatory approach. Therefore, the municipality
chooses actively to continue to be forest owner and to manage the forests in a sustainable
way.
Motivation
The previous management plan, written in 1996, had served well during the last fourteen years
and given direction to the forest management of Ede’s properties and the “Luntersche
Buurtbos“ 3 . Forest management plans are prepared for a period of ten years, so time had come
to develop a new plan and redefine management goals if necessary. Other aspects that required
the revision of the management plan where the new (European) Natura 2000-policy and the
role currently played by forest users in the municipality (like inhabitants, recreational users)
regarding forest management.
Mission statement
The mission statement 4 for forest management in the municipality of Ede has been formu lated
in this plan as follows: offering a divers and natural forest, rich in structure, that will be
managed in a sustainable way, according to current state policies and regulations, in order to
fulfil the forest’s functions (besides functions regarding nature, wood production and recrea-
tion also culture historical and educational functions), in the best possible way today and in
the future.
Urban Forestry
The philosophy behind this plan can be described as the Urban Forestry approach. Urban
Forestry strives for a multifunctional forest that best meets the divers wishes of the local community.
The forest user is the starting point of this approach and his (/ her) active role as a stakeholder
and experiences as a forest user are important ingredients for forest and nature
management. This management plan can be characterized by an open dialogue with groups
from society; an integral approach was taken with active contributions to the plan by all relevant
participants.
3 The Luntersche Buurtbos is a community forest, not owned by the municipality, though managed and maintained by the municipality of Ede.
4 Long-term goal.
11