Experience of the Russian federation in joining strategic planning of the global forest sector

Abstract

In the context of globalization of forest policy, long-term planning is becoming one of the most important tools for sustainable forest management at the national and regional levels. This thesis is confirmed by the experience of international organizations, such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN), World Bank (WB), European Forest Institute (EFI) and others. These organizations make a great contribution for the creation of methodologies for long-term planning (forecasting) of the global forest sector as well as practical recommendations for individual countries. These recommendations are aimed at the efficient use of forest resources based on a balance of economic, environmental and social interests of society. Intensive development of the forest sector requires mechanisms that will allow managing forest potential through increased profitability and improved natural forest conditions. A concept of long-term planning should lead to a mechanism for intensive development of the forest sector, taking into account regional factors. Certain attempts to change approaches to long-term planning were made by the FAO project “The Russian Federation Forest Sector Outlook Study to 2030”. The outlook was prepared by the Russian scientists on the basis of methodological recommendations used by the UN FAO in the global and regional forest sector forecasts. The main novelty of the Russian outlook was orientation on domestic and export demand, estimated with models and expert evaluations. Forest sector alternative scenarios were designed on the basis of balance of goals and resources. However, resources supply was not guaranteed. The Russian forest sector outlook, which was supported by the FAO, has received wide international appreciation. Unfortunately, it did not become an official strategic planning document in the Russian Federation. Its development was not directly ordered by the Russian federal government. © Forest-Based Industries in the Global Economy .All right reserved.