Forest Management Planning

Forest management planning system is a very prestigious discipline in forestry. All forests have to be managed according to management plans. Since the first management plan in 1917, the planning system has evolved in terms of techniques used. Several models used, among them, Mut-Gazipasa Model has resulted in satisfactory outputs but the model applied to certain places and it has not been replicated; German GTZ project “Management of Broadleaved Forests in the West Blacksea Region” aimed to solve silvicultural problems of broadleaved forests and gained a lot of support from forestry quarters, but intense inventory and the cost of planning has brought about difficulties in expanding the implementation. Another model was developed through a Finnish Project, and this model introduced effective use of GIS in planning, GIS model developed on GTZ planning system and now the works are continuing to use it in classic planning system.

But the forest management plans were still wood production oriented when GDF declared to initiate functional planning. After the first trials of functional planning, most of the management teams complained about lack of know-how to integrate and balance different functions of forests. Studies with faculty staff, also, found complicated and not feasible. But now the works are expanding.

The last development is the decentralization of forest management system. All forest management teams were located in Ankara before 2004, then, as a part of structural reform program, the teams were distributed to regions. This decision was criticized very highly by forestry quarters including the faculties. The main claim was that management planning would lose its control over implementation and consequently unfair practice might damage forests. Despite all of critics GDF has declared its determination in decentralizing the planning system.

Participation in planning process has not caught the desired level. Although forest management teams consult to local dwellers, administrations, cooperatives and other related stake holders, this is not done in a regular and formal manner. The experience in GEF project is expected to contribute to the establishment of participatory mechanisms in planning as well as other processes.