FORESTS IN EUROPE,    FORESTS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Forests in Europe are usually saved in areas unsuitable for agriculture. There is also a small representation of forests, which are untouched by human hand. Natural forests (that are not affected by man) were recognised as 4 % of all forests of Europe, although the definition of naturalness varies in different countries. Most of them grow in places difficult to access in northern Scandinavia, northern areas of the European part of Russia, the Alps and the Balkans. In all, 12 European countries have a share of natural forests above 1 % of the total forest area. Most of these forests are located in Sweden (16 %). On the other hand, in European forestry there is not a great amount of entirely unnatural plantation. There are some exceptions. The countries that excel in the field of plantation crops are the ones, who have a well-developed culture of foreign species (Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ireland, France and Portugal). Forest plantations do not exist at all in Finland, Germany and Austria.  In the definition of plantations crops the most important component is the purpose for which they were founded - fast timber production. A significant aspect of this is soil care, which includes fertilizing, maintaining regular spacing between trees, pruning, etc. Forests, which consist of a species requiring light, may resemble plantations crops in the early stages of their life. However, even if they are planted in concrete distances from one to another and in poor species compositions, in the course of the subsequent care they will loose their regular arrangement of planting. Random factors and the intentional decisions of foresters will make  these stands become semi-natural creations. In Central Europe growing of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) can change its species composition by enriching with oaks (thanks to the birds - jays) and birch (wind). High forests have more time for this, because the period of their life is 2-4 times longer than plantations crops.
As a result of afforestation in the period after World War II and also earlier tendency to propagate pine and spruce, large forest areas grow on fertile habitats. They require reconstruction in order to increase the participation of deciduous trees and firs. This conversion is carried out in at least two ways. In younger tree stands of II-III age class, species resistant to shadow are introduced under the pine. In a few decades they will take over the rule by removing the previous generation. Old tree stands, which are incompatible with the terms of habitat and the ones, which do not let the light through to the forest floor, are reconstructed by cutting. The type and size of felling is matched to the demands of the introduced younger generations. 

Effect of group or gradual cutting, lots of species   

Revaluation of the role of European forests forced managers to use management methods, which do not lead to a temporary removal of all old trees. Cutting groups, partial, completed on small areas of irregular shape are partly a response to social expectations - of the total forest protection. The same applies to resignation of complete cutting during the change of generations of tree stands and also significantly reducing their acreage, although these are not actions resulting from economical reasons. In tree stands requiring light, which grow in poor habitats, abandonment of outright cuts will not be entirely possible. Even with the use of natural regeneration from seeds left over, species requiring light can not grow too long in the shadow - you will need to remove the old generation of forest.

Reconstructing tree stand, pine or spruce, and in the bottom layers fir and beech

    Despite the different social restrictions in timber production, the demand for wood is increasing in all the European countries. The European Community is faced with a dilemma. How to support ecological forestry in their area and also meet the growing demand for wood? Is the purchase of raw materials from outside of Europe the proper solution?  With the high cost of transport, for it to be profitable, it must be produced on plantations or in a way that has no respect for the environment. By protecting the forests in our home country we contribute to the degradation of wood in other, poorer regions of the world. One type of solution is a more rational approach to the multifunctional forest management at local level. An expression of this rationality is the system for certifying the origin of wood raw material. Products with this certification are a guarantee of proper procedures during the entire cycle of production, transportation and processing.

Wood 

    The European forest is shielded by around 90 different forms of protection of forest areas. The first models that should be named here are the National Parks and nature reserves (with a different regime of protection). Other forms include areas of protected landscape forests of aesthetic value. Trying to compare the area occupied by different types of nature protection between the countries on our continent can prove to be hard task, because the importance of these forms can be different. These forms are usually supported by the protective function of forests. The functions of these forests unite Europe, their terminology and methods of dealing with forest conservation - are clearly distinct. Some of the forests that protect the water and soil in central Europe have a raised felling age or restricted usage. Sometimes the economy in “normal” high forests (mountains of Italy), is even more restricted, i.e. to cutting down single trees. The area of forests under strict protection should not be the hallmark of the quality of the protection of natural resources, and differs from 1-2 %, rising to over 10 % (Slovakia and Portugal), and up to 24 % in Liechtenstein. Strict protection rules give the chance to observe and sustain the processes occurring in isolated ecosystems. In other situations (in which we are likely to be found), it leads to significant changes in the ecosystem of the forest.

Natura 2000, Birds

    
The answer to this diversity of forms of protection and the ineffective conservative protection (one without human intervention) is a programme covering the whole of Europe – Natura 2000. The program is based on the creation of a European Union common system of nature protection areas. The bases for action are two EU Directives: the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. The aim of Natura 2000 is to preserve certain types of natural habitats and species, which are considered rare and endangered across Europe. This should lead to social acceptance, because the programme does not exclude the economical use of the land lying inside its borders. The countries taking part are obliged to maintain the areas in at least a non-deteriorated condition. The programme will consist of designated areas: Special Protection Area (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), which apply protective regulations tailored to the needs and threats to protected species and habitats. These areas are determined independently by each country and reviewed by the European Commission. The existence of Natura 2000 areas involves several obligations. Projects that may affect the state of the area have to asses the  impact (before being given permission for to this project). If there is a case of negative impact then there must be a form of compensation for the natural ecosystem. Area supervisors are required to prevent any deterioration of the status of habitats or populations of birds. They are also obliged to proactive protection, securing the desired state of protected habitats and species. It ought to be noticed, that the protection of birds and natural habitats should result also in protection of other ecosystem components. About 20 % of Europe's land area is within the borders of Natura 2000, in which forests play the most important role.