This chapter analyses the role of networks in the development of the markets for non-wood forest products and services (NWFP&S) with reference to experiences gained in northern and Mediterranean ...Europe (using cases from Finland and Italy). The aim of the work has been to analyse a number of selected case studies within the theoretical framework developed by Varamäki and Vesalainen (2003) in order to demonstrate the relevance of networks in NWFP&S development. In the Mediterranean region, high population density, poverty and low wood productivity of forests have traditionally stimulated an intensive use of all potentially available sources of food, fodder and raw materials. In northern Europe, there is also a strong culture of utilizing forest products and, especially with the recent crises in the wood industry, interest in other uses of forests has increased. The enterprises dealing with NWFP&S are typically small or micro-sized and usually, except in a few cases, the turnover generated by the harvest, production, processing and/or commercialization of NWFP&S is quite limited. In this context, it is fairly evident that the creation of networks among NWFP&S producers, traders or sellers, or with other larger enterprises, can be a successful business strategy leading to positive economic results. The four case studies analysed in the chapter provide evidence supporting this idea. They concern both single-product/-service and multi-product/-service networks and, furthermore, they examine different evolutionary stages (from 'development circle' to 'project group'). These different case studies show which can be the role played by network structures in supporting innovation in NWFP&S marketing initiatives. In fact, it can be concluded that analysed networks: have been able to compensate for the traditional problems that micro-enterprises and small and medium enterprises may face in introducing innovations; can facilitate access to public funding and also to a key development factor such as forest land availability; or they can help in increasing the visibility of the sector.
Carbon markets evolving around the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change may offer significant innovation potential for the European forest sector. We describe the opportunities that ...arise (and do not arise) for forest enterprises in the frameworks of various new markets: those directly induced by the Kyoto Protocol market-based mechanisms (such as Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and the Joint Implementation), the European regulated carbon market (Emissions Trading Scheme), and the voluntary carbon market. This chapter also takes into account the trade-offs between marketing the carbon sequestration service and traditional timber production, as well as possible influences of changing accounting rules recently being discussed for the post-2012 period.
The main objective of the paper is the quantification of the carbon storage in Veneto forests with reference to the present situation and possible scenarios of forest extension. In the first part of ...the paper the evolution of the carbon storage function from 1985 to 1992 is presented on the basis of a model which makes use of the data of the two regional forest inventories and of other sources. The study then deals with simulations of the effects of different management policies on the carbon sequestering function; 4 scenarios are described to test the effects in carbon storage through forest activities: "Business as Usual", "Hedges and Windbreaks", "Forest Policy" and "EU Agriculture Policy" scenarios. After an economic evaluation of carbon storage through a shadow price based on the carbon tax, some general conclusions are presented.
ITALIANO: La ricerca e' un tentativo di valutazione, in via del tutto preliminare, del ruolo delle risorse forestali venete nell'assorbimento del carbonio. Sulla base dei dati di superficie e di volume forniti dagli inventari regionali, e' stato costruito un modello deterministico che permette di simulare l'evoluzione qualitativa e quantitativa delle risorse forestali della regione. Grazie al modello e' stato possibile stimare il volume della biomassa forestale epigea e, quindi, del carbonio temporaneamente fissato nelle biomasse forestali dal 1985 al 1992 e l'incremento della capacita' fissativa al 2000 e al 2010 in relazione a diverse possibili scelte di intervento pubblico nel settore forestale. Si e' quindi valutata la funzione serbatoio dal punto di vista economico mediante l'assunzione di un valore di 38.100 lit/t di carbonio fissato, valore ottenuto utilizzando come "prezzo-ombra" una carbon tax di 3 dollari al barile. I risultati relativi all'evoluzione della capacita' fissativa sono stati infine confrontati con la quantita' di carbonio che verra' emessa nel 2000, secondo le previsioni del Dipartimento Industria ed Energia della Regione Veneto.
