Illegal logging at the territory of Eger Forestry Co.

1. Illegal logging at the territory of Eger Forestry Co.

2. The Eger Forestry Co. • The Eger Forestry Company ( Egererdő Zrt.) is one of the 19 State Forest Enterprise in Hungary. The territory includes Mátra mountain and the Hevesi foothills and the west part of Bükk mountain. • The company is in charge of 4,0 % of the entire forest area of the country. • For economical point of view the stands are average, although the importance of ecological and turistical attracion are high. • 52 % of the territory are under nature conversation, copleting with the Natura 2000 areas grows up to 68 %.

3. The Eger Forestry Co. in pictures

4. Introduction • After the hills of Buda the most populars turistical destinationsa are in the Mátra and the Bükk mountains. The company is also deal with wood processing (Mátra Parquet), game management and other public welfare services. (open-air schools, forest railroads etc.)

5. Facts about Eger Forestry Co. • Total Territory: 75 150 ha • Living stock: 14 million m3 • Annual increment: 430 000 m3 • Annula opportunity cutting down according to the management plan : 320 000 m3 • Annual Felling: 230 000 m3

6. Illegal logging

7. Illegal logging • Before 1990 the illegal logging has existed, but the measure and the scale was not as big as nowadays. • After the so called „political changes” this kind of activity has gradually increased, and some places has reached the critical size. (Ózd, Arló) • The people become poor, and the society was so tolerant to the so called „ social criminality” that is why the little risk and the gentle punishment encouraged the principals. • Between 1991 and 1996 due to the privatization the collective farm’s forest become unclaimed.

8. Registration of illegal logging according to the number of cases and the amount

9. The number of accusation and the efficiency rate in the last 3 years. The amount of exploration is quite low. In the case of catch out could be expect the efficient procedure. The punisments are very week. (reprehension,fine). As we know up till now nobody has received imprisonment.

10. The ecological and social effects of the demages • Due to the illegal working the revenue has falling away. (taxes, affixes) • The income of the forestry sector are decreasing or lagging behind, because the expenses of the regeneration are appear in the forest management units. • The loss of increment effects the reduction in yield. • The obligation of regeneration appears much more faster than usual. • The genetically distruction of the indigenous stands. • Faster spreading of unindigenous species. • Landscape problems ( Loss of old trees, pure land)

11. Proposals of the forestry • Better use of low, if it is needed modification could be better (punishment and compensation) • Real demage estimation ( Not only the market price of the wood, but also the natural value) • More control,common actions with police • Aligned actions with other authorities (Hungarian Tax and Financial Control Administration (APEH). • The tools, and machines which are used for illegel cutting should be confiscated and after that sold, or destroyed. • The car parking illegal in the forest should be fined. • Cars are not sufficient conditions shuld be taken away from the traffic. • Cars without valid papers catched in the forest should be confiscated. • More efficient controlling of wood trade. • Establishing more workplace in the area for the underqualified manpower.

12. Opportunities of the Forestry • Frequent appearance of forestry stuff (safe-keeping,exploration, accusation) • Locking down the forestry roads (crossing gates, trench,obstacle, or any kind of artifical obstacles) • Using rangers or other safeguarding security. • Collaboration with other authority and NGOs • Enviromental training ( open-air schools) fortification of communication • Guarantee a long term working places for people to evaluate the every day living. • Strong laws, are the most important.

13. Thank you very much your attention!