VIRGIN AND OLD-GROWTH : SAVING THE NATURAL TREASURE Round table in The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev December 7, 2016

Old-growth and virgin protection

by Hans D. Knapp

Knapp, Old-growth and virgin forest protection, Kiev, December 7, 2016

1 – Why virgin and old-growth forests must be protected?

2 – Situation in the Carpathians

3 – Conclusions & recommendations The world‘s forests cover 34 % of the terrestrial surface of the Earth (polar & alpine regions 25 %, deserts 15 %, grasland 26 %)

Temperate forests: * Boreal (38 % of forest cover) * Nemoral (20 %) Tropical/Subtropical * Meridional forests (38 %) * Austral Ecological functions of forest cover:

* Production of by photosynthesis * Building of soil and akkumulation of humus * Storage of carbon * Cooling by transpiration * Regulation of water supply * part and hotspot of „biodiversity“ Forests are:

* Dynamic and „resilient“ system * Adapted to special climate incl. „border conditions“ for forests

Old-growth forests are important carbon stores Forests of the nemoral zone are worldwide strongly reduced, remaining forests are changed by to artificial structures

Spruce in Germany Changes of cover in recent time – growing pressure by industrial exploitation worldwide

Forest destruction and degradation of ecosystem functions in global scale The change from forest wilderness to cultural landscapes and the degradation of forests in the past was a condition for the development of our civilization The Protection of the remaining ancient forests is a condition for the persistence of civilization today

The Protection of the remaining ancient forests is a condition for the persistence of civilization today Protection of virgin forests – Starting point of in US National parks…

Sequoiodendron giganteum

…and in Russian Zapovedniks as well Early case of ancient beech forest protection in Germany 1850 Großherzog Georg von Mecklenburg-Strelitz decided to protect an ancient beech forest close to Feldberg as „sacred halls“.

„Heilige Hallen“, The oldest beech forest of Germany 1908

Slovakia – Pioneer of primeval forest research in Europe 2003 Conference in Mukachevo/Ukraine „Natural forests…“ Discussion about the virgin forests of the Carpathians…

Starting point for research with focus to the value of old-growth forests and European cooperation for World Heritage nomination Uholka… Is the largest component part of the trilateral UNESCO World Heritage Site „Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Ancient Beech Forests of Germany“ Extension nomination of European beech forests January 2016

Important contribution from Ukraine

30 components in 11 countries Albania 2 Austria 2 Belgium 1 Bulgaria 1 (9) Croatia 1 Italy 5 (8) Poland 1 Romania 6 (10) Slovenia 2 Spain 3 (6) Ukraine 6

Knapp, Old-growth and virgin forest protection, Kiev, December 7, 2016

1 – Why virgin and old-growth forests must be protected?

2 – Situation in the Carpathians

3 – Conclusions & recommendations The Beech Forest Regions of Europe

Carpathian BFR High value 8 Carpathian BFR – Romania, S Carpathians The remaining stock of beech forests in Europe – 216,000 km²

83% are located in 4 Beech Forest Regions:

8 – Carpathian BFR (32%) 68,907 km² 4 – Moesian-Balcanic BFR 38,436 km² 5 – Subatlantic-Hercynic BFR 37,705 km² 3 – Illyric BFR 33,828 km² The Carpathians 2007

Transnational cluster Slovakia/Ukraine

Criterion (ix), core zone 29.279 ha, buffer zone 48.693 ha 8 Carpathian BFR – Slowakia, Havešova Strict Vihorlat Landscape Protected Area change from old-growth to mono- structured beech forests Vihorlat LPA by shelterwood system Poloniny National Park „Conservation cutting“ Germany – „sustainable forestry“ in NATURA 2000 Romania Dramatic change of tree cover between 2001 and 2014 Romania - Clear cut for profit

https://www.greenpeace.de/themen/waelder/kahlschlag-fuer-profit Virgin forest wilderness Sinca forest Primeval structure beech fir Destruction of virgin forest 2016 Forest destruction in large scale Romania, Fagarash Regional development with EU subsidies ? Erosion up to 10,000 m³/km „sanitary cutting“ for „forest protection“ Legal or illegal – the same result http://wilderness-society.org/special-report- -in-romania/ Ukraine Ukraine has the largest primeval beech forest area, certified as a part of the World Natural Heritage Site

Uholka, UA Carpathian National Park, small stand of virgin forest The reamining virgin and OGF are a national treasure of highest value Knapp, Old-growth and virgin forest protection, Kiev, December 7, 2016

1 – Why virgin and old-growth forests must be protected?

2 – Situation in the Carpathians

3 – Conclusions & recommendations 1 – Deciduous forests of the temperate zone are reduced by historical cuttings and changed in structure by traditional and current forest use.

Old-growth and virgin forests in Europe are nearly lost. 2 – Virgin and OGF play an important role for climate protection because of their ecosystem services… 3 – Every exploitation of timber in virgin and OGF is a degradation and finally a destruction of the natural ecosystem 4 – NATURA 2000 and other managed PA categories are not able to protect virgin and OGF 5 – Protection of virgin and OGF and „sustainable forestry“ in the same stand is an illusion. OGF protection has to exclude every timber use. 6 – Privatisation and licenses for exploitation are the most serious threat for virgin and OGF. 7 – Be careful with announcements of so called „modern technology“, investments in infrastructure, road construction… 8 - Road con-struction is the beginning of virgin and OGF de-struction 9 - Virgin and old-growth forests are of irreplaceble value, because the can not „made“. They are too valuable for planks and shredder for pellets. 10 -The remaining virgin and old-growth forests are treasures of national and global importance. They have to be seriuosly protected as wilderness without any interventions Thank you very much for your attention