Skógræktarritið - 15.05.2001, Qupperneq 131

Table I. Factors that researchers associate with the timberline area.
Factors Indicators Conclusions
• Scveral competing intercst groups ■ Area with conflicts ■ Prcssurcs on land-use ■ Important as pasture, for tourism & recreation ■ Timbcr for household ■ Non-timber forest products ■ The multiple-use possibilities associated with the timbcrline
■ Rcstrictions for silviculture ■ Importancc as buffcr zone and protective forests ■ Reserve for the future ■ Thc use for timbcr production is not very valuablc or sustainable
Table 2. Factors that managers associate with the timberline area.
Factors Indicators Conclusions
■ Multiple-use possibilities and values ■ Ecologically unique environment ■ Protection zone ■ A meeting area of cultural (Sami/Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish) and ecological limits (borcal forests/tundra) ■ Forests in natural state ■ Balances climatic extremes, hence necessary for southcm areas • The valuc of timberline area can also be found in other uses than in timber production ■ Valuable for protection
■ Silvicultural criteria ■ Climatic restrictions ■ Profitability restrictions set by economics ■ Timberlinc forests are intcresting from the forestry point of view ■ Forestry is one of the few employment possibilities ■ Timberline is valuablc as a buffcr zone
Factors Indicators Conclusions
■ Ecosystem services ■ Protective forests ■ Conservation value ■ Uniqueness ■ Socio-cultural values ■ Economical values ■ Fresh air, clcan water, ■ Protectivc aspect important for the southem areas ■ Areas in natural state have value for conservation ■ Ecological values form the basis for socio-cultural values and thus for the economical value of the timberline area ■ Calculated in the aforementioncd way, the economic value of timberline areas is considerable
Factors Indicators Conclusions
■ Multiple-use ■ Various sets of land uses are possible => social sustainability obtained ■ Timberlinc should be managed as an area for reindeer husbandry, tourism and recreation
■ Forestry ■ Forestry ensurcs employmcnt ■ Forestry is valuable as a source of income
■ Timberline as an unique environment ■ Relatively large areas of the forests are in natural state ■ Mceting of cultural and ecological limits ■ Delicatc/indigenous’ environment ■ The last ‘wilderness areas’ should be protccted from human impacts ■ Important for the research
Managers characterised the tim-
berline area in terms of economi-
cal factors and criteria for
forestry, which are both ultimate-
ly affected by climatic limita-
tions. On the other hand, the
importance of restricting land-
use practises came out of the
model.
The different values given to
the timberline areas are present-
ed in the tables 3 and 4. The
foundation for ecological values
of timberline areas is formed by
essential ecosystem services
such as fresh air and clean water,
the ecological uniqueness that
northern timberline areas have
as well as in the conservation of
the biodiversity. Social and cul-
tural values are based on the
ecological values. Economic
value is high when all the afore-
mentioned values are converted,
for example by using willingness-
to-pay methods, into some eco-
nomically measurable units.
Managers valued the timber-
line forests from the viewpoint of
reindeer husbandry, tourism and
recreation. The value as regards
timber production, i.e. forestry,
was also mentioned. Forestry
was seen as one of the few
employment possibilities in the
timberline areas. For the man-
agers, the uniqueness of the tim-
berline areas was indicated by
the natural state of the forests,
meeting of cultural and ecologi-
cal limits and the importance of
these marginal areas to research.
The timberline area was seen as
a uncommon environment, both
ecologically and culturally, as
one of the last 'wilderness areas'.
Also, these forest areas were
deemed to have a protective role
as regards southern areas.
Model of the future
The model of the future deals
with attitudes that people have
regarding possible changes in
Table 3. The researchers' model of values.
Table 4. The managers' model of values.
ecological processes in the
region or in the use of timberline
forests, and what the causes of
change and the possibilities to
affect this development are. The
model also includes information
about research needs for the
future.
Tfie researchers' model of the future
As regards employment and eco-
nomic viewpoints, the expecta-
tions for growth rested on foreign
SKÓGRÆKTARRITIÐ 2001 l.tbl.
129