Changes in the legal and support background of woody energy plantations

Abstract

Current forestry laws and regulations are not applicable to woody energy plantations. The cultivation technology used in these plantations differs from ones used in conventional forest management; thereby, specific legislation to regulate cultivation in woody energy plantations is required. Hungary passed its first regulations for woody energy plantations in 2007. The legislation addressed permitting, range of plantable species, planting procedures, cultivation, and plantation harvesting. The legislation overregulated coppice technology and only targeted roundwood energy plantation. The legislation does not mandate forest site surveys and its related expert opinions despite their importance in plantation establishment, particularly regarding tree species selection. The latest legislation, which improves earlier deficiencies and prescribes planting-execution plans for all plantations, came into effect 2017. Another important change is the industrial purpose categorization of woody plantations, which appeared beside coppice and roundwood energy plantations. In addition to raw material production, this type of plantation also increases the carbon sequestration of agriculture. The availability of financial resources heavily influenced plantation area size and planting intensity over the years. Investigating plantation tendencies provides an opportunity to identify forms of support that play an important role in creating the conditions for rational land use. Our research presents the effects these changes in legislation and financial support have had on energy plantations.