Management and Utilization of Damaged Forests in Central and Eastern Europe

Management of the degraded forests in central and eastern Europe requires the development of an action agenda. At least one forest research project and management approach should be initiated and/or continued. The effort should be results-oriented and consistent with ecological balance. Conclusions should guide the application of remedial measures to convert forests to different species, or stabilize the health of existing forests. These measures will contribute to the overall goals of expansion of the European forest, both as a carbon sink and to invigorate the forest products industry in countries of the former United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). In particular, neutralization and fertilization of forest soils should be more fully investigated and probably more widely applied. Orderly conversion of softwood monocultures to climax stands should be encouraged. The development of pollution-resistant genotypes should be accelerated. This paper provides the rationale for these forest growth, expansion, and management recommendations.