FAO workshop for nature oriented forestry management (ForestPress)

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An opening workshop of FAO/ TCP/ Hungarian Project/3003 (A) was held at the Buják hotel of Hungarian Ministry of Defence, on June 24th 2005. In accordance with the agreement signed on September 8th 2004, FAO will grant a US $ 271,000 project lauched by HM Budapesti Erdõgazdaság Rt. (Forestry of Budapest Co. under Ministry of Defence) for development and enhancement of initiative forest management methods and operations.

On the meeting Fülöp Benedek, permanent secretary of Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Delevopment reminded participants of the Hungarian forestry engineer whose concept of the triple function of forests has turned into practice for decades.
Kadlecikova Mária, Representative of FAO SEUR told about training opportunities for sixty forest owners and forest managers.

György Keresztes, deputy to general director of HM Budapesti Erdogazdaság Rt. and also project host said that nature oriented management is not a new idea in forestry but revival of old knowledge.

Attila Sinka national project coordinator (at Budapesti Erdogazdaság Rt.) informed on the second phase of implementaion, saying that recreation functions and facilities, ecotourism and relaxation and holiday possibilies (all the non-economic benefits) and their legislation will cover the September agenda.

Mr Volker Sasse, Forestry Officer of the FAO Sub-regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe, put the close to nature forestry in a broader context of market and forest sector policy developments in Eastern Europe. The economic viability of forestry is under pressure, while societal demands in social and environmental benefits from forests as well as non-wood goods and services from forestry are expected to increase further.

Among others the project aims to share international experiences in this field through training workshops and study tours. As a starting point the project has to define its specific approach towards nature-oriented forestry. Mr. Sasse considers nature-oriented forestry as an intensified use of natural processes in wood production with the goal to increase the economic output from forestry and to provide public goods, corresponding to societal demands. The latter requires adequate financing.

András Klemencsics head of forestry division of Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development said, it is their strategic goal to maintain management for future generations, sustaining all the functions of the forest, demand for timber included.
There will be two parallel processes running, one is the increase in demand for wood and the other is the expansion of nature oriented forestry management.

Márton Sódor head of Foresrty and Landscape Protection division at Ministry for Environment and Water detailed conservation principles and strategic targets.
Károly Wisnowsky general director in charge of Hungarian Forest Service accounted for natural regeneration on 33 per cent of national forest stands and an increase of nature oriented silviculture to a 25 per cent rate of the land.

Béla Varga president of Pro silva Association said that it is inevitable to change approach to forest management and its current methods. Concerning relation of private forest owners to nature oriented forest management, József Luzsi president of National Association of Private Forestowner and Land Managers stated that implementation needs support. Having the means, the program can gain supporters in the row of people ’at the stumps’ as well.