Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In Sweden strategic forest management planning is traditionally conducted to optimize decisions about sustainable harvest levels while taking into consideration legislation and policy issues (Andersson, 2005).
In North-Western Russia, however, 10-year strategic plan is considered as a basis of forest management in state forests, embracing all the decisions about forestry activities needed. The most important point in making strategic plans is derivation of annual allowable cut. The aim of this paper is to dissect particular aspects of forest
management planning of North-Western Russia and Sweden, i.e. level structure, decision-making and drivers behind forest management decisions, thus giving the insight into differences these countries' planning procedures make.
This is to be revealed by describing their planning approaches touching upon data gathering, usage of computerized support systems, technical calculations of cutting levels; and by analyzing and comparing their planning levels, processes of decision-making as well as drivers behind decisions taken in order to get a broad overview of key points influencing decision-making in forestry.
In order to get an insight into forest management planning of Russia and Sweden two regions are looked at: North-Western Russia and Götaland region (Sweden) which is within operational area of Swedish State-owned forest company Sveaskog.
Russian planning practice is somewhat rigid and a bit overloaded with technical calculations and it is not always convenient to compile so much information at a single level.
Market mechanisms proved to be crucial for profitability of forestry in Sweden. Having laid foundations for market economy, Russia still ought to put far more emphasis on developing forest market mechanisms in order to put them into real action. In no way can Forest Management Planning Package be applicable in Russia now. Assurance of stable timber supply over time is believed to be beneficial in Russia.
A striking difference between the two countries is in decision making – not only is a process of taking decisions various, but also concept of decision itself as well as role of decision-maker in planning make a great difference. Swedish decision-maker is given a wider space for taking an action.