Forest certification map of Europe

Maesano M; Ottaviano M; Lidestav G; Lasserre B; Matteucci G; Scarascia Mugnozza G; Marchetti M

doi:10.3832/ifor2668-011

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry (Aug 2018)

Forest certification map of Europe

Maesano M,
Ottaviano M,
Lidestav G,
Lasserre B,
Matteucci G,
Scarascia Mugnozza G,
Marchetti M

Affiliations

Maesano M: National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (ISAFOM), v. Cavour, 4-6 I-87036 Rende, CS (Italy)
Ottaviano M: Department of Bioscience and Territory (DiBT), University of Molise, c.da Fonte Lappone snc, I-86090 Pesche, IS (Italy)
Lidestav G: Department of forest resource management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), 90183 Umeå (Sweden)
Lasserre B: Department of Bioscience and Territory (DiBT), University of Molise, c.da Fonte Lappone snc, I-86090 Pesche, IS (Italy)
Matteucci G: National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (ISAFOM), v. Patacca 85, I-80056 Ercolano, NA (Italy)
Scarascia Mugnozza G: Department of Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest System (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, v. San Camillo de Lellis, I-01100 Viterbo, VT (Italy)
Marchetti M: Department of Bioscience and Territory (DiBT), University of Molise, c.da Fonte Lappone snc, I-86090 Pesche, IS (Italy)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2668-011
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 526 – 533

Abstract

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Forests cover nearly 40% of European land, with different country percentage and patchy distribution. The European forestry sector highlights that forest areas have different ownership: private (by firms, individual, or organizations) and public (State, communities or municipalities). The number of forestry holdings, size of landholding, and ownership types influence and drive forest management, governance and various other socio-economic linked issues. Moreover, forest owners determine management objectives and policies which influence the application of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices. Several tools were developed to promote SFM, including forest certification. Numerous forest certification schemes are present across the world but the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are those prevalent. However, a map of certified forests is lacking, although mapping would be essential to locate the percentage of forest that are certified to be sustainably managed. The study mapped forest certification across 43 European states, according to 499 FSC and 284 PEFC reports and assessed the proportion of certified forest area on public and private land and the rate of increase. This research was carried out collecting information on European certified forest companies/owners and locating geographically their forests at sub-national level (regions, NUTS 2). The database of the Joint COST Action FACESMAP/UNECE/FAO was an important data source. At European level, about six percent of the forest is certified under FSC scheme, while about seven percent under PEFC scheme. As forest certification is a useful tool to manage forests aiming at the integration of economic, ecological and social sustainability, the knowledge of the location and area of certified forest in Europe could be important in motivating decision makers to increase these sustainably managed areas.

Published in iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

ISSN: 1971-7458 (Online)
Publisher: Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (SISEF)
Country of publisher: Italy
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Forestry
Website: https://iforest.sisef.org

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