ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

By the protocol of the second steering committee meeting, the Petrozavodsk State University and University of Joensuu will start to publish a newsletter every second month. The newsletter will be published in English and Russia both in paper and in the WWW pages of the project.

CONTENTS

PHOTO: TIMO LEINONEN

The first initiatives for TAIGA Model Forest Project were presented in 1996 by WWF Finland and ENSO Ltd. The prefeasibility study was made by Enso Forest Development Ltd during 1996. WWF Finland and ENSO Ltd. asked the University of Joensuu and the Petrozavodsk State University to carry out the Model Forest Project and the concrete project started in the beginning of 1997. The funding body for the project was made and it consists of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland, the Ministry of Environment in Finland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland, Enso Ltd., United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WWF Germany.

The workplan of the project was accepted by the Steering Committee in May 1997.

The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Taiga Model Forest project was held in Petrozavodsk and the village Matrosy, 15-16 October 1997.

Rector Victor Vasilyev (Petrozavodsk State University) welcomed the participants to the meeting. Mr. Josif Skadorva, the chairman of the Steering Committee, declared the meeting open. The draft of the terms of reference of the Steering Committee was accepted after appointing Ms. Anna-Liisa Myllynen to represent Enso Ltd. in the Committee in the place of Mr. Pekka Rajala. The representative for WWF remained still open due to absence of WWF:s participation in the meeting.

Establishment and measurement of experimental plots was presented by Mr. Ilkka Valonen and principles of establishment of the forest management and ecological plan by Mr. Markus Huhtinen. The Committee decided that (i) co-operation and co-ordination between the sub-projects should be developed, (ii) utilizied terminology between Karelian and Finnish participants should be defined, e.g. the term old-growth forest, (iii) leaders of sub-projects should decide about the objectives in establishing the forest management and ecological plan, (iv) participation of local people in planning of area utilisation should be secured and (v) applicability of plan to local conditions should be secured.

Mayor of Prjazha district, Mr. V. Pashlakov, informed participants about forest resources and their utilisation in the Prjazha district. In the presentation he was concerned, how to combine cuttings and needs of local people. The head of Matrosy local administration, Mr. Vladimir Gurev gave information on the village Matrosy. Unemployment is a difficult problem and he wished, that the project could offer working possibilities in cuttings, forest regeneration and other works. Another major problem is water maintenance. Mr. Gurev wished that during the project it would be possible to search possibilities to build a 1 km water main to secure water maintenance in the centre of village.

The Steering Committee proposed that incomes from the selling of timber harvested in the Matrosy area should be targeted to the development of the training station of the Petrozavodsk State University in Matrosy and the model forest. Possibilities to apply financing from the Federal Forest Service of Russia will be studied by the State Forest Committee of the Republic of Karelia. The Petrozavodsk State University and University of Joensuu will start to publish a newsletter of the project every second month to improve dissemination of information both inside the project and with other interested organisations. The newsletter will be published in English and Russian both in paper and in the WWW pages of the project. Mr. Tatu Ollikainen presented the Finnish-Russian Development Programme on Sustainable Forestry and Conservation of Biological Diversity in North-West Russia (NWRDP).

The third meeting of the Steering Committee of the Taiga Model Forest project was held both in Petrozavodsk and the village Matrosy, 27-28 April 1998. The agenda and programme of the meeting, and list of participants are attached as Appendix 1.

3. Timo Leinonen explained the financial situation of the project. The funding applications for the year 1998 were sent in March to the funding bodies of the project, i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture of Forestry of Finland, Enso Ltd, and WWF Germany. By the time of the meeting, Enso Ltd and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry had accepted the application, and the contracts were in the process of being signed. WWF Germany has not responded as yet.

4. Progress on the implementation of the various activities and the status of the sub-projects were reviewed by each responsible project leader as follows:

4. Ecological sustainability: Andrey Gromtsev

• A model forest has a partnership committee of participants who identify the goals for forest and resource management, set priorities and development targets, and establish policy guidelines for the overall program.

• A model forest is managed in an integrated manner for all forest values identified to be of importance and will consider social, economic, ecological and historical dimensions. In addition to traditional timber and pulp products, values may include food, medicines, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity, soil conservation, recreation, spiritual, aesthetics and conservation of biodiversity.

• A model forest must be of a working size and representative of the region, rather than a small-scale demonstration forest. For example, model forests in Canada were greater than 100,000 ha.

• A model forest partnership has a long-term commitment to the concept of sustainable development and will support research and technology transfer on this subject.

• A model forest will be an active partner in the IMFN and share experiences, successes and failures with other model forests.

7. The Komi Model Forest project was introduced by Andrey Ptichnikov.

8. WWF's financing for the Taiga Model Forest project should be clarified by the next meeting of the Steering Committee by the technical co-ordinator.

 

9. The role of the model forest projects in Russia was introduced by Andrey Filipchouk. There is only one model forest in the Russian Federation - the Gassinski Model Forest - in the Khabarovsk region. He told the meeting that the Taiga Model Forest area does not fulfil the size criteria set by the Canadians. The minimum size is about 300 000 ha, and usually about 1 000 000 ha which enables sustainable forest management. The Taiga project can be seen as being the first step in organising a large model forest in the Republic of Karelia.

10. Timo Leinonen informed the meeting about the model forest workshop "Development Prospects of the Model Forest Network in the Russian Federation" due to be held in Khabarovsk, during 26-28 May 1998. The IMFN secretariat has invited two representatives from the Taiga project to attend the workshop.

11. In the open discussion, Josif Skadorva underlined that there is no legislation in Russia about model forests, and that the Canadian model does not apply to Russian conditions. The major problem in model forest projects is their financing: what will happen when the Canadian financing stops? He also added, that enlargement of the Taiga Model Forest area at this stage (before the end of the first project period and presentation of the results) is untimely.

12. The next meeting of the Committee will be held 18-19 November 1998.

Summary of the meeting in Matrosy is presented in Appendix 2.

Josif Skadorva

Chairman

Grigory Romanov Timo Leinonen

Secretary Secretary

One of the sub-projects of the Taiga Model Forest Area concerns social sustainability of forestry. It is well-known that economic sustainability is an old concept and deals with the long-term profitability of forestry and forest utilisation as well as with adequate financing of the maintenance of forest resources. The concerns of ecological sustainability are biodiversity and ecological functions of forests. But what does social sustainability mean in forestry?

In fact, social sustainability is quite a new concept and there is not yet any standard definition for that at international or national levels has been even less considered in detail at forest management level.

The concerns of social sustainability are people and their welfare. Social sustainability has been suggested to mean "the management and utilisation of forests in such a way that generally agreed benefits and needs of present and future generations and their equal distribution between the citizens will be safeguarded" (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland 1995). Another preliminary definition of social sustainability refers to "the ability of forestry to continuously contribute to social welfare of people" (Saastamoinen 1997).

Social sustainability represents the human dimension in forestry and looks at the society or community in a similar way as economic and ecological sustainability are focused on the economy and ecosystems. All three dimensions of sustainability are connected and together compose the core of the modern concept of sustainability in forestry.

When considering social sustainability within the context of Taiga Model Forest and the realities of life in Russian Karelia, four points is useful to take into account:

1. One can find three different angles to social sustainability: one is social sustainability of the near-by Matrosy village; second is social sustainability of forestry (and forest based activities) in the Taiga Model Forest; and the third is social sustainability of the Taiga Model Forest project itself.

2. Social sustainability of forestry is most closely linked with economic sustainability both in the sphere of Taiga Model Forest as well as at the larger administrative-geographical levels.

3. Both the economic and the social sustainability of Matrosy village and similarly - but to a lesser extent - the social and economic sustainability of forestry in the Taiga Model Forest, are decisively influenced by development of the whole society and especially the economic and social crisis of the transition period.

4. All three levels of social sustainability (village, model forest, project) are linked but all of them have different frameworks and possibilities to operate. For example, the project level sustainability is largely in the hands of the project, but that is only marginally true at the village level.

Social sustainability sub-project had a workshop on social sustainability December 3-4, 1997 at the University of Joensuu. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss and conceptualise social sustainability from the point of view of different scientific and cultural traditions. Some viewpoints presented in the workshop are given in the following.

G. Romanov (Petrozavodsk State University, Forest Engineering Faculty) stated that a local area can be socially sustainable only if there are prerequisites for development. N.B. Polevshikova and S. A. Gurova emphasised that social sustainability is a necessary condition for the progressive development of the society, where the final goal is welfare of people. Even with the present severe conditions of economic and social crisis, all members of society should have a possibility of right and duty to implement and actively participate in the decision making of their community. P. Rannikko (University of Joensuu, Karelian Research Institute) found that although it is easy to find features of socially unsustainable development in Russian villages, one should find solutions that are more socially sustainable than others. For example, it would be decisive to know what type of technology is employed in forestry and what kind of labour is used. J. Oksa (University of Joensuu, Karelian Research Institute) proposed that two questions should be included into the discussion of the criteria of social sustainability of taiga forestry:

1) Has there been progress in the development of future forest way of life?

2) Has the whole production chain and its present and future social impacts been accepted by local communities?

As seen from these examples, there seemed to prevail a dynamic approach to the conceptualisation of social sustainability in Taiga Model Forest and Matrosy village. The proceedings of the workshop will be published later this year in the Research Notes of the Faculty of Forestry, University of Joensuu.

The networking and installation of GIS for the Taiga Model Forest is expected to produce the following outputs:

• through INTERNET the participants, authorities and public have the opportunity to get information on the goals, tasks, and results of the project;
• the forest institutions of the Republic of Karelia were linked into the international information space;
• Karelian regional information network for forest education, science and practice was created. Students, teachers and scientists of Karelia can simply obtain access to the international computerized information resources on forest and forestry;
• information on environment protection and promotion of ecologically sustainable forest management in the Republic of Karelia will be available for staff training of forest enterprises of Karelia;
• efficient and sustainable management of forest resources on the Model Forest area becomes possible with the help of modern GIS-technologies.

The following thematic and cartographic data bases were created for GIS of the Taiga Model Forest area in the process of implementing the project:

• hydrography structures;
• road network and structures;
• soils;
• topography;
• network of quarter-blocks;
• forest inventory;
• forest management;
• areas and objects under protection;
• reforestation;
• care of saplings;
• non-wood use;
• forest fire protection;
• forest reconstruction;
• ecology.

GIS of Taiga Model Forest was created with MapInfo 4.12 software. Forest Engineering Faculty has 6 licenses of MapInfo with appropriate computers, and uses GIS of Taiga Model Forest for teaching as well as for research. Moreover our GIS helps others.

To provide information through INTERNET on goals and tasks, organizational structure, the implementing parties, publications and financial contributions of the project Taiga Model Forest, WWW pages in English and Russian were created.

Structure of WWW pages:

The contents and structure of WWW pages were worked out for all projects including major sub-projects.

Taiga Forest Model project Home page includes the main structural units:

• Preamble;
• Objectives and Tasks;
• Current Projects;
• Steering Committee;
• Research Staff;
• Publications;
• Model Forest Web Links;
• Photo gallery;
• Map gallery;
• Financial Contributions.

Web links were created through WWW pages of Taiga Model Forest. These pages are located on the server of Petrozavodsk State University, Forest Engineering Faculty, and have the following WWW home page addresses:

Picture. An example from the WWW home page. Network of quarter-block map of model forest area.

Working plan for 1998 year includes the following list:

• Activity No 1: Seminars, organization of retraining courses and management.
• Activity No 2: Retraining courses "Computer support in Forestry".
• Activity No 3: Retraining courses "Internet and Web support".
• Activity No 4: Retraining courses "Up-to-date logging technology for thinning".
• Activity No 5: Support of "Taiga Model Forest" Web-site.
• Activity No 6: GIS of Pryazha region.
• Activity No 7: Video presentation "Taiga Model forest".

PHOTO: TIMO LEINONEN

In the action plan for the year 1998 the main tasks by sub-projects are as follows:

1. Organisation of the Steering Committee meetings (27-28 April, October)
2. Continuing management, planning and co-ordination

1. Division of sectors:

• establishment of the permanent experimental plots
• fields of research: silviculture, growing stock, non-wood resources
• kvartals: 47, 50, 58, 59

• establishment and measurement of treatment experimental plots

2. Inventory of the area, management and planning of area utilisation

• inventory of stands under different silvicultural and cutting treatments, updating maps and database of forest resources and special protected areas
• continuing planning, management and control of area utilisation

3. Establishment of the scientific sector

Research into social sustainability of a local area includes the following specific tasks:

1. Analysis and comparisons of the concept of social sustainability in Russian, Finnish and international discussion with focus on relationships to economic and ecological dimensions of sustainability.
2. A study on the socio-economic conditions of the population and the communities near to the model area.
3. An assessment of the employment situation and past development of the communities especially in relation to forestry and forest industries including fuel-wood utilisation.
4. An inventory of the use and potential of non-wood forest products including recreational and cultural functions of the forests.
5. Analysis of the socio-economic impacts of alternative logging and silvicultural activities.
6. Financial and socio-economic profitability analysis of alternatives of local small-scale processing of wood and non-wood products.
7. Social responsibility and social costs of forest sector firms in the period of transition economy.
8. Evaluation and proposal of the criteria and indicators of social sustainability applicable in the context of local communities and whole Russian Karelia.

1. Testing and demonstration of appropriate technology for logging.

2. Testing and demonstration of appropriate silvicultural methods and systems.

3. Analysis and comparison of the concept of economic sustainability in forestry.
4. Analysis of the influences of different forest operations on the economy of the area and on economic sustainability.

5. Production of needed reports.

1. Effects of different management methods on ecological biodiversity

The objective of the sub-project is to study simultaneously the combination of ecological, social and economic sustainability in forestry in the Republic of Karelia, especially the Taiga Model Forest area. The sub-project studies possibilities and conditions of using a forest certification system in the Republic of Karelia. In 1998 the sub-project will concentrate on comparing a certification system based on proposals made in other countries and compare them with the situation in Karelia. Especially it will be discovered as to what extent proposed certification criteria should be changed before they will be compatible with the ownership structure in Karelia and with the conditions of Russian Forestry Law. In addition, it will be discovered, what are the possibilities and readiness of timber consumers to use certified timber. Moreover, researchers participating in the sub-project will be trained in knowledge and principles of applying the certification system.

1. Research

1. Russian Forestry Law, Resolutions of Helsinki Ministerial Forest Conference, European forest certification proposals, especially conditions of FSC-system in different countries.

2. Conservation of forests in the Republic of Karelia and certification of commercial forests as complementary aspects taking care of the forests.

3. Possibilities of own wood utilisation in the Republic of Karelia under the concern of certification.

4. Willingness of Finnish enterprises to pay for the expenses of certification of timber imported from Russia.

5. Conditions to combine ecological, economic and social aspects in the Matrosy area.

6. Certified forests in Europe (Sweden, Poland, Czech): comparison between the certified forests and the Matrosy forest area.

2. Training

1. Forest Certification Handbook
2. Translation of FSC documents and certification criteria of other countries into Russian
3. Translation of sub-project reports into Russian.

1. "Computer support in forestry" course
2. "Internet and Web support" course
3. "Up-to-date logging technology for thinning" course
4. International seminar: "GIS technology in forestry and forest industry"
5. International seminar: "Model Forest projects in the world: experience and future"
6. Web-site creation and support
7. GIS of Prjazha region
8. "Taiga Model Forest" video presentation

1. Indicators of model forests. What is a model forest from Russia's point of view?
2. Development prospects of the Russian national model forest network, and its integration to the international model forest network.
3. Role of model forests in applying sustainable forest management into practice.

All three existing model forests in Russia - Gassinki (Khabarovsk krai), Prilyze (Republic of Komi) and Taiga (Republic of Karelia) were represented in the seminar. There were also participants from the Republic of Burjatia (Russia), USA and from the IMFN Secretariat from Canada. The Taiga Model Forest project was represented by Mr. Timo Leinonen from the Forest and Environment Group Ltd. (FEG) and Dr. Grigory Romanov from the Petrozavodsk State University. They presented the Taiga project and participated in creating the resolution of the seminar. The question of the small size of Taiga Model Forest area - 2500 ha - rose during the discussion and how it is able to include all main types of forest utilisation and natural values, typical for the geographical region.

The seminar was held in the breeding and seeding centre near Khabarovsk. In addition, participants visited the village Troiskii where they familiarised themselves with the realisation of the Gassinki Model Forest project and the culture of indigenous people of the Nanai region.

The representatives of the Taiga Model Forest welcomed participants to the international workshop "Model Forest Projects in the World - Experiences and Future" to be held in Petrozavodsk during the period 29 September - 1 October 1998, on condition that additional financing is provided for the organisation of the workshop.

The resolution of the seminar will be presented in the next Taiga Newsletter to be published in autumn 1998.

Other field works and studies not concerned with the experimental plots are going on according to the action plan, till late autumn.

Publication of the Taiga Model Forest brochure The brochure including the working plan of the project with illustrations is under construction and will be published in July-August.

Model Forest Workshop within the framework of the Taiga Model Forest project an international workshop "Model Forest Project in the World: Experiences and Future" is planned be held in Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia, 29 September - 1 October 1998. The condition is that additional financing can be provided for the organisation of the workshop. The aim of the workshop is sharing of knowledge, ideas and experiences of model forest projects world-wide, dissemination of information of existing and planned model forests in Russia, strengthening co-operation between model forest projects.

The workshop shall provide information and a discussion forum for:

• Participants of international model forest projects
• Policy decision makers (governmental officials of forestry and forest industries, environmental policy, development policy)
• Interest group representatives (forest industry, environmental groups, local people)
• Scientists with research focus on social sustainability, forest management, biodiversity, forest technology, forest policy and economics.

The workshop will be organised by Petrozavodsk State University (Forest Engineering Faculty), University of Joensuu (Faculty of Forestry) and FEG Ltd., in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Forestry of Finland and the State Forest Committee of the Republic of Karelia.

Additional information can be obtained from:

Dr. Taneli Kolstrцm Dr. Sergey Beljaev

University of Joensuu, Petrozavodsk State University,

Faculty of Forestry Faculty of Forest Engineering

P.O. Box 111 33, Lenin prospekt

FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland 185640 Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia

tel:+358-13-251 4025 tel:+7-81427-724 47

fax+358-13-251 4444 fax+7-81427-710 21

e-mail:taneli.kolstrom@joensuu.fi e-mail:sergbel@mainpgu.karelia.ru

PHOTO: TIMO LEINONEN

Virgin forest = Primeval forest, untouched nature which can be protected acting as examples of a genuine natural forest. Forest in a natural state, where not even old harvestings are allowed.

Semi-natural forest = Forests that can be partly protected for nature conservation, landscape conservation or recreation, because of their biological or landscape value. Unlike virgin or natural forests some forest management is allowed if prevailing features of nature are not disturbed.

Nature-oriented forestry = Management mimics the natural succession of forest.

Old growth = 1) The climax, the end of succession (the time when old growth is reached depends on forest type / site and tree species).

Old growth = 2) Old forest with some typical features such as: many large, old trees with wide spacings, standing dead trees and large logs on the ground (steady-state growth equals mortality).

Natural forest = Primary, nature state forest, where forest management (artificial regeneration, tending of seedling stand, thinning, fertilization etc.) has not been applied. Hunting or collecting of mushrooms and berries may occur.

Untouched forest = Forest without human impact (harvestings etc.).

Undisturbed forest = Forest without any human or natural disturbances or damages.

Unmanaged forest = Forest without any forest management which can lead also to an unfavourable situation.

Purpose Annual meeting of the Steering Committee

List of invited Members of the Steering Committee

participants Project management

Leaders and researchers of sub-projects

Vice-director of Hame Polytechnic, Fac. of Forestry, Agriculture

and Horticulture

Coordinator of Finnish-Russian Development Programme on

Sustainable Forestry and Conservation on Biological Diversity in

North-West Russia, NWRDP (as observer)

Rector of Petrozavodsk State University (PSU) (as observer)

Dean of Forest Engineering Faculty of PSU (as observer)

Deputy Director of the All-Russian Research and Information

Centre for Forest Resources, ARICFR (as observer)

Director of Prjazha Forest Management Unit (as observer)

Mayor of Prjazha District (as observer)

Head of Local Administration of Matrosy Settlement (as observer)

Forestry Officer of WWF Russian Programme Office, Moscow

(as observer)

Project Manager of Karelia Tacis Forest Project (as observer)

Forestry Consultant of Enso Forest Development Ltd.

(as observer)

Time Monday 27 April 1998 at 16:15-19:00

Tuesday 28 April 1998 at 09:30-18:00

Place Petrozavodsk State University (27-28 April)

Village Matrosy (28 April)

1. Karelia Tacis Forest Project - Mr. Tuomo Kotimaki,

Finnish Forest and Park Service

2. Komi Model Forest Project - Mr. Andrey Ptichnikov,

 PROGRAM

Place: Petrozavodsk State University

16:15 Meeting by the Agenda

19:00 End of the First Day

Place: Petrozavodsk State University, Village Matrosy

09:30 Meeting Continues by the Agenda

Discussion and Conclusions

12:30 Lunch

14:00 Departure to the Village Matrosy by bus

15:00 Arrival in Matrosy

15:30 Meeting with representatives of local people in Matrosy

16:30 Coffee break

17:00 Meeting Continues

Conclusions

18:00 End of the Meeting

Departure to Petrozavodsk

19:30- Social Evening, Petrozavodsk State University

Karelia

Beljaev Sergey Associate professor Petrozavodsk State University

Romanov Grigory Associate professor Petrozavodsk State University

Tsypuk Aleksandr Professor Petrozavodsk State University

Gromtsev Andrey Head of laboratory Karelian Forest Institute of KRC

Jakovlev Evgeny Leader researcher Karelian Forest Institute of KRC

Krutov Vitaly Director Karelian Forest Institute of KRC

Sakovets Vladimir Head of laboratory Karelian Forest Institute of KRC

Sinkevich Sergey Senior researcher Karelian Forest Institute of KRC

Sokolov Aleksandr Head of laboratory Karelian Forest Institute of KRCKlementyev Evgeny Senior researcher Institute of History of KRC

Pitukhin Aleksandr Dean Petrozavodsk State University

Filipchouk Andrey Deputy director ARICFR

Ptichnikov Andrey Forest officer WWF Russian programme office, Moscow

Myllynen Anna-Liisa Environmental manager, wood import, Enso Ltd.

Poikonen Pasi Assistant coordinator, Indufor Ltd. (representative of the Ministry of

Agriculture and Forestry of Finland)

Kolstrцm Taneli Dean, professor University of Joensuu

Leinonen Timo Division manager Forest and Environment Group Ltd.

Saastamoinen Olli Associate professor University of Joensuu

Kotimдki Tuomo Project manager Finnish Forest and Park Service

Torniainen Tatu Project officer University of Joensuu

Turkki Petri Project officer Forest and Environment Group Ltd.

Turpeinen Vдinц Vice-director Hame Polytechnic

Valonen Ilkka Project officer Forest and Environment Group Ltd.

APPENDIX 2

Time: 28 May 1998 between 15:30 - 18:00

Place: Village Matrosy, training base of the Petrozavodsk State University

Participants: Members of the Steering Committee meeting

Gurev Vladimir, head of local administration

Workers of the training base

5. In conclusion, Josif Skadorva said that, considering the framework of the project, it is difficult to solve problems such as unemployment and fuel-wood procurement. If the water mains cannot be built with the assistance of the project, Matrosy village can ask for help from the construction committee (Ministry of Economic). In accordance with the confirmation of the Government of the Republic of Karelia, forest resources can be allocated for financing this kind of building project.