The importance of a chain between forests as natural
capital and wood as raw a material
Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea
Italian Delegation to the Alpine Convention
and
Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Ljubljana May 25, 2015
Dr. Rinaldo COMINO
Forest Officer of the Regional Directorate for productive activities, trade, cooperation, agricultural and
forest resources
rinaldo.comino@regione.fvg.it
A
H
SLO HR
CH
BiH
F
I
Italian Framework
1) National Level: the national wood chain plan
Ministry Environment – Agricolture
Energy
Mountain farming
Soil conservation
Spatial Planning
and Sustainable
Development
Framework
Convention
Mountain
forests
Tourism
Transport
Conservation
of nature and
countryside
2) Cooperation
level on the Alpine
area: Working
Group “Mountain
Forest” of the
Alpine Convention
chaired by Italy
Main results from the Italian Presidency 2013-2014
of the Alpine Convention The statement on the value
of the alpine forests
Guidelines for climate
change adaptation
addressing also forest
issue
These results from the Italian Presidency
2013-2014 of the Alpine Convention was
Approved by XIII
Conference of the Alps
by the Alpine Ministers of
Environment (Turin,
November 21, 2014)
Presented to an international
expert audience during the
UNFCCC COP20 on
Climate Change (Lima,
Peru, 1-12 December 2014)
We would like to invite you to the next meeting jointly
organized for the 3rd of June in Milano by
MOUNTAIN WEEK 4-11 June in
EXPO 2015
The importance of a chain between
forests as natural capital and wood as raw a material
Topic 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Topic 2: The poplar cultivation
Topic 3: The national wood chain plan
Topic 4: The financial measures of the Rural Development Plan
2014-20 for the forestry sector
Topic 5: Competence of the State and the Regions
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
ITALY (national forest inventory data):
Forest area in 1985
8.600.000 hectares
Forest area in 2005
10.300.000 hectares
Forest area in 2015
10.900.000 hectares
(28 % of the national territory)
(34 % of the national territory)
(preliminary estimates, 36% of the national territory)
Italian forest area has been subject, from the late '40s, to a process of gradual and
continuous growth, due not only to reforestation measures, but also due to a natural
increasingly recolonization of abandoned farmland
It is important to consider that the Inventory of 1985 has adopted a different definition
of forest: the target of minimum covering increased from 20% to 10% and the
minimum size from 2,000 m² to 5,000 m²
The regions with the highest percentage of surface Forest are Liguria, Trentino,
Sardinia, Tuscany and South Tyrol, where more than half of the territory It is covered
by forests.
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
At national level, the most common forest categories are the oak and beech woods
forests. The 68% of the forests consists of predominantly deciduous trees. The
predominance of deciduous is common throughout the country, except for some
Alpine backgrounds (Valley of Aosta, Trentino and South Tyrol).
oak woods
Quercus robur
Quercus petraea
Quercus cerris
Quercus frainetto
Quercus trojana
and others
coniferous woods
Picea abies
Abies alba
Larix decidua
Pinus sylvestris
Pinus nigra
Pinus cembra
And others
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Increase of forest
area in the region
Friuli Venezia Giulia
0
250.000
16
5.
00
ettari
hectares
300.000
32
4.
00
27
0.
00
350.000
29
7.
00
0
0
0
Incremento della superficie forestale in FVG
200.000
150.000
100.000
50.000
0
years
anni
60s60
anni
80s80
anni
90
90s
anni
2000
2000
SUPERFICI FORESTALI
The Region Friuli Venezia Giulia has
a land area of 785.800 hectares.
Of these, about 324,000 are covered
by forest, or 41% of the total
About 93% of the forest is located in
the mountains, only about 7% in the
plains
39% of the forest is planned and
corresponds to about 124,800
hectares (blue color corresponds to
the total area covered by Forestry
Management Plan)
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
all regions have actually an increasing forest area
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Private forest area:
5.800.000 hectares
Public forest area:
5.100.000 hectares
Available area to timber harvesting:
> 80%
annual increase
annual average utilization
36.000.000 m3
9.600.000 m3
(corresponding to approximately 27% of the annual
increase, compared to 65% of the European average, with
varied situations from region to region, but with no many
positive situations such as Trentino and South Tyrol with
approximately 50%)
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
cubic meters
harvesting intensity trend in Italy
Timber for industry
Wood for energy use
Fonte: piano di settore della filiera legno
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Coniferous woods (m3)
2005
2006
2007
Deciduous woods (m3)
2005
2006
2007
2005
2006
2007
Timber industry
(beams - travi, big
poles, round timber,
veneer, roundwood
for pastry, roundwood
for saw, timber for
shredding - triturazione,
etc.)
Firewood
Total
downward trend
Total (m3)
Forest harvesting FVG 1999-2013
190,000
180,000
170,000
m3
160,000
150,000
140,000
130,000
120,000
110,000
100,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
year
The trend of utilization is negative and reflects a low interest among forest owners,
inadequate forests infrastructure, excessive bureaucracy, companies however small and
little or nothing in the network etc.
16
.9
64
15
.5
15
14
.6
14
7.
77
1
11
.8
78
9.
22
2
9.
14
3
3.
36
4
3.
21
8
5.
26
1
2.
62
5
3.
07
5
4.
79
3
5.
53
3
7.
78
3
8.
67
9
9.
46
6
11
.1
66
10
.9
40
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
18.0
00
16.0
00
14.0
00
12.0
00
10.0
00
8.00
0
6.00
0
4.00
0
2.00
0
0
16
.3
03
Andamento
prelievo del
legname
nelle
foreste
Forest harvesting
in the
properties
of FVG
di proprietà della Regione FVG 1993-2012
The region with about 10.000 hectares of woodland and a total of 15.000 hectares property
has a trend of withdrawals in contrast, motivated by the change of objectives, strategy and
operating mode in the late '90s
www.borsalegno.fvg.it
Availability of data for the decision not to sell the forest standing but prepared timber
In 2010 the 32% of the total wood harvested in Italy (2.415.000 m3) was
industrial roundwood (lumber, veneer and saw logs, for pasta and other
lumber for industrial use). Most of this production (60%) is concentrated
in the North-East of the country, where there are the most important
productive high forests of the country.
As for firewood, 90% comes from deciduous woodlands, especially from
mixed oak (47%) with predominant coppice government, typical of
Central Italy.
Deciduous woodlands represent more than 50% of the commercially
productive forests.
Italy is the world's largest importer of firewood and the fourth in chips
and waste wood. In 2009, Italy imported 0,48 million tons of firewood
and charcoal
upward trend
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Enterprises and employees of the forest, wood
SECTORS
Companies for wood harvesting (*)
Wood processing industry
Mobile - equipment industry (**)
Manufact. of pulp, paper and cardboard (***)
Total
companies
employees
-
43.000
40.400 (**)
166.500 (*)
33.140
222.450
4.570
83.600
78.110
515.500
Fonte: (*) da tab.6.5a, State of Europe's Forest 2011 - MCPFE 2011 (media 2005-2010 su dati Eurostat afferenti
all'EU Labour Force Survey); (**) Centro Studi COSMIT - FederlegnoArredo (2010); (***) Assocarta (2010); piano di
settore della filiera legno
TOPIC 1: Some data of the Italian forestry and timber sector
Italy is among the first places in the world for the export of finished products. The
wood-furniture system is the driver sector of the Italian forest- wood chain.
The main target markets for exports are the United States of America and Russia,
covering about 12% of Italian exports. Europe, with France, Germany and the UK
receive alone about 36% of Italian exports (in 2010 exports to these three countries
have increased, respectively, 10%, 22% and 8%).
Growth in the wood construction sector in the Italian market
Sports structures
(for example swimming pools)
Farms
(for example wineries)
Wooden houses
TOPIC 2: The poplar cultivation
30,000
hectares in year 2000: 83.368
ettari 2000
ettari 2010
hectares in year 2010: 39.308
25,000
the majority of production of
poplar is in Northern Italy
in 10 years lost 44.000 hectares
20,000
15,000
the average size of the about 10.000
companies is 4 hectares
10,000
5,000
0
Fonte: accordo interregionale pioppo
TOPIC 2: The poplar cultivation
It is fundamental the adoption of protocols for the sustainable management of poplars (such as occurs in
Friuli Venezia Giulia, where more than half of the area is certified, in this case according to the scheme of
PEFC). The use of more environmentally sustainable clones is also requested by the European
Commission, in the financing of agriculture policies for the rural development (2014-2020).
TOPIC 2: The poplar cultivation
Areas planted with poplar allow today a withdrawal of about 950.000 m3 per year,
representing approximately 10% of the total wood volume of poplar cultivation
nationwide. This levy allows the correct management of these areas, set with rounds
of ten-year.
The wood-furniture employs approximately 400.000 employees nationwide,
equivalent to 8% of employees in the manufacturing sector, and affects 75.000
companies, representing about 15% of the national total. The system-wood
furnishings thus constitutes the third sector for Italian contribution to the trade
balance.
plywood panel
OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)
TOPIC 2: The poplar cultivation
In terms of needs of the number of plants, considering an average of 220
trees/hectares, the consumption of the Italian chain of poplar is approximately of 2,5
millions of poplar trees per year, equivalent to about 11.500 hectares/year.
Considering that the traditional poplar cultivation is set with rounds of ten-year, it is
considered essential to increase the areas cultivated with poplar by a value equal to
65.000 hectares, rising from 50.000 at present has 115.000 ha.
This goal is part of an interregional agreement between institutions and economic
categories of production of the wood industry (Venice, 29 January 2014) , and will be
able to bring environmental, ecological, employment and economic benefits for our
country.
The benefits of the relaunch of poplar cultivation in our country are compatible with
the requirements demanded by the context of the ever more pressing and serious
environmental problems (in terms of anthropogenic emissions of climate-altering or
"greenhouse effect")
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
This plan shows a cooperation between entities representing the economic
categories, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the
Ministry of Cultural Heritage and a representative of the Italian Regions, and to
which the Alpine Convention has given a fundamental proposal contribution
And many
others…
The Italian forest chain, to its complex structure, has primarily a serious deficit in the
integration and coordination among the different segments that compose it,
characterized by different degrees of development.
Today, the weakest link in the supply chain is its base production (harvesting and
primary processing) due to the low use of national forests, the reduction of areas of
wood production (poplar cultivation) and the consequent dependence on foreign
countries for the supply of raw material.
To better understand the the objectives of the national plan on forest and wood
industry, is possible to consider the main points of the SWOT analysis prepared for
this economic sector
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
SWOT analysis
strengthness
weakness
opportunities
threats
Increase of forest area and
annual increase of the of the
growing stock, higher than
the rate’s use
complicated orography,
fragmentation
High demand for wood raw
material for the wood national
industry (buildings, panels,
furniture, packaging, paper
industry, recycling, energy);
Increase of the forest surface
without management and
related problems of
hydrogeological and
ecological efficiency (aging,
increase fire risk,
pathologies, etc.);
Wood industrial sector with a
great economic importance,
recognized and appreciated
in foreign markets
Difficulties in the sector
forestry production in the
costs of bureaucracy
Development of certification
of forest and products;
enhancement of the national
wood product (100% Italian);
Lower growth and socioeconomic development with
consequent depopulation of
rural and mountain areas
Development and growth of
the Green Economy
Inadequate system of laws,
plans and organizational
models at different level;
high incidence of
protectionist restrictions on
the mobilization of forest
resources
Modernization of equipment
and structural and
infrastructure in forest
harvesting
Consolidation in the society
of a static view of forest
ecosystems, with difficulty to
understand the importance of
human intervention in the
management, conservation
of forests
Added value of the Made in
Italy
Inadequate forest road
network and difficulty of
access to forest property
Increase of carbon stocks in
wood materials and products.
Development and growth of
the Green Economy
Dispersion of forest
properties and small size of
the company
Creation and development of
short supply chains based on
local resources
Increase and development of
the green economy
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
General objective
Promotion of a sustainable, competitive and integrated development of the national
chain Wood, encouraging the active management of forests and ensuring in the longterm the multi-functionality and biodiversity of the forest resources
A silvicultural treatment that favors the spontaneous
regeneration of the forest: an example of best practice
for the forests outside the protected areas and that
might be the best way to them areas, such as Natura
2000
But a silvicultur near nature (with spontaneus
regeneration) is more expansive and it is also possible
with a good network of forestry road: we have to work
about it.
Thematic areas of the Wood chain Plan
1. Modernization and simplification of the forestry legislation;
2. Enhancement of the forest heritage and the national wood product;
3. Consolidation of the system of knowledge and research in the forest sector.
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
WEAKNESS: Inadequate system of laws……high incidence of
protectionist restrictions
Thematic 1 Modernization and simplification of the forestry legislation
Today to build a simple forest road is required a regional hydrogeological and forestry
authorization, a municipal planning permission, a state landscaping authorization, and
a regional environmental impact authorization if the area falls in a site of the
European network NATURA 2000.
Whole Italian forest is, without distinction, subjected to heavy state landscape
protection
Coccau, Tarvisio (Udine – Italy)
The FVG Region
has established
its own network
NATURA 2000
consisting of 60
community sites
that affect 19%
of the region
corresponding to
about 150.000
hectares, often
wooded
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
OPPORTUNITIES: modernization of the infrastructure ………
Thematic 2 Enhancement of the forest heritage and the national wood product;
This is possible starting from the improvement of forest roads both in terms of quantity (density per hectare of
forest) and qualitative (road easily traveled by means for the transport of timber, made of bioengineering
techniques, made with the best systems of water drainage)
Coccau, Tarvisio (Udine – Italy)
Fusine, Tarvisio (Udine – Italy)
Grassland and hut of Mount Goriane
(Tarvisio, Udine Italy)
CARINZIA (A)
FRIULI
VENEZIA
GIULIA (I)
Austria
CARINTHIA
Italy
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Slovenia
Active and sustainable forest management in Carinthia (Austria)
Density (linear meters / hectare) of forest roads: the situation for each municipality)
Production forest: 60 linear meters / hectare
Protection Forest: 40 linear meters / hectare
mountain forest roads
Convegno Gorizia, 12.07.2013
dottore forestale, direttore Gerolf Baumgartner; gerolf.baumgartner@ktn.gv.at, www.landesforstdirektion.ktn.gv.at
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
OPPORTUNITIES: Increase of carbon stocks in wood materials and products.
Thematic 2 Enhancement of the forest heritage and the national wood product
Contract
Voluntary market
Local Carbon Credit
Wood products
TOPIC 3: The national wood chain plan
THREATS: consolidation in the society of a static view of forest ecosystems, with difficulty to
understand the importance of human intervention in the management, conservation of forests
Thematic 3 Consolidation of the system of knowledge and research in the forest
sector.
The harvest of wood, according to the
principles of environmental
sustainability, is an economic, a social
and an environmental advantage
It is fundamental to communicate with
non-experts the need for active
management of forests
TOPIC 4: The financial measures of the Rural Development Plan 2014-20 for the forestry sector
Under this program of the European Union (Regulation EC
1305/2013), an important attention is given to funding the measures
for the forestry sector. This will allow in the future a better ability to
supply of raw material from the Italian forests and to give concrete
answers to the objectives of the National wood chain plan.
European
Commission
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Regions have
coordinated and have drafted a joint document, the National
Framework of forestry measures for Rural Development 2014-2020,
which facilitated the writing of each of the regional programs, now
being negotiated with the European Commission.
TOPIC 4: The financial measures of the Rural Development Plan 2014-20 for the forestry sector
 Measure 1.2
 Measure 2.1










Support for information activities and demonstration projects
Consulting services targeted at forest workers and SMEs active in rural
areas
Measure 4.3 Support for investment in forest roads
Measure 6.4 Investments in renewable energy
Measure 7.6 Investments for the improvement and enhancement of rural heritage
through the use of wood coming from forests certified for sustainable
management
Measure 8.1 Afforestation and creation of woodland areas (Poplar cultivation)
Measure 8.5 Investments improving the resilience, environmental value and the
mitigation potential of forest ecosystems
Measure 8.6 Investments in forest technology and processing, mobilization and
marketing of forest products
Measure 16.1 Support for the establishment and operation of operational groups (GO) of
the EIP (European Innovation Partnership) for agricultural productivity and
sustainability
Measure 16.2 Support for the creation of centers and networks for the development of
projects of business innovation and supply chain, on an experimental and
cross-sectoral character;.
TOPIC 5: Competence of the State and the Regions
Management:
Regions with ordinary statute and autonomous regions and provinces,
according to the constitutional mandate, have the responsibility in the management
of forest resources (regional regulations, funding etc.)
Environmental surveillance:
The regions and autonomous provinces
until now have their Forestry Corps too. On
the rest of the territory the State Forestry
Corp works exclusively and in the regions
and autonomous provinces in partnership
with them.
Trentino and South Tyrol
Valley of Aosta
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Corps Forest are charged with repression
of environmental offenses, with differences
between different territorial autonomies
and also in comparison with the state.
In the regions and autonomous provinces,
Corps forestry practice , although in
different ways, even technical skills.
Sardinia
Environmental legislation, such as Natura 2000, and that about the
landscape, as the forest is one of the categories protected by this rule,
are state competences and also partially regional.
Sicily
Thanks for
the attention
Ljubljana May 25, 2015
Dr. Rinaldo COMINO
Forest Officer of the Regional
Directorate for productive activities,
trade, cooperation, agricultural and
forest resources
rinaldo.comino@regione.fvg
.it
Fusine in Tarvisio (Udine – Italy)
winter 2008 - 2009