Differences in forest management practices in Primorsky Krai: Case study of certified and non-certified by Forest Stewardship Council forest concessions

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) aims to promote environmentally responsible forest management globally. However, quantifiable evidence of effects of FSC on forest management practices is lacking. FSC has been present in the Russian forestry arena for over 20 years. In this case study, we compare ecological indicators of forest management in FSC-certified and non-certified companies in Primorsky Krai of the Russian Far East. Those indicators include percent of forest cover loss and gain on forest concessions managed by three certified and three non-certified companies. We also interview a range of stakeholders involved with forest management or in forest policy planning in Russia to provide context for this case study. Results indicate no difference between certified and non-certified companies with regard to forest cover loss from 2008 to 2015 or forest cover gain from 2000 to 2012. Stakeholder interviews reveal that while forest certification is viewed positively and considered an efficient mechanism to improve forest management, the stakeholders doubt its ability to stimulate quantifiable changes in forest management practices in Russia and the Far East specifically. We focus on Primorsky Krai because of its unique geographic location, where its neighbors China and Japan significantly influence Primorsky Krai’s export market.     

Problems and Countermeasures to Timber Trade between China and Russian Far East Region

The shortfall of timber resource in China constantly keeps about 150 million m3, which mainly relies on import to fill in the gap. However, Russia, the key timber supply state of China, has encouraged the development of its national intensive timber processing and therefore the Russian Far East Region started to gradually restrict log export. To this end, this paper analyzes the situation of forest industry and timber production in Russian Far East and discusses the current status and existing problems in timber trade between Russian Far East and China. At the end, the paper presents policy recommendation for future timber trade between Russian Far East and China and views their forestry cooperation prospect.     

Prospects of forest road infrastructure development in northwest Russia with proven Nordic solutions

This paper analyses the situation with forest roads in Russia in the context of harvesting, transportation, forest management and forest fire prevention. Russia harvests less than 30% of its allowable harvest potential. Forest fires burn volumes which are equal to half of the annual harvest. One reason is the insufficient density and quality of forest roads. The average density of roads is less than 1.5 m/ha, which is one-tenth of that in Nordic countries. We argue that better access to the forests, utilizing the technology transfer of the proven Nordic forest road solutions (NFRS) under local conditions, might have important effects on the strategy-making processes in forest infrastructure development in northwest Russia. For this purpose, A'WOT analysis is proposed to identify the related strategies and assign priorities to those strategies. According to this study undertaken in Karelia, where NFRS were introduced over 10 years ago, the top priorities regarding the relevant threats are the lack of legal framework under forest land leasing and the low profitability of forestry. The results indicate that the NFRS are viewed positively for the Russian conditions. The forest road market has virtually unlimited opportunities for growth. Together with a favourable policy in terms of national and regional development programmes it can support forest infrastructure development. Forest fire prevention, multiple uses of woodlands, and different environmental service markets are seen as potential opportunities for NFRS. However, the results also indicate that there is substantial uncertainty and scepticism concerning how such markets would be of benefit to leaseholders who would like to adopt intensive forestry.     

俄罗斯森林资源与木材生产分析

根据俄罗斯森林资源与木材生产发展状况, 探讨了俄罗斯森林资源的特点, 总结了俄罗斯木材生产面临的主要问题, 提出了俄罗斯林产品的品种和产量走势, 分析了俄罗斯森工行业和木材生产的发展机遇, 展望了中俄森林资源合作开发与林产品贸易和林业双边合作的发展前景。     

国外国有林面临的问题与对策

作者着重就当今国外国有林的经济危困、产生的原因及对策进行了综合分析研究。日本、德国等一些国家当今均面临着经济危困的窘境, 其原因主要是管理体制不善、管理费用大、木材价格和增长指数低、森林向多效益经营方向转移、受进口木材的冲击等。一般是采取体制改革、精简机构、调整政策、经济扶持、开辟新财源等对策, 来摆脱经济上的困境。本文可为寻求摆脱我国国有林的"两危"对策提供借鉴。     

俄罗斯森林资源产品流动及其变化特征分析

对1992-2007年俄罗斯的森林资源产品流动及其变化特征进行了分析, 得知其流动呈现出快速增长趋势, 但仍有很大的潜力可以挖掘; 俄罗斯的森林资源产品产量、经济状况、政策对其森林资源产品流动的影响较大, 与其他国家的经济合作状况对其森林资源产品流动影响也较大。随着俄罗斯对森林资源政策的调整及与合作伙伴对森林资源的开发合作, 其在未来世界森林资源产品市场, 尤其是在东北亚市场中将占有特殊重要的地位。     

国有森工企业组织结构影响因素的AHP分析

随着市场经济体系的逐步完善,沿袭多年的国有森工企业组织结构已跟不上时代的发展,改革势在必行。本文通过对吉林、黑龙江国有林区几个典型林业局的实际调研,采用层次分析法（AHP）对其组织结构的影响因素进行了定性和定量分析。结果表明,天保工程禁伐政策、国有林生态优先发展政策、企业管理水平是影响国有森工企业组织结构的关键因素。根据分析结果,提出了国有森工企业组织结构改革的政策与建议。     

木材市场价格变化对森林资源资产经营的影响分析

在对福建埔上国有林场自1995年以来的杉木价格变动趋势分析的基础上,以具有代表性的一般杉木中径材经营类型生长指标并结合有关技术经济指标,计算市场销售木材保本价格,据以分析木材价格变动对森林资源资产经营的影响,为森林经营者经营决策提供借鉴。     

试论东北内蒙古国有林区森工企业的森林资源危机与经济危困问题

我国东北、内蒙古国有林区经过40年的建设和发展, 已步入了重要的转折时期, 其主要表现为: 森工企业的森林资源危机和经济危困。本文从森林资源的内涵意义入手, 阐述了"两危"的本质特征、表现形式; "两危"形成的必然性及其发展前景, 分析了林业经济建设必须遵循自然规律和经济规律, 协调资源、人口与社会经济的发展, 为缓解东北、内蒙古国有林区"两危"提供理论依据。     

Assessment of motivation and attitudes of forest industry companies toward forest certification in northwestern Russia

This study explores for the first time the attitudes and motivation associated with forest certification among forest industry companies in northwestern Russia. Interviews were carried out in the form of a structured questionnaire including 35 forest industry companies operating in northwestern Russia. Although development of certification in individual companies was initiated by general market demand, representatives of certified companies also emphasized the importance of internal corporate policy. Certified and noncertified groups of respondents identified market demand as a main driving force influencing development of forest certification. Ensuring the legality of wood origin, company's image and competitiveness of wood products were recognized as the most important benefits associated with forest certification. Absence of mandatory requirements from authorities and customers appeared to be the largest obstacle among both groups of respondents. Representatives of noncertified companies pointed out economic inaccessibility and low level of preparedness of management as of high importance, which is mainly associated with absence of quality management system. The results of the study indicated a general positive attitude on forest certification; it was noticed that respondents have gaps in understanding the principles and limited awareness with regards to forest certification, especially among noncertified forest industry companies.     

加强中俄森林资源贸易、开发与合作

介绍了中俄森林资源概况.随着中俄经贸关系的发展,中俄林产品贸易一直呈上升势态.文章分析了中俄经贸中的障碍因素:俄罗斯尚未加入世贸组织存在制度差异;环境障碍方面俄方市场意识淡薄、通关手续繁杂、社会治安环境堪忧;观念障碍方面对中国存有疑虑、我国赴俄投资企业内部存在诸多不足.提出了今后加强中俄森林资源贸易、开展与合作的建议.     

甘肃经济林产业持续发展对策

持续发展成为甘肃经济林产业发展迫切需要应对的问题.应迅速调整甘肃经济林树种布局和品种结构;立足区域优势,发展特色产品;不断加强基地建设,扩大经营规模;依靠先进技术,保障优质丰产;完善政策扶持机制,发挥龙头企业引领带动作用;提高科学经营管理水平,加快产业化进程;全面推进甘肃经济林产业的持续发展.     

工业化国家的林业产业政策

工业化国家林业产业当前面临的主要问题是环境污染对大面积森林构成的严重危胁和对分散的私有林无法进行现代化经营。此外,尚有财政危机和某些国家的林产品过度依赖进口等问题。在90年代,甚至更长的时期内,发达国家林业产业政策的调整方向是,保护和改造现有林,通过实施分类经营战略发挥森林的多种效益,兼用行政和经济手段引导私有林的发展,进一步调整林产品结构和大力发展木材培育业。     

中国森林认证产销监管链标准与《欧盟木材法》关于合法性的比较分析

2010年颁布的《欧盟木材法》要求所有进入欧盟市场的木材产品都必须具有合法性,而我国则在2012年出台了关于森林认证的2个国家标准——《GB/T 28951-2012中国森林认证森林经营》和《GB/T 28952-2012中国森林认证产销监管链》。文中通过对《欧盟木材法》和中国森林认证产销监管链标准关于木材合法性的比较分析提出,开展产销监管链认证或尽职调查是应对《欧盟木材法》的一种现实选择,但林产品外贸企业应以《欧盟木材法》实施为契机,进一步加强对林产品供应链的监管以确保木材来源的合法性,提升经营管理水平。     

The formation of small-scale forestry in countries with economies in transition: Observations from Lithuania

Lithuania has been undergoing a transition from one political culture (based on a centrally planned economy and a one-party system) to a radically different political culture (market economy and a democratic political system). After the declaration of independence in Lithuania, some new phenomena emerged in forestry: the privatisation of forest industry, the formation of a free timber market; increasing timber export levels; and new modes of ownership (private forests) and enterprise (private business logging companies). Private forest owners control approximately 680,000 ha of forest, 33% of the total forest area, projected to increase to 40–45% in the future. Small-scale private forestry is developing in Lithuania but there is a lack of information about the objectives and problems of private forest owners. This paper presents the main results of a survey carried out in 2004 by the Lithuanian Forest Research Institute. The most important forest ownership objectives are firewood production for home consumption, income generation from wood and non-wood product sales, and protection of nature and biodiversity. The main problems for private forest owners are that the forest properties are too small to achieve efficiency, owners lack money for silviculture activities and there is a heavy bureaucratic system for forest-related activity documentation. A cluster analysis of respondents’ ratings of importance for various forest management objectives reveals four groups of private forest owners. These groups are named according to their dominant management objective, as multi-objective owners, businessmen, consumers and ecologists.     

森林认证与中国木材产品市场

森林认证作为促进森林可持续经营的一种市场机制已经在世界范围内广泛开展 ,特别是欧洲和北美国家的消费者普遍要求在市场上销售的木材产品应贴有经过认证的标签 ,以证明他们所购买的木材产品源自可持续经营的森林。因此 ,中国的森林经营认证和林产品的产销监管链认证 (绿色标签 )对于促进森林的可持续经营 ,稳定企业现有产品市场份额 ,进入新市场具有重要意义。     

中俄两国森林资源现状与木材供求前景分析

俄罗斯森林资源十分丰富,并且主要集中在俄罗斯远东西伯利亚地区。中国对森林资源需求旺盛,并已成为重要的木材消费大国和进口大国。在系统研究中俄两国森林资源状况与木材需求现状的基础上指出,随着经济的发展与环保压力的增加,未来中俄两国在森林资源利用和木材贸易方面将呈现旺盛的发展态势,并认为中国和俄罗斯两国政府和企业将在未来林业经贸合作过程中发挥重要作用。     

From logging frontier towards sustainable forest management: experiences from boreal regions of North-West Russia and North Sweden

This article describes the transformation of old-growth forest to managed forests, in North (N) Sweden and boreal regions of North-West (BNW) Russia, from economic, social and ecological perspectives. Whereas in BNW Russia, the logging frontier could be kept moving into unharvested regions, N Sweden earlier had to develop solutions where large-scale logging had already taken place. In 1950–1990, Swedish strategies included rationing of old forest, effective regeneration and also precommercial and commercial thinning. Supporting means were legislation, government-funded subsidies and collaboration among enterprises, researchers and political leaders. BNW Russia is currently facing similar challenges and N Swedish experiences should be analysed and used where applicable. In N Sweden, a too low proportion of representative productive old forests remains, but in the last decades, N Swedish forests exempted from economic use have been significantly increased. Ongoing discussions of also defining areas with more intensive forest management would lead to a zoning, bearing some resemblance to the Russian system, in use since 1943. Russian experience should, therefore, be of interest to Swedish forest policy-makers. Both countries have problems with rural social issues. Both can benefit from collaboration on these aspects of sustainable forest management.     

The Policy Issues in Lin'an Modei Forest of China

Based on the analysis on policy such as property rights, tax and administration fee, harvesting and circulation of forest products in Lin 'an Modei Forest, some policy issues in the development of Lin 'an Model Forest towards sustainable forest management were raised: (1) The level of timber tax and fee is quite high and there are many kinds of taxes and fees such as fees for forest silviculture, forestry maintenance, forest protection, city construction, town-service, additional fee for education and others, value-added tax, taxfor special products of agriculture andforestry. (2) Coefficient of input and output for Bamboo shoot is 23.8 times than that for timber. (3) Some comments on the policy were changed in the development of modei forest such as compensation on the ecological benefit offorest, adjustment of tax and fees-collection policy for forest products, systematic management on transferring the right of land use, and integrated policy for production, processing and marketing of forest products