Summary

Vilnius state forest enterprise

Summary

In 2009 Vilnius State Forest Enterprise celebrates its 70's activity anniversary. The order on establishment of the forest enterprise was undersigned in the year 1939. All significant history events influenced the activities of the forest enterprise, as a state institution. Only one thing didn‘t change - it was and is the forest enterprise of capital‘s woods and its suburbs.

Now Vilnius Forest Enterprise supervises and manages 59,4 thousand hectares of Vilnius city and Vilnius District Municipality woods. The biggest part of woods - 92 % - is located in the territory of Vilnius District and 8 % in the territory of city area. The woods located in the forest enterprise territory are divided into 12 forestry’s, and these are divided into 34 sectors of a forest-guard. Average size of a sector is equal to 1.750 hectares. The whole territory of the woods being administered is divided into 1.739 blocks. Average size of a block is 34 hectares.

Main objective of wood management is a rational and continuous assurance of wood resource use, enlargement of wood productivity, coordination of all wood functions, recovery of woods and on-time implementation of other wood measures.

Having regard to the dominant kinds of trees pines take the biggest share of wood array in the Vilnius Forest Enterprise, i.e. 56 %, 26% of wooded area is covered by spruce, 11 % - birch, 3% - oak, remaining 4% - accordingly - alnus glutinosa, alnus inkana, aspen.

According to the indexes of wood maturity 42% of the area are covered by half-life stands, 20% - by ripe forests, 19% - by young trees and trees under a process of raping.

The areas covered by forests according to categories cover areas of different size. Fourth category - economical forests - 36.001 hectares (60,5%), of the area of all forests. Third group - protective forests - 9.434 hectares (15,9%), of the forests. Second group - recreation forests - 7.905 hectares (13,3%, of the area. Second group - ecosystem protection forests - 6.097 hectares, (10,2%) of the area. First group - reservation forests - 74 hectares (0,1%) of the common area of forests being administered.

Forests of state importance cover 30,6 thous. hectares (51%). The area covered by state forests, reserved for recovery of proprietorship, now is equal to 19 thous. hectares (32%). Private forests cover 9,9 thous. hectares (17%) of the common forest area.

Protected territory and forests, where economical regime is limited, cover 24.919 hectares (41,9%) of the whole forest territory of the forest enterprise (common country index is 32,8%).

In the forests of national importance these areas cover 47,5% of the area.

There are established Neris Regional Park, Verkiai and Pavilniai Regional Park and 15 reservations of national importance in the protected areas.

Recovery of forests is one of priority tasks of the Vilnius State Forest Enterprise.

Every year forest enterprise recovers on an average approximately 185 hectares of fully deforested areas. The major part of them by afforesting (90%) and by sprouting (10%). Seeking to recover deforested areas there are planted approximately  720 thous. young plants and seedlings (pine - 370 thous. units, spruce - 330 thous. units, oak - 15 thous. units, birch - 30 thous. units).

All forests of the Vilnius State Forest Enterprise were certified in the year 2008. It was performed by the representative of Smart Wood program in the Baltic countries authorized by the Forest   Stewardship Consult Danish Enterprise NEPCon (Nature, Ecology and People Consult). Certification was performed by Poland enterprise „SGS Polska Sp. z. o. o.". The objectives of certification is to seek to certify, that forests of the forest enterprise are maintained and utilized following the principles of forest protection applied in Europe and to get a mark of forest control quality acknowledged internationally, QUALIFOR and FSC trademark. It would assure the supply of certified forest products from the Vilnius State Forest Enterprise in wood market. The aforementioned Polish company performed audition of economical means, whose objective is to make sure, how does the company implements certification receiving conditions determined during forest certification. Inspectors indicated that activities of the forest enterprise are performed following the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania. Legislative basis is prepared well. Forests are managed and maintained as such following principles of FSC. The Vilnius State Forest Enterprise has fully implemented 4 conditions, partially 3 conditions from 14.

According to inspectors’ opinion, these are excellent inspection results. Now these are the best results in Lithuania.

Besides forest maintenance activities, foresters of the Vilnius State Forest Enterprise devote much attention and time for the work with society and young forest friends, as well. Vilnius foresters patronize 18 groups of young forest friends. Total amount of members is 267 nature lovers.

By efforts of the collective of the Vilnius State Forest Enterprise there was prepared and exposed the exposition „Man and forest" in Druskininkai, which was visited by more than 6000 visitors.

Cognitive path of Dukstai oak - wood became longer by one more leg and now the length of the planked path adapted to disabled people is equal to 2200 meters. There are erected 18 new sculptures in the Dukstai oak-wood and installed 11 new information stands on ecology and historical issues.

Construction and maintenance of recreation objects is one of the most important ways of community integration into ecological education. We can be happy about diligence and fantasy of Vilnius foresters making recreation zones in beautiful forest places. Vilnius city residents and guests can spend their time in nature thoughtfully in more than 64 resorts, summerhouses or testing-places.

By the efforts of the Forest Enterprise employees there were created video films about nature, there were prepared pamphlets, publications for ecological education of children and community. Having regard to the development of information technologies, every forestry of the Forest Enterprise has an e-mail. A comprehensive presentation of Forest Enterprise activities can be found on the web page www.vilmu.lt