Ziel
A. General Background
Importance of forest reserves
Natural and semi-natural forests mainly exist as forest reserves in different European countries. The occurrence of original forest structures has decreased very rapidly during the last centuries. The political forum and the public have become aware of the decline of natural forest ecosystems. International activities underline these facts as well, such as The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992 and The Ministerial Conference on the protection of Forests in Europe in Strasbourg, 1990 and Helsinki, 1993. The efforts are expressed in Resolution S6 of the Strasbourg Conference "European network for research into forest ecosystems" and the Helsinki Resolutions H1 "General guidelines for the sustainable management of forests in Europe" and H2 "General guidelines for the conservation of biodiversity in European forests".
The high degree of biological diversity in these forests, the high potential of genetic variability, their naturalness and uniqueness are important both from a nature conservation point of view, forest management planning and practical silviculture. Research in natural forests and forest reserves indicates the importance of natural development processes for silviculture, and these facts have been acknowledged in many European countries. It has resulted in the growing intention to practice silviculture on a more nature-oriented and biodiversity-oriented basis. Many new terms have found their way into forestry and forest policy, such as "nature oriented silviculture" and multiple-use forestry".
In most European countries strict forest reserves have been established for the purpose of conserving their high natural value. Today, they are the main objects of research based on permanent sample plots. In many cases, there are national networks of strict forest reserves for long-term research. The networks, however, differ a lot in the degrees of their detail, presentation of information and accuracy of the results. This is due to the numerous interpretations of the concept "Forest Reserve". The aims, the number, the formal status and the specific research programs in forest reserves are very diverse in the different European countries.
Therefore, it is of high importance to create a network of strict forest reserves in Europe. This effort fits well within the scope of international scientific and political interest in undisturbed forest ecosystems. The tasks of these actions are true network activities focusing on the development of a common research methodology in strict forest reserves. The results of the action will be of high value to forest management and the implementation of new strategies in practical silviculture.
B. Objectives
The overall objective
The main objective of the action it to create a European network of strict forest reserves in order to unify research methodologies and have access to a central data bank for the exchange of research results between the signatory states.
Therefore, it will be the goal of the COST-action and its partners to combine and standardize already existing methodologies and results of research in strict forest reserves.
The great advantage of a central data bank will offer an excellent basis for further research tasks. It will be possible to carry out joint research activities based on the benefits of a common shared data bank and cooperation network between scientists in many different European countries. These could be for example:
1)the elaboration of computerized models for describing forest structure and dynamics;
2)research on the determination of biodiversity indicators in forests;
3)research on the comparison of structure and biodiversity in managed and unmanaged forest.
This kind of research is already partially executed by several of the countries which have shown their interest in participation. The results of the collaboration between the signatory states will show effects at national and international levels, especially concerning technical, economical, social and environmental issues of forest policy. The research network of European forest reserves and the standardized data will be of high value for the partners and will:
-serve as useful tools for the discussion on forest protection and other multiple-use functions of forests;
-serve as a basis for the improvement of current silvicultural practices;
-demonstrate options for the preservation and/or enhancement of biodiversity in forest management;
-allow the integration of findings (e.g. biodiversity parameters) into forest inventory methods;
-underline the importance of natural disturbances and their meaning for silvicultural management techniques;
-deliver information on restoration management of specific forest areas;
-deliver information on the production of environmentally sound wood and the "Eco-labelling" of forests and forest products.
C. The scientific content of the action
The main activities of the COST-action are divided into three sub-items. The duration of the COST-action is estimated to be 3 years. In general, the following activities will take place jointly in all signatory states:
-liaison with appropriate scientists, forming a common research team;
-research conferences and workshops and publications of proceedings;
-publication of general guidelines for permanent plot sampling;
-exchange of research results, resulting in a central data bank;
-exchange of researchers between cooperating institutes.
The work will be divided into three working groups according to the three sub-items. Each will consist of members of the participating countries. In the first working meeting the researchers will discuss various subjects, and the research aspects of special importance will be identified in more detail, including a detailed time schedule (compare Appendix D1 and E1).
Sub-item 1 (Working Group 1): Creation of a network of strict forest reserves used for permanent plot research
Background:
Today, most European countries have established strict forest reserves. The goals, the status and the type of research varies a lot. Most reserves, however, are non-intervention areas and are used for research. In countries with no official forest reserves program there are well protected forest areas where the spontaneous forest development is monitored. They may be included in the actions as well.
Objectives:
A network of strict forest reserves in Europe which are being used for long-term research (or other protected non-managed forest areas used for long-term monitoring) will be set up by the participants. The reserves in the network will be equally divided according to the various vegetation zones and forest types in Europe. Data will be stored in a central data bank giving detailed information on the location, specific characteristics etc. on the selected forest reserves.
Scientific content:
The creation of a network of forest reserves will serve as a permanent and very important basis for future actions. The existence of a complete review on the research plots in the individual reserves will offer scientists numerous possibilities for further research activities.
Sub-item 2 (Working Group 2): Establishment of a common sampling plot technique
Background:
Today most research efforts in forestry are focusing on sites, site-factors and their management possibilities. Only about 5 - 6% of total labour input deal with structure, dynamics and performance of ecosystems, with nature conservation and management of protected areas.
In 1992, a European scale review on ongoing research of forest reserves was carried out by IBN-DLO, the Netherlands. The review was accomplished in the form of a questionnaire on the research concerning forest reserves. In 1994 an EFI Working Paper was published entitled "Forestry research on structure, succession and biodiversity of undisturbed and semi-natural forests and woodlands in Europe". It showed that many European countries have research programs in strict forest reserves using permanent sample plots mostly at national or at the local level. In general the measurements in the plots correspond to internationally used or wide-spread measurement standards (IUFRO-codes, FAO-guidelines etc.). The sizes, types and densities of grids of the permanent sampling plots, however, vary widely according to accuracy, research questions or the capacity of qualified personnel.
Objectives:
It will be the task of working group 2 to create a standardized, European sampling plot technique, based on the various methodologies used in forest reserves research in Europe. This will be supported by the questionnaire accomplished by IBN-DLO and further, additional studies. The sample parameters will be clarified by defining a minimum of common parameter sets in existing monitoring data. This will lead to a set of parameters composed of existing common assessed forest ecosystems indicators which can eventually be supplemented by additional parameters, which are easy to measure and are acceptable for all involved countries.
Scientific content:
Without a common research methodology it will be almost impossible to exchange and compare the results of research in forest reserves. The scientific value of this action will be of main importance for the sub-item 3, the date exchange between countries. At present the lack of an approved uniformity in methodologies prohibits important conclusions on the effects of forest management and conservation at a pan-European level.
Sub-item 3 (Working Group 3): Onset of a central data bank for research results in strict forest reserves
Background:
All countries executing a research program on long term monitoring of strict forest reserves have individual methods for storing and managing data of strict forest reserves. Together with the various sampling plot techniques it prohibits a useful and efficient exchange of data between institutes and countries. The practical significance of such an exchange, however, could be increased progressively at an international level by creating a general forest reserves data-bank.
Objectives:
Working group 3 will establish a central data bank where all research results of the strict forest reserves included in the network will be stored and managed. This includes existing data and future results. The findings will be freely available for all cooperating institutes.
Scientific content:
A central data bank offers opportunities for studying changes in structure and dynamics of undisturbed forests in a broader sense. It allows comparison of the development of various forest types in different vegetation zones, including the effects of natural disturbances. In combination with other research activities e.g. the effects of forest management, or the determination of biodiversity indicators can be studied. This offers possibilities for maintaining the quality and biodiversity of European forests criteria for nature conservation can be formulated including the assessment of improved forest management practices. This will lead to more sustainable timber production taking into consideration the ecological conditions.
D. Timetable
The project is estimated to last three years. Each phase of the project represents one year according to Appendix D1. The tasks are assigned to the individual working groups. It is also indicated in which way the project results will be presented during the lifetime of the project.
E. Organization, management and responsibilities
All participants will have scientists in each individual working group. It is planned to appoint 2 researchers (Senior scientist, junior researcher) for tasks 1 and 2 as they involve a high labour input.
Task 3 will be completed by one junior researcher assisted by a senior scientist.
Each working group will be chaired by a Coordinator. They are elected by the Management Committee. The Coordinators of the working groups would meet twice a year. If the ongoing progress of the project makes it necessary they would have additional meetings.
The three working groups will organize two joint annual meetings. Two annual meetings will be held by each individual working group.
The individual working groups will deliver annual progress reports. It is planned to produce a mid-term review summarizing the present state of the actions. A final report will consist of 3 separate reports presenting the findings of each working group. It will contain results on:
-the actual state of the network of strict forest reserves,
-the general, harmonized sampling plot technique for strict forest reserves,
-the general data bank and the procedures for compiling and managing the incoming data.
The report will give recommendations for further research activities. It will highlight the benefits of a common data bank and application possibilities to forest management.
It is intended to publish the results in international scientific journals and other suitable publications together with the other participants.
F. Economic dimension of the action
The costs of the project are based on the average figures for COST countries from 1993:
-For one person/year category A:Senior scientist,ECU 60 000
-For one person/year category B:Technician,ECU 40 000
-For one person/year category C:Junior scientist
SecretaryECU 25 000
The running/operational costs have been estimated to be 12% of the acquisition costs. The coordination costs are to be covered by the COST budget of the Commission.
The estimated costs of the COST-action will amount to approximately ECU 4 million (kECU 4 000). The coordination costs including the expenses for travelling, seminars, translations, publications, workshops etc. are estimated to be approximately ECU 200 000 (kECU 200).
Current status
The first meeting of the Management Committee was held in November 1994. At the time of writing 10 countries participate in the Action (the latest being Germany in July 1996) while a few other countries have expressed interest in joining the Action during the coming year.
The initial phase included a general survey of the related knowledge and information already available in the sector. In December 1995, one session of the EuropIA '95 conference "A critical review of the applications of advanced technologies in architecture, civil and urban engineering" was devoted to the activities of COST C4. The papers presented in the session are included in the conference Proceedings.
In the second phase, the activities mainly concerned the organisation of the international COST C4 workshop : "Information systems and processes for urban civil engineering applications", which was held in Rome (I) in November 1996. The workshop gave an overall picture of the complexity of information flows and systems dealing with urban problems and presented examples of good information management and applications developed for various problems in the urban project. The Proceedings of the workshop will be the first publication of COST C4.
In the next phase the Action will use the results and experience gained in the first two years to expedite further research in the participating countries.
In order to improve the co-operation with other COST Actions, specifically in the field of Urban Civil Engineering, the MC has decided to participate in ad hoc working groups with representatives from other Actions when appropriate. One such meeting with Action C2 representatives took place in Italy in 1995.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS klassifiziert Projekte mit EuroSciVoc, einer mehrsprachigen Taxonomie der Wissenschaftsbereiche, durch einen halbautomatischen Prozess, der auf Verfahren der Verarbeitung natürlicher Sprache beruht. Siehe: Das European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS klassifiziert Projekte mit EuroSciVoc, einer mehrsprachigen Taxonomie der Wissenschaftsbereiche, durch einen halbautomatischen Prozess, der auf Verfahren der Verarbeitung natürlicher Sprache beruht. Siehe: Das European Science Vocabulary.
Dieses Projekt wurde noch nicht bei EuroSciVoc klassifiziert.
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Finanzierungsplan
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Finanzierungsregelung (oder „Art der Maßnahme“) innerhalb eines Programms mit gemeinsamen Merkmalen. Sieht folgendes vor: den Umfang der finanzierten Maßnahmen, den Erstattungssatz, spezifische Bewertungskriterien für die Finanzierung und die Verwendung vereinfachter Kostenformen wie Pauschalbeträge.
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Koordinator
1049 Brussels
Belgien
Die Gesamtkosten, die dieser Organisation durch die Beteiligung am Projekt entstanden sind, einschließlich der direkten und indirekten Kosten. Dieser Betrag ist Teil des Gesamtbudgets des Projekts.