The Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management
Photo. UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre
The Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management (Bratislava, 2011) to the Framework Carpathian Convention was adopted on 27 May 2011 in Bratislava at the 3rd Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP3). Poland signed this Protocol on 8 September 2011 in Krynica, during the 21. Economic Forum.
As for today, the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management is in force already for six “Carpathian” countries, except for Poland, which has not yet ratified this Protocol.
The thematic scope of the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management includes:
- maintaining and enlarging forest cover (Article 8);
- ensuring the productive functions of the forest and their role in rural development (Article 9);
- identification and protection of natural, especially virgin forests (Article 10);
- forest management in protected areas (Article 11);
- improvement of the protective forest functions (Article 12);
- promotion of restoration of close to nature forests (Article 13);
- enhancing the role of the forestry sector in mitigating climate change (Article 14);
- enhancing the social function of forests (Article 15);
- wildlife management, and harmonisation of policies related to ecological networks (Article 16);
- compatible monitoring and information systems (Article 17);
- coordinated scientific research and exchange of information (Article 18).
Moreover, in Article 1 (General objective and principles) the Protocol provides for activities and cooperation of the Parties on e.g.:
- promoting the sound use of wood as an environmental friendly and renewable material;
- promoting the sustainable use of non-wood forest products;
- improving the health and vitality of the forests;
- improving the conservation and sustainable use of components of forest biological diversity;
- promoting the cultural heritage of the forests
- identifying, developing and applying appropriate schemes for payment for environmental goods and services provided by forests;
- strengthening the governance of the forestry sector and enforcing forest law with particular attention to combating illegal logging and associated trade;
- identification, development and implementation of best practices in forest management and close to nature forestry.
In 2014 the 4th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP4) to the Framework Carpathian Convention adopted the Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management.
More information on the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management and related activities at the Carpathian Convention website.
