PART I THE SITUATION AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FOREST SECTOR the damage represented six months of Europe's normal harvest. The consequences of the storms were far-reaching. They had a substantial impact The impact of storms on the forests on many people's livelihoods and severely France affected forests. forest-based industries and current and future markets(see Production and consumption of forest products, p. 13) On 26 December and again on 27 and 28 December 1999 In most places, the response to the storms was rapid and effective. Many governments provided two hurricanes crossed france from west to east winds assistance to their forest and forest industries reached speeds of 150 to 200 km per hour, which are un- sector (see Box 2 for a description of the situation usually high velocities for Europe. Hurricanes of the same in- in France). National responses included reduced tensity had occurred in France over the last two decades fellings in undamaged forests; log storage in Brittany and Normandy in 1987, in the central mountain- programmes; subsidies and loans to sawmills to ous area in 1982 and in northeastern france in 1990-but hold increased inventories: the diversion of they had covered a much smaller area material into wood energy markets: funding The resulting damage to France's forests exceeded that of replant, reopen forest roads, take necessary any other storm in the last century. The equivalent of two phytosanitary measures and mobilize forest annual harvests was uprooted, felled or broken. Windfalls workers and equipment; and support to transpor amounted to more than one-third of the total growing stock services, inchuding the transportation of logs in some counties. A significant proportion of the 3 million mills in distant areas. Tax relief was also provided small-and medium-sized private forest owners, together with to forest owners. and subsidies and low-interest many communes that rely heavily on forest revenues, suffered loans were available for purchasing machinery major financial hardship. In mid-January, the Government of France launched the Plan national chablis(the National Storms are not unusual in Europe - windblows Windfall Plan) which, during the first year, concentrated on of over 20 million m have occurred about ter providing support-in the form of subsidies and soft loans, times since the early 1950s- but those of for example-for log harvesting, storage and transportation December 1999 were the most destructive there in order to remove as much of the wood as possible from had been for several decades. It is not possible to the forests. The aim was to facilitate forest regeneration and say whether storms are becoming more frequent to reduce the risks of fire, insect pests and diseases or more severe in the region, but a report By the end of 2000, about half of the windfallen trees had prepared for the French authorities (Y. Birot, been removed, mainly from the more accessible and valu- personal communication)suggests that several able stands. The wood was sold at prices not exceeding 80 factors have contributed to an increase over time percent of the usual value, and often much less. State sub- in storm damage to forests in France, including: sidies, amounting to some 90 million euros(USS77 million) increased forest area per year for the period 2000-2009, have been earmarked for higher standing volume per hectare ng private owners and communes to clear and regen- their forests the replacement of (relatively wind-stable coppice, and coppice with standards, by high stands with greater height; increased planting of conifers (Douglas fir and spruce, among others), which are more example, I recommendations have been developed susceptible to wind than broad-leaved species measures that would reduce their susceptibility in in winter, when winds are strongest in Europe. the future. The silvicultural changes called for in Following the storms, many countries france and other countries include increased examined ways to reduce the possibility of reliance on natural regeneration and the use of a severe storm damage in the future. In France, for greater variety of species, inchuding hardwoods.PART I THE SITUATION AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FOREST SECTOR 5 the damage represented six months of Europe’s normal harvest. The consequences of the storms were far-reaching. They had a substantial impact on many people’s livelihoods and severely affected forests, forest-based industries and current and future markets (see Production and consumption of forest products, p. 13). In most places, the response to the storms was rapid and effective. Many governments provided assistance to their forest and forest industries sector (see Box 2 for a description of the situation in France). National responses included reduced fellings in undamaged forests; log storage programmes; subsidies and loans to sawmills to hold increased inventories; the diversion of material into wood energy markets; funding to replant, reopen forest roads, take necessary phytosanitary measures and mobilize forest workers and equipment; and support to transport services, including the transportation of logs to mills in distant areas. Tax relief was also provided to forest owners, and subsidies and low-interest loans were available for purchasing machinery and hiring emergency workers. Storms are not unusual in Europe – windblows of over 20 million m3 have occurred about ten times since the early 1950s – but those of December 1999 were the most destructive there had been for several decades. It is not possible to say whether storms are becoming more frequent or more severe in the region, but a report prepared for the French authorities (Y. Birot, personal communication) suggests that several factors have contributed to an increase over time in storm damage to forests in France, including: • increased forest area; • higher standing volume per hectare; • the replacement of (relatively wind-stable) coppice, and coppice with standards, by high forest; • stands with greater height; • increased planting of conifers (Douglas fir and spruce, among others), which are more susceptible to wind than broad-leaved species in winter, when winds are strongest in Europe. Following the storms, many countries examined ways to reduce the possibility of severe storm damage in the future. In France, for On 26 December and again on 27 and 28 December 1999, two hurricanes crossed France from west to east. Winds reached speeds of 150 to 200 km per hour, which are un￾usually high velocities for Europe. Hurricanes of the same in￾tensity had occurred in France over the last two decades – in Brittany and Normandy in 1987, in the central mountain￾ous area in 1982 and in northeastern France in 1990 – but they had covered a much smaller area. The resulting damage to France’s forests exceeded that of any other storm in the last century. The equivalent of two annual harvests was uprooted, felled or broken. Windfalls amounted to more than one-third of the total growing stock in some counties. A significant proportion of the 3 million small- and medium-sized private forest owners, together with many communes that rely heavily on forest revenues, suffered major financial hardship. In mid-January, the Government of France launched the Plan national chablis (the National Windfall Plan) which, during the first year, concentrated on providing support – in the form of subsidies and soft loans, for example – for log harvesting, storage and transportation in order to remove as much of the wood as possible from the forests. The aim was to facilitate forest regeneration and to reduce the risks of fire, insect pests and diseases. By the end of 2000, about half of the windfallen trees had been removed, mainly from the more accessible and valu￾able stands. The wood was sold at prices not exceeding 80 percent of the usual value, and often much less. State sub￾sidies, amounting to some 90 million euros (US$77 million) per year for the period 2000-2009, have been earmarked for assisting private owners and communes to clear and regen￾erate their forests. example, recommendations have been developed on forest establishment and management measures that would reduce their susceptibility in the future. The silvicultural changes called for in France and other countries include increased reliance on natural regeneration and the use of a greater variety of species, including hardwoods. BOX 2 The impact of storms on the forests in France