Forest functions

„The cultivation and use of forests and woodlands in a manner and to an extent which conserves their biological variety and productivity, their ability to regenerate and their vitality as well as their potential to fulfil the corresponding ecological, economic and social functions on a local, national and global scale now and in the future without inflicting damage to other ecological systems." (Resolution of the 2nd Minister Conference on the Protection of the Forests in Europe, Helsinki 1993.)

The resolution outlines the manifold functions of a forest:

• as a natural habitat of plant and animal life,
• as protection from the effect of damaging influences (erosion, floodwater, noise...)
• as a diverse recreational area for people as well as
• as a production site for timber and other forest products.

In the long run, these functions can only be ensured through a local and conscientious forest management.

The forest functions mentioned above are usually all fulfilled at the same time and in the same area. According to the structure and location of a forest, the one or the other forest function will be at the centre of this network of functions.

In Saxony, through the mapping of the forest functions it has been established that 1,335,891 ha forest area fulfils legally prescribed and other special functions.

The subject of the data collection is the forests’ potential with respect to:

• Production
• Ecological stabilisation
• Water: Potential rainfall formation and absorption
• Soil conservation: Potential erosion protection and protection of extreme sites
• Health and recreation

The functions declared by means of forest classification and in the public interest are as follows:

• Protection forests (§ 7 of Act No. 289/95 Sb.)
• Forests for water management and water protection 3. - Forests declared in the interests of nature conservation and landscape protection
• Forests in the interest of health-related recreation
• Forests serving research and education in forestry
• Forests with a declared barrier function - (climate, barrier, and landscaping functions)
• Forests required to conserve biodiversity - protection of the gene fund
• Forests the declared function of which is intensive stock farming - game enclosures and pheasantries
• Forests requiring other management types due to any other public interests - e. g. military forests
  

Special status forests

Forests are divided into three categories according to the function they mainly fulfil:

• Protection forests
• Special purpose forests
• Commercial forests

Protection forests (§ 7)

• Forests on particularly unfavourable sites (rubble, stone field, steep gradients, canyons, non-stabilised alluvial deposits and sands, peat soil, landfills and dumps, etc.)
• Alpine forests below the tree vegetation line which protect forests situated on lower levels, as well as forests on exposed ridges
• Forests within the mountain pine vegetation belt

Special purpose forests (§ 8)

Special purpose forests are forests which do not belong to the protection forests and are situated in

• Zones reserved for the sanitary protection of level I water sources
• Zones reserved for the protection of natural spa water and table mineral water sources
• Territories of national parks and national nature reserves

In addition, forests may be classified as special purpose forests if there is a public interest in improving or protecting the environment, or any other justified interest in forest functions other than their commercial use which has priority over their production function. These are forests

• Situated in the primary zones of protected landscape areas, forests in nature reserves as well as nature monuments
• Health resort forests
• Forests in urban areas and other forests of higher recreational importance
• Forests that serve research and education in forestry
• Forests of higher importance with respect to soil conservation, river and lake protection, climate protection, and landscaping
• Forests required to conserve biodiversity
• Forests in acknowledged wildlife parks and independent pheasantries
• Forests requiring any other management type due to an important public interest

Commercial forests (§ 9)

Commercial forests are forests classified neither as protection forests nor as special purpose forests.

Changes within the forest categories

see also Forest functions and forest development plans

Spatial distribution of protection forest categories

Protection Forest

The term ‘Protection Forests’ originates from times long gone. At first, the primeval forests served as a barrier against enemy attacks. The primeval forests also served as hideaways for women, children, the elderly and livestock during acts of war. The seizure of parts of the forests by the king (the so-called king’s forests) limited the access to the forests. The acquisition of wood and game from these forests was only permitted for the demand caused by acts of war.

Information to the map:

National parks – dark green
Forests with a dominant protection function - green
Forests with a protection and economic function - light green
Forests of a dominant economic function - pink

In the 19th century, when the Forest Act came into effect, the term ‘Protection Forest’ was introduced at the same time (in Austria in 1852). No stock wood was permitted to be acquired from these forests (soil protection forests) and, periodically, clear-cutting was to be avoided in order to prevent avalanches and storm damage. During the turn from the 19th to the 20th centuries, the basis for environmental protection (first natural reserves and national parks were formed) was created. In those times, also the function of forests having an influence on local climates and serving to protect from flooding (water protection forests) became obvious. In the proximity of spas and sanatoriums, their importance for keeping the air clean was recognised.
In the area of Lower Silesia, the idea of fulfilling the protection functions of the forest (also from an economic perspective) was initiated by the Forest State Commissioners along with the laws dating from the first half of the 19th century. This idea was further promoted towards the end of the 19th century (formation of first areas of environmental protection).
Nowadays, the status of protection forests is regulated by the applicable Forest Law. Pursuant to the Forest Law, all Lower Silesian forests have been classified according to their protective functions. The table summarises the protection forest areas of the various protection categories within the area of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Wrocław (environmental protection reserves and national parks are not included).

Independently from registering the forests by various forms of legal environmental and landscape protection, 71.28 % (359,584 ha) of the total forest area of the Regional Directorate Wrocław are recognised as protection forest pursuant to the Forest Law.
The outline map shows the spatial distribution of protection forest categories.