2021-08-13-联合国-Forest_Landscape_Restoration_in_Eastern_and_South-East_Europe_85页_7mb

Forest Landscape Restoration in Eastern and South-East Europe: Key Findings and Recommendations

Background

• Focus Countries: 17 nations in Eastern and South-East Europe grouped into Eastern Europe, EU, Balkan, and Turkey.
• Objectives: Assess forest degradation drivers, restoration potential, and alignment with initiatives like the Bonn Challenge under the Ministerial Roundtable.
• Methods: Literature review, online survey with national experts, and a Belgrade workshop (Dec 2019).

Forest Overview

• Forest Cover: Varies from 43% (Montenegro) to 62% (Slovenia).
• Degradation: Caused by climate change (drought, pests, fires), infrastructure, and land-use change.
• Restoration Trends: Minimal net forest area increase over two decades; afforestation efforts declined post-2010 in many countries.
• Drivers: Climate change exacerbates risks like fires and insect outbreaks. Rural depopulation and funding shortages hinder restoration.

Country-Level Insights

Eastern Europe (Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine)

• Belarus: Faces drought, pests, and groundwater depletion. Restores 50,000-150,000 ha by 2030.
• Moldova: Prioritizes afforestation and riparian restoration, targets 160,000 ha.
• Ukraine: Aims for 2,000 ha/year afforestation but needs funding.

EU Countries

• Bulgaria: Focuses on natural regeneration and fire mitigation, expects 40,000 ha natural expansion by 2030.
• Hungary: Plans to increase cover to 27% by 2030.
• Poland: Targets 400,000 ha afforestation by 2035.

Balkan Countries (Albania, Bosnia-H, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia)

• Forest fires dominate degradation in Albania, Serbia, etc.
• Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia plan 3,000 ha, 5,000 ha, and 5,000 ha/year restoration, respectively.
• Montenegro prioritizes stand quality over expansion.

Turkey

• Forest cover 29.2% (significant compared to region).
• Restores 600,000 ha by 2030; afforestation is a key strategy.

Key Recommendations

1. Adopt a landscape approach to integrate forestry with agriculture, energy, and urban planning.
2. Strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and combat illegal logging.
3. Scale up climate-resilient restoration projects, including natural regeneration.
4. Enhance monitoring, data collection, and public awareness.

Challenges

• Funding Constraints: Many countries lack financial and technical resources.
• Policy Gaps: Conflicts between sectors (e.g., agriculture, mining) hinder implementation.
• Climate Change: Increasing frequency of fires, droughts, and diseases.

Conclusion

• Restoration potential is considerable, though largely underfunded.
• FLR can address multiple Sustainable Development Goals and contributes to global climate efforts under initiatives like the Bonn Challenge.
• Regional collaboration and adaptive management are critical for success.