FODEMO has been supporting the preparation of new Forest Management Planning Guidelines for the level of Forest Management Units over the past 4 years.  Substantial progress has been made, and the draft guidelines were tested during Phase I in part of one Forest Management Unit. 

In Phase II, the project is supporting the Government to finalize the FMP guidelines for State and Private Forests, and also to work on the new level of planning - Forest Development Plans for a "Forest Area" (one or more Municipality).

In addition, FODEMO will assist the Ministry and the Forest Administration to develop a Forest Information System, and to promote Forest Certification within Montenegro.

Task 2 Activity 1 - Forest Management Tools

T2A1(a) Finalization of Standard Management Rules for all defined Forest Development Types (FDTs).

FODEMO has contracted a Silvicultural expert to finalize this work, which was started in Phase I.

What is a Forest Development Type?

Forest Development Types describe the targeted structure and species composition of close-to-nature forests. They provide guidance for forest management decisions (tending and thinning interventions) at forest stand-level (sub-compartment-level). For each FDT a definition, description and a technical guideline for forest management interventions will be developed.

Before this typology and the guidelines can be applied, the basic tasks are to define FDT types and rules how to determine FDT.

The name of the FDT reflects the main desired tree species-composition (e.g. FDT Spruce Forest), which should be achieved through management interventions after 50 and more years. The desired tree species composition of the FDT can overlap with the current species composition but in many cases it will not.

Three basic information are used for decision-making:

1. Status: Tree-species composition and stand structure,
2. The “Natural Potential Forest Type”, i.e. the tree-species composition, vertical and horizontal structure, which would occur at a given site (climate, exposition, soil, etc.) without human intervention. The “Natural Potential Forest Type” can be gained with minimal efforts, its structure and tree-species composition is the result of an optimal adaptation to “nature’s potential”, which means to the site conditions,
3. Local- and regional management objectives, which are often related to the forest purpose (“namjena”).

The decision making also takes into account the objective of “economic efficiency”, i.e.the management targets should be achieved with the smallest possible input (work, cost, energy). Therefore, the decision on a FDT will often result in a forest type, which is placed “between” or near the current status and the Natural Potential Forest Type.

The FDT classification system is new for Montenegro, but it is based on the well-known Forest Management classes (gazdinski clasa) and Forest management groups (gazdinski grupa). 

A more detailed introduction can be downloaded by clicking here.

T2A1(b). Technical Support to set up additional management plans for testing purposes.

FODEMO has supported the setting up of 2 additional pilot sites for testing the new methodology in this phase.

More details will be added later.

T2A1(c).  Drafting, approving and publishing a forest management manual.

FODEMO has been working with the same consultants as in phase I for the first 2 years of FODEMO.  However, in light of the new Forest Policy and expanded levels of planning envisaged in the Forest Law, the remaining 2 years of consultancy work to advise the Government on finalization of various planning methodologies will be tendered publicly.

Task 2 Activity 2.  Adaptation of the forest management tools for private forest organizations

In the new Policy, it is envisaged that the Forest Management Planning process will be expanded from state forests to cover also all Private Forests in each Forest Management Unit.  This has advantages of consistency and logistical efficiency during preparation, more consistency in the analysis of the results, and more harmonized approaches to forestry in each geographical area.  

This activity is being implemented with support of SNV, who have been organizing Private Forest Owners to engage in forest management and request for services from the Forest Administration.

Task 2 Activity 3. Training of Relevant Forest Actors in implementing the new approach(es).

FODEMO has a budget to support training of all relevant actors in the new planning procedures.  It is targeted at the Ministry staff who monitor the planning process, the Forest Administration who are responsible for preparing plans, and Private Forest Owners who will be the beneficiaries of such plans where they cover their forests.  Training will also be offered to private service providers who are contracted for one or more parts of the planning process.

Task 2 Activity 4. Setting up a monitoring and control system through a Forest Information System.

This activity is aimed to improve the efficiency of data collection, storage and dissemination, and should increase the ability for all actors to monitor the sector and to improve the transparency of the forest sector.  More detail will be posted as the activity advances.

Task 2 Activity 5. Support to Certification Process in forest management.

This work is under review.  More information will be provided in the near future.

Task 2 Activity 6. Support the design and testing of Forest Development Planning process in one Municipality.

This is a new activity that has been added to support the testing of this new level of planning envisaged in the new forest Policy.  More information will be added to the website as the activity is implemented.

Click here to go to web page on Forest Development Type process