2017年-世界发展银行全球_Turkey_Forest_Policy_Note_112页_5mb

Summary of the Turkish Forestry Sector and Sustainable Forest Management

Core Content

This document provides an in-depth analysis of the Turkish Forestry Sector, focusing on its structure, policy, legal framework, management practices, and socio-economic implications. It also highlights the international context of forestry and sustainable forest management (SFM), the role of the private sector, and the challenges and opportunities for improving SFM in Turkey. The World Bank and FAO, in collaboration with Turkish consultants and local stakeholders, have conducted a comprehensive review of the sector, emphasizing the need for improved governance, policy alignment, and sustainable practices.

Main Policy and Strategic Documents

• The National Development Plan (Ministry of Development) defines the general policy.
• The National Forestry Program (2004–2023), Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (2013–2017), and General Directorate of Forestry's Strategic Plan (2013–2017) are key policy documents.
• The strategic plan of the General Directorate of Forestry (GDF) outlines four main objectives:
  • Protecting forests and biodiversity against pests.
  • Developing and expanding forests.
  • Meeting public expectations for forest goods and services.
  • Ensuring institutional development for sustainable forest management.

Legal Framework

• The Forest Law (1956) is the primary legislation, addressing forest definition, management, protection, and ownership.
• The law states that all forests are under state control, and ownership cannot be transferred.
• It lacks provisions for non-wood forest products (NWFPs) and sustainable forest management (SFM).
• The Constitution reinforces the state's control over forests.
• There is a need for updated legislation, including a National Forest Inventory (NFI) and alignment with EU standards.

Forest Institutions

• The General Directorate of Forestry (GDF) is the central institution responsible for most SFM activities.
• It employs 39,028 staff in 2016 and is organized into Regional Directorates, Management Directorates, and Offices of Forest Management Chiefs.
• The GDF also oversees forest protection, afforestation, and forest road development.
• The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (MFWA) includes other directorates such as GDCDE, GDNCNP, GDWM, and GDM.
• The GDF is the only state forest institution in Turkey that operates at a loss and does not pay dividends to the state.

Forest Resources

• Turkey has 22.34 million hectares of forest, which constitutes 28.6% of its land area.
• Forests are 99.9% state-owned, and afforestation has increased the forest area by 2.14 million hectares since 1973.
• The average annual increment is 2.05 m³/ha, lower than the European average of 5.4 m³/ha.
• The Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) is 18–20 million m³, or 44% of the annual increment, compared to 73% in the EU.
• Extraordinary fellings due to pests, disease, or fire average 4–5 million m³ annually.

Forest Management and Planning

• Management plans for national forests were completed between 1963 and 1972, and have been updated periodically.
• Current plans focus on ecological, economic, social, and cultural functions of forests.
• The GDF is responsible for forest management planning.
• Turkey does not have a National Forest Inventory (NFI) and relies on forest management plans for data.
• A pilot NFI project in 2009 laid the groundwork for future national inventory efforts.

Forest Protection and Pest Management

• 12.5 million hectares of forest are located in areas highly sensitive to wildfires.
• The GDF has reduced the first response time to 15 minutes in vulnerable areas.
• 9,156 hectares burned in 2016.
• Turkey faces attacks from 50 harmful insects, leading to substantial losses.
• Sanitary fellings due to biotic factors average 300,000–400,000 m³ annually.
• Biological disease control has been emphasized since 2002.

Socio-economic Functions and Forest Villages

• 7.09 million people live in 22,343 forest villages, making up 9.6% of the national population and 40% of the rural population.
• Outmigration has reduced the population of forest villages from 18 million thirty-five years ago to 7 million.
• Forest villages are supported by the GDF and have preferential treatment in employment and income generation.
• ORKOOP, the Central Union of Forest Villagers Cooperative, supports 2,493 cooperatives and 318,005 members, with 193,255 engaged in forestry.
• Income sources include agriculture, livestock, pensions, and non-forest activities.
• Income diversification is common, with agriculture or livestock being the most popular.
• Household income is 3 times less than the national average.
• Migration is driven by unemployment, marriage, and economic hardship.
• 46% of villages received no support in the last 12 months.

Economic and Environmental Functions

• Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) are a significant resource in Turkey.
• Only 20% of NWFPs are processed, while the rest are exported unprocessed.
• The economic value of NWFPs is estimated at $2.3 per hectare per year, compared to $20.7 in Europe.
• The total economic value (TEV) of forest goods and services in Bolu is $666.3 million, with indirect use values (from ecosystem services) being seven times the direct value.
• Ecosystem services include water regulation, habitat, recreation, and NWFPs, with an estimated $133 per hectare per year.

Climate Change and Biodiversity

• Turkey has committed to climate change mitigation through its INDC.
• The GDF has implemented climate change activities such as afforestation and pest control.
• Biodiversity is a key concern, with the need for a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
• The INDC includes a commitment to forest-based carbon sequestration and reduced emissions.

Private Sector and Certification

• The private sector produces 3.5 million m³ of wood annually, mainly pulp wood for the wood panels sector.
• The GDF is working to develop a PEFC standard for Turkey.
• Forest certification is being expanded, with 2.4 million hectares certified by the FSC in 2014 and a target of 5 million hectares by 2019.
• The EU Timber Regulation and US Lacey Act are important for forest certification and traceability.

Challenges and Opportunities for SFM

• Challenges include:
  • Inadequate forest resource information.
  • Outdated legislation.
  • Limited institutional capacity for NWFPs and ecosystem services.
  • High harvesting costs and lack of modern technology.
  • Insufficient support for forest villages.
  • Limited development of the wood energy sector.
• Opportunities include:
  • Improved forest monitoring and inventory systems.
  • Enhanced stakeholder participation.
  • Development of forest certification.
  • Integration of ecosystem services into economic planning.
  • Support for sustainable utilization of NWFPs.
  • Strengthening the role of the private sector in wood production and innovation.

Conclusion

The Turkish Forestry Sector is a significant contributor to the country's economy and environment, but it faces numerous challenges in terms of sustainability, efficiency, and institutional capacity. There is a clear need for modernization, policy alignment, and enhanced stakeholder involvement to ensure the long-term viability of the sector. The World Bank and FAO have highlighted the importance of SFM in the context of the UN 2030 Agenda and EU strategies, and have called for a more integrated and sustainable approach to managing forest resources.