Strategy for the Development of the Forestry and Pastures Sector in Albania

THE STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORESTRY AND PASTURES SECTOR IN ALBANIA 1. Introduction. In the implementation of the government program and the instructions of the President of our Republic, that emphasize the urgent need to re-examine the long term strategy of development of forest and pasture sector, DGFP has worked in order to a more complete strategy of this sector. The re-examination of the strategy of the development of forest and pastures is conditioned on the difficult situation of this sector created after 90’s.The activity of this sector, which, however, occupies more than 50% of our country’s area need essential changes in the management as well as in controlling which should be in accordance with the governmental policy for this sector and for the environment on the whole. The last decision of our government for strengthening and functioning of the public benefits from forests and pastures and the temporary prohibition of commercial logging of forest resources makes necessary the re-examination and making the strategy contemporary for the development of forestry and pasture sector. The strategy for the development of the forestry and pasture sector aims at ensuring the management, sustainable and multifunctional development of forestry and pasture resources in accordance with the aimed governmental policies in this sector. The continuous conservation, the rational usage and the right estimation of the public benefits of forests and pasture in accordance with the interests of the different layers of the society are realized through a sustainable multifunctional management . It needs to be coordinated with the global and regional strategies which are linked and conditioned by the protection and sustainable management of natural recourses ( forests and pastures). The strategy for the development of the forestry and pasture sector is prepared based on the socio economic development of our country, reduction of poverty in rural areas, essential changes that have taken place and will concerning the demographic movement and the need for a multifunctional estimate of forestry and pasture resources where we could distinguish : Forests as an energy source, as a source of biomass and prior productions, as a source of biological diversity and carbon sequestration etc. The strategy determines the main directions of the activities in the next 25 years. It makes up a national program for forests and pastures, a number of 1 actions which will be carried out in the next 10 years, in collaboration with the partners. 2. The Importance of a Forestry and Pastures Strategy. The forest and pasture strategy is a document which determines the long term strategy directions for the development of the forestry and pasture sector. For the realization of the strategy objectives, embodied in the action plan, it is aimed to re-establish and restore the natural balance of forestry and pasture resources, a sustainable management of the forestry and pasture production systems and also ensuring an optimal contribution to the forestry and pasture sector, a general economic growth, reduction of poverty and sustainable development of Albania. In the new integration stage of Albania into European structures after a period of over harvesting, overgrazing and a mismanagement of forestry and pasture resources because of political and socio-economic motives reasons, it is important to draw up a new strategy for the development of forestry and pasture sector, which will separate it from transition stage. This strategy is also important because of: • Providing the basic orientation for the structure and development of public institutions and agencies that will guide the implementation of the sector program. • Underscoring the linkages and fundamental importance of the forestry and pasture sector for meeting the development objectives of other sectors-agriculture, animal husbandry, energy, water, rural, development and tourism-thereby facilitating the improvement of cross sectoral planning and program coordination in our country. • Contributing in the growth of awareness of higher level governmental authorities, communities that make use of the forestry and pasture resources , of the public in general to clearly understand the potential contribution of forestry and pasture sector to the national development and thereby support it with the necessary policy, authority and financial resources. • Facilitating support of the international agencies for the forestry and pasture sector, that are interested in the forestry and pastures development of this sector and taking into account this support not only in national plan but also in global and regional one. • Stimulating public forestry sector staff to perform their job well because they can see that they are part of the bigger effort and initiatives for the development of forestry and pasture sector. • Contributing in overcoming the difficulties, among the private sector that might stifle positive investments and stimulating initiatives which have to do with the sustainable management of forest and pasture resources. 2 • Providing a legal, monitor, assessment framework which allows the measuring and adjusting of management as circumstances change, which progress in achieving political goals. 3. Institutional Partners in the Forestry and Pastures Sectors. The institutions below are partners in implementing the Forest and Pasture Sector Strategy. Taking into account the mission of each institution ,specific roles of the institutions need to be agreed upon in relation to strategic objectives. Additionally, available resources need to be identified for the strategy implementation and institutional capacity-building. 3.1 Domestic Partners. • General Directorate of Forests and Pastures, Ministry of Agriculture and Food. • Ministry of Environment • Ministry of Local Government and Decentralization • Ministry of Territory Regulation and Tourism • Ministry of Economy • Ministry of Finance • Stakeholders interested in the utilization of forests and private partners. • Faculty of Forestry Sciences - UBT • Forest and Pasture Research Institute. • Technical Forestry Training School- Shkodra. • Non-governmental organization/NGO-s. 3.2 International Partners. • World Bank. • The governments of Italy and Switzerland. • United States Agency for International Development ( USAID). • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). • Other institutions which will contribute to the realization of the strategy objectives. 4. The Forestry and Pastures Strategy in the Framework of the Global and Regional Ones. Protection of natural resources and nature as a whole has been for decades an important argument for the whole civilized world. This is proved by the large number of Conventions/agreements signed by most of the countries including here even Albania. For this, we can mention the Convention of biological Diversity in 1994, the strategy of Pan- European biological Diversity and of landscapes which speak about the restoration and management of biological diversity and genetic resources, Euro assembly of 1998 which determined the guides-lines of a sustainable forestry and pastoral policy in 3 close connection with the meeting of needs of the rural population, Agenda of 2000 which provides basic orientations for a Agricultural communitarian Policy which should be much greener etc. In drawing up this strategy, it has been taken into account that or fundamental assumptions of this strategy should be in line with the basic ones of the international conventions. 5. Determination of Priorities. Forests and pastures make up a heritage with values not only for Albania but also for the whole region. This heritage should be protected and managed in that way so that to secure a higher growth development in the future by contributing to the decrease of poverty level without destroying the natural and biotical balance. In the past, including even the transition years, forests have especially been estimated for their economic importance, by underestimating their multiple functional aspect. Their harvesting doesn’t lead to profits only but to losses ( when they are not harvested properly) as those of capabilities for future development which is a result of the degradation and desertification of forestry and pastoral environment. Sustainable management of forestry and pasture resources means a good management and utilization of resources in a way which restores and secures biodiversity, production, regenerative capacities, forestry vitality and potential and for now and in the future it meets the ecological economic and social functions in local, national and global level without causing damages on other ecosystem. The concept of the sustainable management of forest and pasture resources is essentially the same with the general concept of being sustainable. A sustainable development is that which: • In the planning process integrates economic, environmental and social values. • Distributes profits resulting from the right and same implementation according to the socio- economic lagers and gender. • Ensures the same possibilities for a continuous development even for the future generations. The term “being sustainable” is a product of international initiatives which are linked with the “Summit of Earth” (Rio, June 1992) and the Convention on the Sustainable Development and its Continuation. This term is defined and developed by a range of regional and international processes in which there are worked out criteria and indicators of a sustainable development and management. In order to realize this concept, in the present stage, it is required: • Discontinuing of harvesting business for a period at least 10 years by reorganization and continuous progress of controlling. 4 • Continuing the process of the transfer of forests and pastures to then to Communes can have full rights on the ownership. • Protection and rehabilitation of forests and pastures through the increase of investments and incentive of private and collective initiatives. • A sustainable management of forests and pastures by a new strategy for an organized maintaining of forestry products, in all levels. • Establishment of a monitoring system, for following in time of dynamic processes, in forest and pastures and for an available intervention and rehabilitation. • Incentive of individual or collective initiatives for re-forestation of abandoned land. • Restoration, protection and improvement of biological diversity of forestry and pastoral ecosystems. • The relevant restoration and improvement of the protective functions of forest and pasture management (especially land and water quality and quantity protection). • Further attention to other socio-economic function and services and the multiple use of forest and pasture by society for the present and future generation. The implementation of a series of international conventions having objectives in the good utilization and protection of forests and pastures can be achieved only through acceptance and respect of the principles of practice restoration and development of a sustainable development of all sectors which are linked to them. 6. Strategic Principles 6.1 Sustainable management of forestry and pastoral resources. This rises from: • The need of for a better forestry and pasture resources estimate in a multiple use aspect. • Enhancement of popular participation in the maintaining and good management of forests and pastures. • The need for erosion control and the decrease of erosion and desertification. • The need for an efficient utilization of water resources. 5 6.2 The right distribution of profits/benefits which derive from the forestry and pasture resources. This rises from: • The need to enlarge the number of families that profit from the forestry and pastures revenues in order to decrease the level of poverty. • The need for the control decentralization on forests and pastures up to communal family and kinship level. • The need to stick to tradition and culture concerning the good administration of forests. • The need for changes in forestry and pasture structures concerning the ownership, making it like that of the developed countries. • The need to bequeath a forestry, pastoral, vital and strong economy to the future generation. 6.3 Reestablishment of the environmental, ecological integrity of forests and pastures in our country. This comes from: • The necessary support of the general concept on the conservation of natural estate in conformity with the commitments taken in international level, especially through Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, without underestimating other conventions which operate in the forestry and pasture field. 7. Goals of the Ministerial Declaration. In the ministerial declaration for the Review of the Strategy of Forestry and pasture sector two main goals become apparent: • To secure the restoration and protection of the integrity of this natural property and in this frame even the forestry and pastoral biodiversity. • Forestry economy should contribute to the decrease of poverty in rural areas. Also, the ministerial declaration confirms the priorities of the Albanian government for the forest conservation. In this declaration, particular directives are offered to support the development of forest sector and its reformation where we can mention: • Encouragement of the forest and pasture management towards the natural conservation, maintaining the biodiversity and the eco – tourism development. • Rehabilitation of degraded forests, changing them to optimal conditions of the respective of forest site. • Re-determination of work directions according to long – term development concepts for the forests and pastures administration and management. 6 • Providing, a National Program on Forests and Pastures (10 years program) • Continuing the forest and pasture transfer to the local governmental units, a process which increases the role of the Local Government in planning and managing the natural, forest and pasture resources. • Seeking benefit possibilities in the protection, conservation and improvement of forest and pasture resources through governmental programs. • Enhancing the technical and financial collaboration with the international agencies concerning the forest and pasture sector in order to secure investment resources. • Enhancing the leading and managing capacities at the level of local government units and private partners and the development of an effective program of forest extension. • Promotion of retaining revenues through the development of re-creative and tourism possibilities . • Defining the roles and functions of all actors in the forestry and pasture sector and identification of the critical linkages among them. • Improvement of the legal structure of forestry and pasture sector and drafting a new law for forests and pastures. • Accomplishment of reformation process within 2012 year. 8. Strategic goals. Goal 1. Security of territorial, ecological integrity and of forests and pasture biodiversity. Strategic line. Protection of forests by banning the forest harvesting, combining it with the taking of the measures for the restoration, protection and improvement of biodiversity (restoration of forests and forestry land, improvement of the functions in the protection of soil (from erosion) and water and pasture improvement, as well). Objective 1. Conservation of forests through prohibition of commercial logging (which have a profit aim) and illegal cutting, allowing only the cultural cutting of all kinds. Actions: • Prohibition of commercial logging for 10 years. • Reduction of the illegal cutting, as much as possible. • Protection of virgin or almost virgin forests aiming at their complete conservation. Objective 2. Restoration and rehabilitation of forestry and pastoral ecosystems which are damaged and in degradation. Actions: 7 • Work organization by DFS in such a way that the whole high forests area (360000 ha) should be covered by the cultural cutting according to its development stage and silvicultural requirements. • Finding of sponsors for re-forestation of un-regenerated areas with in the high forests in order to use the whole area by the productive forests. • Seeking of sponsors and afforestation of bare areas with pioneers’ sp. to increase the capacity of carbon sequestration in Albanian territory. • Pasture rehabilitation by forage and tree planting according to its fertility stage. Objective 3. Establishment of same state economies with oak regular coppice forests and their scientific management is a base in the protection of oak valuable species and their conversion in to high forest stand. Actions: • Selection of oak forest areas having the appropriate size and species, suitable for their conversion into regular coppice. • Preparation of technical projects and the beginning of their implementation. • Calculation of the actual and perspective annual cutting allowance and carrying out studies for the conversion of these coppice forests. Strategic line. Organization of a modern forestry cadastre as a base for restoration of the forestry stock. Objective 1. Accomplishment and later on, a successful implementation of the data of the National Forest Inventory. Actions: • Adjournment of forestry cadastre with the data of National Forest and Pasture Inventory. • Accomplishment of other secondary operations which accompany the National Forest and Pasture Inventory. • The transfer of the inventory infrastructure to the forest cadastre office. Objective 2. Organization of a modern forestry cadastre. Actions: • A decision should be taken and approved about the re-organization of forestry cadastre which should be updating and it should adjourn and 8 document the forestry property, not only its area and volume but even its value and as a property in all administration levels. • As it is a permanent activity, the forestry cadastre should be carried out by a specialized operative agency in a particular environment, which should be under the DGFP. • The cadastre sector should be equipped with a modern technique like GIS etc. • A possibility should be seen for the insertion of a new subject on forestry cadastre in teaching program of Faculty of Forestry Sciences. Strategic line. Improvement of Management of Protected Areas Objective 1. The effective management of the existing P.A-s and preparation of circumstances for their gradual extension according to the suggestions of the Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plan for the establishment of ECONET Actions: • Approval of the respective network of protected areas which covers approximately 14% of the Albanian territory. Preparation a project-plan, which includes budget scenarios for the effective management and development of the protected areas systems by identifying the areas of higher priorities and criteria for their classification by importance in order to focus attention on their situation as well as define next steps and deadlines for its implementation. • Preparation of management plans for the most important protected areas (e.g. the main national parks). • Initiate the implementation of the management plans for national parks and PA-s for which management plans have already been prepared. • Assessment of the impacts of the management plan implementation. • Reassess/reevaluate the permit and fee system for the national parks and control their implementation. • Seek the support of organizations or international ones for the nature protection (WWF, IUCN, GEF, etc.) and for a developing a biodiversity plan, implementing it in areas with special importance for this purpose. • Implement the action plan for species and habitats. 9 • Implement a wide program on the protection and improvement of biological and scenery/landscape diversity, assigning the local government responsibilities. • Preparation of action plans for species and habitats. • Development of a national plan for the establishment of ecological network, bio-centers, bio-corridors, rehabilitation areas and buffers. • Preparation and development of the pilot projects for the restoration and improvement of biological and scenery/landscape diversity. • Arrange for improving the boundary marking and signage of all protected areas where there are no conflicts over land tenure. • Extension of a representative network in PA-s in order to cover 25% of the Albanian territory. The second step, after the establishment of the above – mentioned network, is the establishment of bio-corridors in order to connect PA-s with one another. Such a process would demand that within 2020, the PA-s network would cover about 25% of the territory which is a remote objective of SPVB. Objective 2. Establishment of the protected areas administration and their training, giving priority to the national parks and to the protected landscape areas in order to implement the management plans of PA-s by the great involvement of community in it. Actions: • Assess the infrastructure, equipment, materials, the personnel and financial needs, and those for qualification and training of staff in order to reach an optimal level for the protection of PA which are considered as prior to. • Establish, as soon as possible, managerial administration and authorities for the protected areas. • Prepare and implement a national program on public awareness about the benefits and importance of the protected areas, particularly in the districts where protected areas exist. • Plan and implement a specialized basic training course for DGFP, DFS assigned to the control and protection of these areas. • Begin to resolve the tenure issues associated with the contested priority protected areas on a case-by-case basis with the involvement of local authorities and stakeholders. • Enlist the NGO support which are interested in PA and define appropriate working relations with them in the area of public 10 awareness raising, environmental education, non-technical voluntary service (anti-litter campaigns and ecological studies) • Application of action plans on species and habitats. Strategic line. Nature protection and eco – tourism promotion. Objective 1. National plan preparation for the tourism development in forest and pastures and in some PA-s categories and its implementation. Actions: • Establish a working group comprised of representatives of DGFP, Ministry of Public Affairs and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, The Territory Planning Commission, REC, NGO-s, to develop a national plan on the development of tourism in forest and pasture areas. This plan includes the development of tourism even in some protected areas, where, according to the law, is allowed the development of relaxing and nature-based recreation activities, in national parks (II-nd category) protected landscape areas(V-th category) and managed resources areas (VI-th category). • Arrange for a professional work in promotion of tourism and ecotourism in or near protected areas, as an important source of securing incomes for the community who live in or near protected areas. • Establish better working contracts and cooperation with native and foreign agencies which operate in our country, for the promotion of tourism and ecotourism in forestry areas, particularly in national parks. Objective 2. Government participation in the support and development of infrastructures, lending and private tourism. Actions: • Develop a model for a concession arrangement with private sector entrepreneurs interested in providing nature-based recreation and tourism services. • The government should give priority to the improvement and development of infrastructures in areas with tourism priority, without which any kind of tourism can not be developed. From this point of view, the government should encourage private entrepreneurs to invest to tourism including the alpine one for which Albania has great potentials. • The government should encourage the bank sector to assist through soft loans the development of family tourism in the remote rural areas that are near the protected areas and have got potential for the development of mountainous tourism. 11 Goal 2. Encouragement and maintance of the sustainable management of forest and pasture resources. Strategic Line. Organization improvement of forestry production process in high forests. Objective 1. Establishment of new production units in high productive forests. Actions: • Organization of state high forest stands into productive units aiming at the security of the process continuity in forestry production at regional level or without taking into consideration the administrative division( 360000 ha, i.e 36 productive units with nearly 10.000 hectares each). • Rigorous management of these production units one in 10 years and prediction of harvesting for a period of 20-40 years based on the continuity principle. Objective 2. Establishment of FRD (Forest regional Directory) Actions: • Joining of these productive units into FRD depending directly on DGFP (after 2009) • Harvesting of production units should be done by the private firms for account of NPE which pay the firms for the carried out work but they are also owners of harvested timber.( Road side auction) Strategic Line. Changes in the administrative and legal framework for the management of productive forests. Objective 1. Establishment of a national unit for forestry management and projections depending directly on DGFP. Actions: • Preparation of the respective law for the establishment of this enterprise and seeking of material possibilities by re-assessing all resources. • The permanent activity of making management plans of productive forests, communal forests and pastures while for private forests these activities will be carried out on payment but it will be the same per area/unit as that of state forests. • The national forest and pasture inventory.(Periodic activity) • Change listing in forestry cadastre. (Permanent activity) 12 • Making of projects in different fields of forests ( according to the state/situation of the given investments ) by its specialists or part timers. Strategic line. Maintenance of scientific research in the function of forest management. Objective 1. Review of guides and regulations. Actions: • Review of the actual guide for the forestry management aiming at making it more understandable and easier for execution. • Preparation of a manual for the forest and pasture management destined to silvo-pastoral use. Objective 2. Completion of the range of dendrometric tables and the raising of the calculating technique level in management. Actions: • Completion of the range of production tables concerning Pinus sp.; Abies sp.; and the review of the existing table. Making production tables in the function of the different intensities of the applied thinning. • Cubature tables completion for other species. • Insertion of modern techniques in all process links of forest management (GIS, GPS, computers programs .etc) Objective 3. Enhancement of scientific level in forestry. Actions: • Raise of Informative Bulletin level of DGFP, making it into a mean, not simply informative but also scientific with editorial staff that should obey all rules which have an unique scientific importance on country scale. • Study of possibilities of supporting the scientific - research work aiming at the concentration of scientific forces, means and funds which have not been sufficient for a small country like Albania. Reflection of new developments in teaching and scientific programs of the Faculty and FPRI. • The Forestry Faculty should address the graduation directions of students in accordance with their employment possibilities in the forestry service. 13 Strategic line. Encouragement of multifunctional use of the forest and pasture resources. Objective 1. Promotion of socio – protective functions of forests. Actions: • Promotion of social function of forest and pastures in connection with protection of the public health, waters, soil and air. • Promotion of protective function of forests and pastures from erosion, landslides, winds, floods and avalanches. • Raising the protective effects of forests from soil, air and water pollution. • Promotion of protective effect for the inhabited places, transport infrastructure, water and power supply, natural, cultural and archeological monuments. • Promotion of recreative and relaxing values. Objective 2. Promotion of the productive potential for non – wood productions. Actions: • Study and promotion of productive potentials of forests and pastures in medical plants and tanifers. • Study of wildlife populations which are hunting targets for the promotion of a rational hunting for sports and tourism goals. • Study of fishing possibilities in waters of forestry fund. • Study of carrying possibilities of forest and pasture fund for the encouragement and development of bee keeping sector. Strategic line. Sustainable use of state pasture stock. Objective 1. Study and determination of the condition, utilization systems, the integrated, multifunctional and sustainable management of pastures. Actions: • Study of the condition and carrying capacities of state and communal pastures without harming the needs of the wild and herbivorous animals. • Study and determination of utilization systems in natural pastures and these basis, there should be determined the management way. 14 • Establishment of particular units in the forestry service for the sustainable use and management of pastures. • A sustainable, qualified, multifunctional administration of pastures by the State. • A sustainable, integrated, multifunctional management of pastures according to a management plan, prepared by the specialist and approved by DGFP. • Identification and evaluation of all productions(biomass, medicinal plants, hunting, ecotourism etc) and revenues which derive from the multifunctional use. • Prohibition of the traditional burning of pastures by the people aiming at the “regeneration” of the herbaceous plants. Objective 2. Work organization for administration and rational evaluation of pastures. Actions: • Review and definition of tariffs according to the zones, economic values and vegetation situation. • Employment of the local community who live in the vicinity of these pastures. • Stimulation of collective or individual initiatives in the improvement of pasture condition/situation. • Investment increase for the improvement of ecological and productive of pasture situation. • Division of the large state massive into large economies ( 500-1000 hectares) and the handover for use to privates for long periods of time; ( at least 30 years , aiming at their complete privatization) Goal 3. Perfecting and strengthening of linkages with the market economy. Strategic line. Encouragement of private activities. Objective 1. Carrying out operation and services in state forests and pastures. Actions: 15 • Attraction of private and specialization company in carrying out productive activities and services in forests and pastures. • Liberalization of purchase tariffs of industrial timber which comes from productive forests and these tariffs should respect the laws of demand supply. Harvested timber should be sold by road side auction, or to study concession forms in forest. • Lending of soft loans as well as other promotion measures in the support of activities and services in forests and pastures. • Promotion of initiatives that secure alternative resources for domestic heating and cooking in rural areas as well as in those which secure workplaces out of the forestry and pasture sector. • Levying of a tariff/tax for the service that forests carry out in the protection of the drinkable water and hydropower watersheds for the erosion control and improvement of the existing forests. Objective 2. Establishment of production units (500 – 1000 ha) in low forests areas or shrubs, with a good biomass production by giving in long – term use of the best parts of these silvo-pastoral areas according to the market- demand. Actions: • Defining of possibilities which exist in this direction, taking into account that part of oak forests and shrubs which remains state – owned one. • Drafting of a legal framework. • Making plans for management of these silvo-pastoral units Objective 3. Prospective development of wood industry in Albania Actions: • Calculation of stock production structure of productive forests according to the age classes and timber quality. • Defining of AAC in quantity, kinds, assortments and its security for future 20 – 40 years. • Apply a favorable policy in importing wooden material for the maintenance of wood industry development in our country and at the same time for the conservation of our forests. • On these basis, should be done calculation and incentive of wood industry development as a private activity only in those directions which are allowed by the market economy, especially in rural areas. 16 Objective 4. Hand over of lands covert by forest plants, degraded forests for long–term period (eg 30 years) aiming at establishment of hunting reserves, center of breeding wild animals/beasts or their combination for which native or foreign companies can be involved, for the assessment of these marginal terrains and employment, as well. Actions: • Absorption of investments from the state budget and other donators. • Increase of the re-investment fund from the revenues of DGFP. • Define the empty areas or areas of degraded forests, refused land etc for establishment of hunting reserves, without encroaching others’ interests. • Hand over for a long- term use and in the future, in private ownership to native or foreign companies. • Hand over for use (or purchase) of existing breeding pheasant centers (at present destroyed) aiming at export or repopulation. • Drafting of legal framework for these changes. Objective 5. The hand over of areas, for afforestation, long term (e.g 50 years) ownership (with modest prices) which, in the general balance of the republic, these areas are called new-land (without including forests, pastures, agricultural lands) Actions: • Define these areas which will be treated without encroaching communes interests for grazing. • Preparation of legal framework for this kind of long –term use, aiming at the complete privatization. • Hand over of these areas and controlling the way they are being used. • Promotion/Incentive of individual or collective initiatives for the re forestation of abandoned land, especially for those which are de forested or ploughed pastures in the past.(arable lands) • Promotion/Incentive of individual or collective initiatives which aim at decreasing erosion level which widely threatens the future of mountainous communities and it causes a great harm to the water quality of water points and irrigation infrastructure, as well. Goal 4. Involvement of local actors and users in maintenance and development of forestry. 17 Strategic line. Continuity of usufruct rights or ownership transfer of forests and pastures to the local government for meeting firewood and pasture needs. Objective 1. Continuity of usufruct rights or ownership transfer of forests and pastures to the local government, by growing the number of families that make profit from the forest productions. Actions: • Accomplishment of 40 % of forestry fund transfer to communes. • Establishment of managerial forest and pasture structure in communes. Objective 2. Meeting the rural population needs for firewood and timber construction. Actions: • On the basis of the demographic state policy, the local government and DGFP/ Forestry Service determine the dynamic of needs for firewood and timber construction in rural areas and the way they should be met. • Evaluation/Estimation of productive potential of communal forests for firewood and timber construction. • Creation of the regular coppice within the communal forest territory with such a size, so that it can meet community needs with firewood and timber construction and also the joining of the regular coppice areas into forestry regular coppice economies for management goals with short- rotation. • Drafting of management plans for each economies and their implementation by the communes’ administration. • Promotion of initiatives that secure alternative resources for domestic heating and cooking in rural areas as well as in those which secure workplaces out of the forestry and pasture sector. . Objective 3. Designations of carrying capacities of communal forests concerning animal husbandry and forestry organization for grazing and fodder. Actions: • After the division of forests for firewood and timber construction (regular coppice) the other part (the rest) (both forestry and pastoral 18 fund of communes) still remains in silvo-pastoral economies on commune, kinship or family basis etc • Management of these economies for grazing or fodder is defined on the basis of the productive potential of the green biomass and on the calculation of their bearing capacities. • Issuing regulations being legally and scientifically supported, for treatment and management of this type of utilization of forestry and pastoral stock. • Planning and administration of production and grazing by communal administration (kinship or families). Strategic line. Organization of advisory forestry service and forestry administration of commune. Objective 1. Development of forestry, advisory programs through understanding of the complex values of forest and pastures, development of awareness programs for the local communities and actors as well as the strengthening of local governmental capacities in the forestry and pasture management. Actions: • Organization of advisory forestry service structure particularly in communal and private forestry. • Planning of an amount of funds (200 000 – 500 000 Leke/year) for the qualification/training of the employees of Forestry Service, especially for the staff that has got managerial and extension duties. Objective 2. Establishment of communal forestry administration. Actions: • Establishment of a small technical- administrative unit which will participate in the administration and regulation of pasture utilization and forest harvesting that are given in use, depending directly on commune over which DGFP has got the right of controlling and technical maintaining. • Drawing up regulations which serve these units by defining their status, activity space, responsibilities, the rights and tasks. • Undertaking compensation policies for facing economic difficulties that come out from limited sacrifices in forest and pasture utilization/use, in close collaboration with local government and international donators aiming at offering possibilities to communities to profit. 19 Goal 5. Institutional and Legal Reform in Forestry Service at National and Local Level. Strategic line. Continuing of institutional reform in order to establish more effective and adequate structures in center and base. Reforms and institutional strengthening is an essential important factor in guaranteeing the implementation of the strategy for the development of the forestry and pasture sector and for the continuous security of this process. Only by completing and improving the legal framework, by reforming and establishing available and responsible institutions capable of managing and controlling the law obeying and development programs, so in this way we can be optimistic for the future. Objective 1. Strengthening of state and responsible institutions. Actions: • Simplifying and strengthening of DGFP structures as a headquarter in drawing up the development strategy of forest and pasture sector in accordance with governmental policy and in controlling the strategy implementation. • Establishment of interdepartmental structures which will estimate the development programs and projects for a better territory planning. • Establishment of a council (technical or scientific) at the DGFP, in which, besides its representatives, other qualified and experienced specialists should take part despite of their workplace. This council should have a consultative status for DGFP concerning technical issues, while a decision-making status should be for strategic issues in all types of forests. • Establishment of a lively police structure having special status which will give possibilities to the protection of territorial integrity of forest and pasture environment and to its wealth, as well. • Strengthening of collaboration with educational and scientific research institutions. Objective 2. Separation of regulatory functions from managerial ones in forests and pastures. Organization of DGFP as a forestry policy has not given yet its proper/expected results. The re-organization of DGFP into a forestry inspectorate in order to carry out forest service tasks and encourage partnership with stakeholders taking up responsibilities and management would positively affect the improvement, protection and management of the forestry and pasture estate. Actions: 20 • Establishment of necessary structures in the function of respective duties. • Enhancement of the role as a protector of the forestry police controlling the law obeying. • Assigning tasks which have been rigorously defined according the laws and regulations, thus there should be a final division of the regulatory functions –managerial and protective. • Establishment of effective executive agencies for the sustainable management and administration of forestry and pastoral estate. • Organization of the extension service by the DGFP, by establishing operative agencies (or operative agents) everywhere. • The active participation of local government in the forestry and pasture sector development. Objective 3. Increase of effectively of forestry police service. Actions: • Forestry Police should be strengthened, giving/conceding it the same status as that of the homologous police in other European countries, but always being a structure of DGFP. • Function of the Forestry Police should be completely separated from the managerial functions of other structures of DGFP. • Strengthening of observing- signaling system for fires, and epidemic diseases in forests and pastures. • Forestry Police should organize better the way of getting information about the forest and pasture damages and should rigorously respect the forestry law. Objective 4. Improvement of the forestry administration structure, making it more lively and bringing it as much close as it is possible to the base. Actions: • Adoption of an easier organization scheme of DGFP having a higher functional effectiveness. • Shortage of the actual administration scheme, from central level to district level which are functioning at the moment or which are planned to be established. • Establishment of a functional and responsible structure of forestry police service from the center to the base. 21 • Establishment of 6-7 national forestry enterprises for the administration of high forests which should be directly depended on DGFP. Strategic line. Further continuity and deepening of reformation and completion of legal and regulatory framework in accordance with the dynamism and challenges of market – economy. The appropriate legislation implies a complete, harmonized and coherent one, and strengthening, law respect accompanied by economic facilities are the main ways that guarantee successes. Law harmonization on forests together with other forestry sector laws will make easier the achievement of strategy objectives. Objective 1. Drafting of a new forest law Actions: • Develop a legal draft framework which will serve in resolving the issues of the forest and pasture stock administration which are given in use (handed over) to communes and to make clear issues usufruct rights. • Legal support of the work of the advisory service, by drafting its status, regulations, and assigning tasks, the rights, responsibilities. • Improvement of the legal acts for state forests and pastures • Drafting of a new forest law as a synthesis of changes risen from the decentralization of the state- owned property by emphasizing the controlling role of forest service over all kinds of property categories on forest and pastures. 9. MONITORING Monitoring is a process of highlighting the changes and the period when they have taken place, determining their directions and extension. This should be accompanied with an important estimation of the highlighting changes. Monitoring should be a part of the forestry and pasture management in securing information for decision –makers. Monitoring aims at achieving a balance between the forestry interests and protection, improvement of environment and wildlife. At present, the management aiming at protection, has got a growing importance in the relations between forestry ecosystems and productive forests. 22 Vegetation is often relevant for monitoring value changes in the wildlife because it secures food and shelter for fauna and it indicates the climate, soil, utilization practices, etc. Monitoring demands the establishment of a permanent monitoring network which is a strategic objective for highlighting changes in the forest and pasture ecosystems as well as the intervention at the right time, for their rehabilitation. 23