Study supported by the Forest Development Fund (agreement No. 26-00-S0MF01-000003)
The aim of the Study is to develop an integrated, data-driven approach for assessing and planning the management of forest buffer zones along watercourses, wetlands and mires, based on the ecosystem services approach. The Study will compile and analyse information from previous studies and projects, including the BIOR river assessment database, the LIFE Salaca and WAMBAF projects, as well as assess forestry activity statistics in buffer zones and the impact of different harvesting methods on ecosystem services, particularly water quality, riparian forest functions and biodiversity.
The Study includes spatial data analysis using the State Forest Register, TAPIS WFS, LiDAR, historical and current aerial photographs, as well as other available datasets. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the compliance of buffer zones with curent legislation requirements, the dynamics of bog boundary changes, processes of riparian forests, and the suitability of different data sources for identifying and managing buffer zones. The overlaping between buffer zones and European Union habitats will also be assessed.
Based on the results obtained, guidelines for the management of forest buffer zones along watercourses and wetlands will be developed, together with proposals for improving the regulatory framework and recommendations for preparing data for the Protected Zone Information System. The project will also prepare a roadmap for developing ecosystem-service-based riparian forest management plans and define tasks for the creation of an automated digital tool for management planning.