Forest Planning in Portugal

Abstract

The forest lands are the most extensive land use in Portugal, providing essential resources and services for the society and the national economy. Formal forest planning has already a long history, namely the action developed by foresters and forest economists since the beginning of the nineteenth century, with the introduction of new forest management concepts, some of them still valid nowadays. This chapter briefly presents: (1) The main biophysical, social and economic features of the Portuguese forest sector, highlighting the strengths and limitations of forest management, both at European and regional context levels (2) The main landmarks of forest planning in Portugal and its contribution to shaping the currently existing forest areas, emphasizing the role of the State and other agents in the design and implementation of plans and other measures of forest policy (3) The current Portuguese forest planning system. The several types of local, municipal, regional and national forest planning are described and the latest developments are highlighted (4) The importance of new models for implementing forest planning, namely the forest intervention areas (ZIF) developed in Portugal since mid-1970s. Are also identified the main challenges the Portuguese forests are now facing and the contribution of forest planning for national objectives, not only in the forest sector, but also for the protection of ecosystems and socio-economic development.