Since the early 1990s, most Eastern and Central European countries have embarked on a major reorganization of forest ownership. Through processes of compensation, restitution and sale, the ownership rights of thousands of hectares of state forest land have shifted to private individuals.
This has led to a sharp increase in the number of private forest owners, the majority of which are small holders (0-5 ha) with no background knowledge or experience in forest management. This fragmentation of forest ownership, together with the lack of technical skills of the new private owners, threatens the sustainable management of the forest. Associations of forest owners, particularly of small holders, could provide the vehicle for a co-ordination mechanism, to improve the efficient and sustainable use of the forest. Such associations could lead to:
Despite the advantages that some form of joint forest management would bring, there has so far been only limited interest in forming groups or associations. Among the reasons which have limited the acceptance are:
To successfully promote a group approach, the various types of organization need to be understood in order for those involved to select and develop the framework that is most suited to each local situation. The experiences and organizational options developed in Northern and Central Europe have been analysed through the study presented in this document. The analysis highlights models, which can be used in the transition economies in Eastern and Central Europe. Considering their contextual similarities it is expected that they will follow a similar development pattern.
This paper follows up on a series of regional studies including FAO’s "Issues and Opportunities in the Evolution of Private Forestry and Forestry Extension" which identified organization of small forest owners as a critical need. The paper also forms the basis for the development of practical guidelines for choosing the type of organization most suitable to the local situation.
