Rural communities’ perception on the forest. Economic versus ecological dimensions.

1. Rural communities’ perception on the forest. Economic versus ecological dimensions. Marilena Dragomir Spiru Haret University Faculty of Geography

2. Overview: • multiple functions of the forest • importance of the forest in rural communities’ life • rural communities’ perception on economic dimension of the forest • rural communities’ perception on ecological dimension of the forest • economic versus ecological

3. 1. Multiple functions of the forest – negativeeffects positive effects + – + Local community Economic function Natural environment Ecological function Forest – + Socio-cultural function

4. Economic function comes out from the capacity of the forest to create a specific natural environment, to produce vegetal and animal biomass and the utilization (exploitation) of these by the human beings in different ways Socio-cultural function recreation protection of human health cultural role Ecological function forest has an important role in maintaining natural equilibrium; forest creates a specific natural environment and protects all the natural elements, influencing human beings’ life; 1. Protection of waters; 2. Protection of grounds and soils; 3. Protection against negative climatic and industrial factors 4. The scientific function of conservation of forest environment 5. Aesthetic and landscape function Multiple functions of the forest

5. 2. Importance of the forest in rural communities’ life • 1. material importance • 2. ecological importance • 3. spiritual importance

6. 3. Rural communities’ perception on economic dimension of the forest 3.1. Wood - source of income • sale - “Forest is very important for us because there isn’t anything else to sell than wood. We have no maize or vineyard here”. • material value - “There is money in the forest”. Remarks:many of the respondents have sold or sell wood; they cut all the forest restituted under Law18/1991(1 ha); they are allowed to cut only 4-8 m3/year at present (fallen and dry trees); in Chiojdu Obste the wood is sold in common and every owner receives an amount of money depending on the size of the property ; Dissatisfaction: - the wood is very important but there are many costs of marking, cutting, transportation; “it’s cheaper to buy wood”

7. Dimensiunea economica 3.2. Forest property • “The forest property is not for sale. Only the wood”. • Now we think identically as our predecessors and we want to buy forest” 3.3.Wood - the main (unique) source of heating 3.4. Wood - material for buildings 3.5. Main economic activity (winning of timber) 3.6. Complementary activities • other products of the forest (fruits, mushrooms) • touristic activities • animal grazing

8. 4. Rural communities’ perception on the ecological dimension of the forest 4.1. Agood perception about the forest’s environmental impact on people’s life. “The forest instills life into all people, as long as you live it protects you against disasters” • air -”The forest cleans the atmosphere that becomes purer and purer; This fresh and healthy air, fir tree smelling comesfrom the forest”; • water-”the forest gives us heath: both fresh air and clean water”; “the forest assure o wetter area” • landscape - “I like the landscape of the forest, it gives me a positive energy” • negative effects---”The forest was cut and landslides appeared”. “The forest protects against the floods and slides” . “The cutting of the forest strongly affected environment very quickly”

9. Ecological dimension • 4.2. Rural communities’ perception on the quality of the forest • How does a good forest look like? - Different points of view: - well cared for, with green trees, without any disease; - trees should be rare, clean forest; - with upright trees, with grass; - a healthy forest has tall crowned trees (40 – 50 m). - without dry trees and garbage (meaning no waste material left after cutting down the trees) - it depends on soil conditions, no pollution - the forest is cut only by axe - A healthy forest gives good timber for the construction sector • The quality of their forest property - different opinions – especially economic points of view Dissatisfaction: they received the forest which had been previously exploited by the state, this has a low economic value at present; Only some people (the important ones) received good forest.

10. 5. Economic&ecological 5.1. The consequences of forest restitution • positive – generally economic aspects: restitution of the properties; the possibility to use the forest (in different ways); economic prosperity Many people came back from cities for the forest. So village population is younger. • negative - generally ecological aspects: irrational cutting; degradation of the forest; negative ecological effects • forest rangers say: “The future of the forest is gloomy. The forest is not properly worked anymore. The owners have not enough money to take care of the forest, to plant trees. Everybody exploits the forest on his own possibilities. In forestry a mistake costs hundreds of years”.

11. Economic&ecologic • Causes: • the legislation (many laws, temporary disparities between the publication of the laws and the publications of the methodological norms, inapplicable laws from different reasons, etc.) • improper implementation (incorrect distribution, owners do not receive forest on the original positions of their property, wrongly done measurements, people with no rights received forest land; slow restitution process, false documents) • inadequate institutional checking • low level of information and education on the role and importance of the forest • poverty • the lack of other prosper economic activities RESULT: IRRATIONAL EXPLOITATION OF FOREST

12. Economic&ecologic • Source The forest owners point of view: - A true forest owner doesn’t destroy the forest. - Some people cut the forest because they are afraid that they can lose it. - Young people cut the forest (most of them don’t have feelings for forest, don’t have the sense of the property). - Forest rangers cut the forest. The others need many approvals to cut (from the Ocol Silvic). - Forest rangers are guilty for the irrational cutting of the forest. - The wood is stolen both from state property and the private one. They have tracks, lorries. The forest rangers point of view : - The owners cut the forest - OSs hesitate to control the owners. You can’t send an owner to prison just for exploiting his own forest.

13. Economic&ecologic • better and more applicable laws (they must be respected) • rational cuttings; reforestation; plantations; measures for improving the state of the forest (cleaning, pest control, enclosures, rarefying the trees etc.) • to forbid grazing in forest • the forest must be returned to its real owners • to be controlled and managed by the O.S • technical consultancy from the state • economic alternatives for the population living in the mountains • Measures