Protective forest functions

Essential elements of the protective forest functions are:

• Protection or restoration of the natural soil fertility and soil structure (soil protection);
• Protection of natural forest types (biotope protection);
• Protection of typical and rare or endangered species for the specific site conditions (species protection);
• Protection against erosion (erosion protection);
• Protection and enhancement of water quality (water protection);
• Protection or improvement of the forest microclimate and its impact on surrounding landscape (local and regional climate protection);
• Maintenance and improvement of carbon storage (protection of global climate); PRO SILVA management leads to the production of a proportionally higher volume of large-dimension timber of high quality, which after transformation, produces wood products such as roofing material, framing, flooring, and furniture products, thereby lengthening substantially the life cycle of stored carbon, as well as energy saving through the substitution of energy-intensive non-renewable construction materials. Moreover, continuous forest canopy cover facilitates a well-balanced mineralisation of humus, thereby reducing soil CO2 emissions.
• Protection or improvement of air quality (emission protection);
• Protection against excessive noise (noise protection);
• Concealment of visually disturbing elements in the landscape (visual protection).

Most elements of the protective function are, at the same time, an integral part of the conservation function of forest ecosystems. They cannot be considered or dealt with separately.

PRO SILVA considers the following means essential to achieve the benefits from the protective functions of the forest:

• Adopt a holistic approach involving continuous forest cover;
• Achieve specific nature conservation goals, including soil protective functions by specific guidelines limiting timber exploitation; for example, limits on the use of exotic species, fertiliser application, harvesting methods, drainage practices, etc.;
• Establish a regional network of protected forest areas consisting of various network functions including some non-intervention areas;
• Adopt specific strategies for physical protective functions such as prevention of erosion, conservation of water supplies, visual aspects, and capture of pollutants.