Forests for People

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might have on forestry and reindeer husbandry and if it was

possible to identify mutual benefits to both. The assessments

included business-as-usual scenarios (current forest management

practices) as well as scenarios favouring reindeer husbandry,

nature considerations and a combination of both.

The results and the approach were positively received by the

parties involved and have paved the way for continuous dialogue

between industry and the indigenous people.

A study in Scotland examined the impacts of alternative devel-

opment strategies for the region around the Cairngorms National

Park. This is Britain’s largest national park, containing a wide

and varied range of mountainous landscapes, diverse wildlife and

unique habitats. It is also home to around 16,000 people and is

visited by over a million people a year. Forests here are particularly

valuable as amenities for conservation (especially as a habitat for

rare birds), cultural heritage and recreational activities, as well as

being used for timber and wood biomass production. Resource

planners are again performing a delicate balancing act, between

social, environmental and economic demands.

The ToSIA tool was used to assess policy requirements, such as

increasing woodlands for aesthetic and biodiversity reasons, with

respect to the different interested parties – a range of

industrial, environmental and community enterprises.

The impacts of various options were analysed using a

set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, including:

•Gross value added, calculated from the costs and

the value of the timber at each phase of production,

extraction and transport

•Forest biodiversity, scored according to structure,

species diversity, composition, naturalness and

connectivity

•Employment, measured in hours/ha or m

timber

•Site suitability to preferred tree species

•Visibility from roads and tourist paths

•Wind and slope factors.

Following this analysis, the various stakeholders were

presented with map-based recommendations, taking

into account sustainability impacts and site suitability

aspects. Such analysis can aid consultation with local

interested parties, helping to ensure local engagement

and improving partnerships and alliances.

Resource planners must balance social, environmental and economic demands to ensure the sustainability of forest products

Image: EFI