PEATLAND FORESTRY Where are we now

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PEATLAND FORESTRYWhere are we now?

• Juhani Päivänen
• University of Helsinki
• Feb. 13-15, 2009

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Renewable resource of wood

• Mires and peatlands form an important renewable
  resource of wood.
• This resource is partly actual and even more so
  potential.

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Peatland forestry

• refers to an operational scale forestry
  management on either undrained mires or drained
  peatlands.
• main function with peatland forestry is to grow
  and harvest wood as raw material for any purpose
  beneficial for man.

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Intensity levels of peatland forestry

• Conservation
• Exploitation
• Single tree selection (continuous cover)
• Progressive management

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CONSERVATION

• NON-WOOD BENEFITS
• THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE FORMED BY FORESTS GROWING
  ON PRISTINE MIRES IS NOT USED

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EXPLOITATION

• TREE HARVESTING WITH INADEQUATE TAKE-CARE OF
  REGENERATION
• RISE IN WATER TABLE LEVEL
• REDUCTION IN THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE FORM BY TREE
  STANDS GROWING ON PRISTINE MIRES

Ontario, Canada, Aug. 1980
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Sustainable management in Ontario, Canada
Progressive management in Finland
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Multiple use

• Unlike most other forms of mire utilization (e.g.
  agriculture, peat harvesting), peatland forestry
  does not exclude multiple use of the area.
• Thus in countries following the every man's
  rights (rights of access) the areas drained for
  forestry are open for out-door activities
  including berry and mushroom picking, hiking,
  orienteering etc.
• The areas can also been used for hunting.
  However, the laws controlling hunting privileges
  differ greatly between countries.

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Country-wise preferences

• The intensity of mire utilization for forestry
  varies from country to country depending on the
  abundance and nature of peatlands, the demand for
  raw wood, silvicultural management practices and
  traditions, countryside infrastructure, etc.
• It is assumed that in the political entity
  (province, state or country) there is a legal and
  administrative structure within which decisions
  on peatland utilization can be taken.

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• Total area of mires
• (tropical mires excluded)
• max. 500 mill. ha
• min. 400 mill. ha

• Drained for forestry
• 3.0
• 3.8