This Working Paper contains background explanations and questionnaire guidelines to assist FRA National Correspondents and Planted Forest Specialists to complete the survey tables for the Planted Forest Thematic study to supplement and complement FRA 2005 reporting. An estimated 97% of planted forests globally are accounted for in about 60 countries, thus this survey will focus on these selected countries.
Reporting of the Planted Forests Thematic for selected countries starts with data already provided by National Correspondents for each country detailed in Table 4, FRA 2005 – “Characteristics of Forest and Other Wooded Land”, however, policy makers, planners, managers, researchers and academics need more detail than is currently reported. A more realistic picture of the status and trends of wood, fibre, non-wood forest products and services from the Planted Forests Sub-group can be provided if new information and data can be provided on the purpose, ownership, species, areas, growth rates (MAI), rotation lengths, harvest yields and age class distribution for the Planted Component of Semi-Natural Forests (Productive and Protective) AND Plantation Forests (Productive and Protective). Reporting is necessary for the periods 1990, 2000 and 2005 in Tables 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d; 5a and 5b. Please note that reporting for Tables 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is for 2005 only. Reporting is not necessary for this survey for the “Other Wooded Land” classification which are not technically “Forests”.
It is critical to read this Working Paper in association with the Questionnaire forms to assist in definitions and explanatory notes. Explanatory sections of text and Explanatory Tables are clearly identified in alphabetic order, whilst data to be completed in response to the questionnaire are clearly indicated as Questionnaire Tables in numeric order. In some instances data is required in absolute figures (e.g. areas) and in other instances, in relative figures (percentages). These are clearly identified.
The Planted Forests Sub-Group country information and data tables anticipate the following scenarios:
• Plantation Forests, no Planted Component of Semi-Natural Forests;
• Planted Component of Semi-Natural Forests, no Plantation Forests; and
• Planted Component of Semi-Natural Forests AND Plantation Forests
Thus, the questionnaire has been designed for all instances. However, countries are requested to provide inputs for the scenario(s) appropriate to their reality. Thus, disregard those Questionnaire Tables which do not apply to or reflect your circumstances. For transparency, please enter the source documents, where appropriate, in the References section of the questionnaire.
It is proposed to collect, collate, validate, analyse and store the country data in a Planted Forest Database, ultimately to be available on the worldwide web. The regional and global analyses will be published in a Forestry Paper and thereafter prepare a Working Paper on the global outlook for supply from Planted Forests. Thus, as far as is possible, countries should use referenced documentation in completion of the questionnaire.
If you have queries in completing these tables please contact: Jim Carle, [email protected] or Alberto Del Lungo, [email protected]. Please provide references for source of data and indicate your assessment of reliability.
