Methods of Research


The data from Subprojects 1-3 as well as from the Subproject under consideration will be used to achieve the Goal. The system of grades is planned to be used for ecological forest certification with respect to the existing criteria for conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests.The proposed system of ecological certification is shown in Fig.1.The scheme includes 6 internationally-recognised criteria for temperate and boreal forests and main types of land use which are currently in use in Russian Karelia:
  1. Final cutting-a)clear-cutting;b)partial cutting;c)progressive cutting;
  2. Intermediate use-a)thinning;b)severance cutting;c)salvage cutting.
Each criterion and forest-use type is evaluated by a 4-grade system: Grade 0-zero ecological certificate; grade 1-minimum ecological certificate; grade 2-medium ecological certificate; grade 3-high ecological certificate. Total ecological certificate is given with account of all the 6 criteria as to the medium grade. When one of the criteria is evaluated as "zero",then the total certificate is considered as non-corresponding to sustainable forest management.When one of the criteria is evaluated as 1,then the value of the certificate doubles as to the medium one. 0-zero certificate; grade 0.5-1.5-certificate does not correspond to sustainable-development principle; grade 1.6-2.0-the certificate shows the low level of sustainable management of forests; grade 2.1-3.0-the certificate corresponds to sustainable forest management. Grade evaluation (criterion 1) is given as an example:Biodiversity conservation. Criterion 1-BIODIVERSITY. Grade 0-forests are used in the area where it is prohibited to do cutting according to legislative and standard regulations.(E.g.:clear-cutting in strictly protected areas). Grade 1-biodiversity is damaged. Under clear-cutting,trees with cavities and rotten wood are not left behind.Under partial cutting,forest stand structure does not correspond to conservation standards on biodiversity. Grade 2-biodiversity is conserved but insufficiently. Under clear-cutting,stand components are left for biodiversity conservation but their size is less than standard.Under partial cutting,the stand structure changes which threatens biodiversity conservation. Grade 3-Biodiversity is fully conserved (in accordance with the standards). To develop the grade system,scientific feasibility study is needed for establishing ecological standards for each criterion and type of forest use.The second important step is re-evaluate the existing standards and legislative acts on forest management.

Back to Subproject 5 Home Page