Forestry and forest inventory in the Republic of Lithuania

Abstract

The total area offorest fundin the Republic of Lithuania is about 2.17 mln. ha, including forest lands – 2.13 mln. ha and forested land – 2.05 mln. ha (98.0 and 94.5% respectively). In total, forests cover 32.6% of the country’s area. The average growing stock volume isaround 240 m{3}/ha (matureforest standshave near 315 m{3}/ha). The gross annual increment is 17.8 mln. m{3} and gross annual increment per 1 ha – 8.5 m {3}. The forests of Lithuania are functionally divided into four groups. Currently 49.6% of forest land are owned by the state enterprises (42 state forest enterprises), 38.9% managed by private forest owners (registered 247.7 thousand private owne rs). Around 11.6% of all forest lands of Lithuania are reserved for privatization. The Lithuanian Institu te of Forest Inventory and Forest Management is responsible for the inventory of forests that is managed by the state enterprises. Private forestry specialists who deal with forest inventory should have forestry education and to be registered by the State For-est Service (on a competitive basis). They usually prepare and provide forest inventory projects for private forest owners. At present, there are about 100 su ch forest inventory specialists. In addition, every 5 years the nation-wide forest inventory is carried out.