COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT on the implementation of the Forest Focus scheme according to Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community (Forest Focus)   accompanying document to the  report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the  implementation of the Forest Focus scheme according to Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community (ForestFocus)   Final report
Date: 2010-08-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU environmental policy, activity report, environmental monitoring, financial analysis, forest conservation, impact study, transfrontier pollution

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 26.8.2010 
SEC(2010) 978 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

on the implementation of the Forest Focus scheme according to Regulation (EC) No 
2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 
concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community 
(Forest Focus) 

accompanying document to the 

report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the  
implementation of the Forest Focus scheme according to Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 concerning 
monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community 
(ForestFocus) - Final report 

COM(2010) 430 final 

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1. 

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 

The  financial  overview  of  the  initial  commitments  and  the  final  expenditure  of  the 
Forest  Focus  scheme  is  shown  in  table  1.  The  breakdown  of  the  scheme  has  been 
done in two main blocks: the monitoring activities, forest fires prevention activities 
and  studies  included  in  the  national  programmes  for  2003  and  2006  and  what  is 
considered as the "other use of the Forest Focus budget". This second block includes 
the  mid  term  review  of  the  Forest  Focus  Regulation,  the  experts  meetings,  the 
administrative  arrangement  with  the  joint  Research  Centre,  the  agreement  between 
ICP-forests and the European Commission, the report from the UNECE on the state 
of forests in Europe 2007 and the conferences organised by the Commission on the 
results of the demonstration projects and studies. 

Table 1. Total budget allocations and final payments1  

Monitoring Activities and 
studies from all NP 2003-2006 
A activities – coordination and 
management  
B1 – Level I monitoring network 
B2 – Level II intensive 
monitoring plots 
B3 – forest fire prevention 
activities and EFFIS 
C – studies and demonstration 
projects 
Subtotal 1, allocation for 
monitoring activities 2003-2006 
Other use of the Forest Focus 
budget 
Mid term review of the Forest 
Focus regulation  
Expert meetings on forest 
monitoring  
Administrative arrangement with 
the Joint Research Centre: 
scientific co-ordination body 
Agreement between ICP-forest 
and the European Commission 
Report from the UNECE on state 
of forests and sustainable forest 
in Europe 2007 
 Conferences on the results of the 
C-Studies 2003-2004 & Biosoil 

€ committed 

€ paid 

3.890.786 
4.682.896 

2.325844,63 
4.009.735,70 

21.526.698 

19.566.344,86 

9.364.283 

5.055.365,85 

17.003.559 

14.815.015,06 

56.468.222 

45.772.306,10 

326.000,00 

326.000,00 

79.585,80 

29.087,71 

6.382.000,00 

6.382.000 

750.000,00 

747.067,91 

50.000,00 

40.000 

46.093,37 

46.093,37 

1 

The financial analysis of the scheme has been done in March 2010, considering the results of the French 
financial audit for the 2003-2004 national programme. It has to be considered that further audits may be 
undertaken  at  any  time  and  up  to  five  years  after  the  final  payments  of  the  EU  contribution  to  the 
national programmes.  

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project 
Subtotal 2, amount committed 
for agreements and grants 
Total (subtotal 1 + subtotal 2)  

7.587.586 
64.055.808 

7.570.248,99 
53.342.555,09 

Figure  1  shows  the  rate  of  expenditure  in  percentage  of  each  of  the  activities  as 
grouped  within  the  National  Programmes.  43%  of  the  expenditure  went  to  the 
intensive air pollution monitoring in the 820 selected plots followed by a 32% for the 
studies  and  demonstration  projects,  11%  was  spent  in  forest  fires  related  activities 
and a relative low rate of the systematic air pollution monitoring in the 6000 level I 
plots.  A  5  %  was  spent  for  the  coordination  and  management  of  the  national 
programmes.  

Fig.1. Rate of expenditure per activity for the 4 year period 2003-2006 

Expenditure per activity 2003-2006

32%

11%

5%

9%

43%

coordination and management

systematic air pollution
monitoring

intensive air pollution monitoring

forest fires activities

studies and demonstration
projects

Absolute final expenditure per MS and activity 

The  final  expenditure  by  Member  State  and  by  activity  included  in  the  national 
programmes  is  shown  in  figure  2.  Most  of  the  MS  spent  higher  amounts  in  the 
intensive  monitoring  and  less  in  the  16  x  16  km  systematic  network.  Several  MS 
used as well a considerable part of the budget for drafting studies and demonstration 
projects.  

The  higher  absolute  amount  for  a  MS  reached  the  10  million  €  meanwhile,  the 
minimum was a bit more than 130,000 €  and the average around 1.9 million €.  

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Figure 2. Expenditure per MS and activity. 

Expenditure per MS and activity

12.000.000,00

10.000.000,00

8.000.000,00

6.000.000,00

4.000.000,00

2.000.000,00

0,00

AT BE CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IRL IT LT LU LV NL PL PT SE SI SK UK

coordination activities
intensive monitoring
studies and demonstration projects

Studies and demonstration projects 

Member States

systematic monitoring
forest fires prevention measures and EFFIS

The  studies  and  demonstration  projects  can  be  grouped  into  3  main  categories; 
Biosoil,  forest  fires  studies  and  other  studies.  The  Biosoil  demonstration  study 
included two modules: the biodiversity module and the soil module with data from 
both the level I and level II networks. 

Other  studies  include  studies  on  genetic  diversity,  biodiversity  indicators,  carbon, 
pest management etc. 

Table 2. Breakdown of the costs for the studies and demonstration projects.  

C studies 

€ committed 

€ paid 

Biosoil  

Forest fire studies 
Other studies (biodiversity, climate change, 
genetics, etc) 

Total 

10.698.409,00 

10.014.338,89 

2.327.587,00 

1.208.019,37 

3.977.565,00 

3.592.656,80 

17.003.561  

14.815.015,06 

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€
 
Forest fires activities 

Forest fire related activities such as preventive works, awareness raising campaigns, 
trainings etc were performed in 13 MS. 5 million € have been spent in fire prevention 
measures, awareness raising campaigns, special trainings and EFFIS activities at the 
same  time  more  than  1.2  million  €  has  been  spent  in  studies  on  forest  fire  causes, 
dynamics as well as on their impacts as shown in figures 3 and 4.  

Figure 3. Forest fires related expenditure. 

forest fires related expenditure

6.000.000,00

5.000.000,00

4.000.000,00

3.000.000,00

2.000.000,00

1.000.000,00

0,00

forest fire prevention measures, 
awareness raising campaigns, special
trainings and EFFIS activities

forest fire studies on the causes,
dynamics of forest fires was well as on
their impacts on forests

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€
 
Figure 4. Expenditure by MS for the forest fire prevention activities 2003-2006 

B3 activities 

1.600.000,00

1.400.000,00

1.200.000,00

1.000.000,00

800.000,00

600.000,00

400.000,00

200.000,00

0,00

CY  DE  EE EL ES FI

FR HU IT

PL PT  SI  SK 

MS

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Final consumption per 1000 ha of forest and other wooded land 

An assessment of the final consumption per MS divided by each MS forest and other 
wooded  land  area2  per  1000  ha  is  shown  in  figure  5.  The  total  expenditure  of  the 
national programmes show that the higher amounts spent per 1000 ha of forest and 
other wooded land reached 2,250 € in Cypr us and the minimum  amount  accounted 
for less than 500 € in 16 MS. 

Figure 5. Final payments by 1000 ha of forest area per MS. 

final payments by total forest area per MS

2.500,00

2.000,00

1.500,00

1.000,00

500,00

0,00

L
W
O
d
n
a

t
s
e
r
o
f

a
h
0
0
0
1

r
e
p

€ 

AT BE CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HU IRL IT LT LU LV NL PL PT SE SI SK UK

MS

Series1

Consumption rate 

The  consumption  rate,  calculated  as  the  final  expenditure  over  the  initial 
commitment, shows a high rate of implementation of the scheme and a proper use of 
the  committed  funds.  A  considerable  number  of  MS  had  a  rate  above  an  80% 
meanwhile only 2 MS performed below the 50%. 

2 

Key figures taken from the Green paper on forest protection and information SWD: SEC (2010) 163 

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Fig 6. Consumption rate of the national programmes by Member State 2003-2006 

consumption rate (%)

)

%

(
e
t
a
r
n
o
i
t
p
m
u
s
n
o
C

120,00

100,00

80,00

60,00

40,00

20,00

0,00

AT

BECY CZDEDKEE EL

ES FI

FRHU

IRL IT LT LULV NL PL PT

SE SI

SKUK

Member State

consumption rate (%)

Relative share of expenditure 

The analysis of the relative share of expenditure per type of activity and MS is shown 
in figure 7. It is observed that from the activities included in the national programmes 
the intensive monitoring with the studies and demonstration projects took a great part 
of  the  funds.  Only  some  MS  used  the  Forest  Focus  scheme  for  forest  fires  related 
activities but for some of them it constituted a very important part of their national 
programmes (i.e. Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy and Portugal). 

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Fig. 7. Relative share of expenditure by type of activity. 

Relative share of expenditure by type of activity

%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

AT

BECY CZDEDKEE EL

ES FI

IRL ITLTLULV NLPLPT

SE SI

SKUK

FRHU
Member States

coordination activities

Level II monitoring

Level I monitoring

forest fires activities

studies and demonstration projects

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Annex 1. National codes used in Forest Focus as designated by the Member States. 

MS 

AT 

Country  

Region  

Austria 

National  

MS 

EL 

Country  

Region  

Greece 

National  

BE-FL 

Belgium  

Flemish Region  

ES 

Spain  

National  

BE-WL 

Belgium  

Walloon Region  

FI 

Finland 

National  

CY 

Cyprus  

National  

FR 

France  

National  

CZ 

DK 

Czech 
Republic  

National  

HU 

Hungary  

National  

Denmark 

National  

DE-BFH 

Germany  

Federal Level 

IE 

IT 

Ireland 

National  

Italy 

National  

DE-BB 

Germany  

Brandenburg 

LT 

Lithuania  

National  

DE-BE 

Germany 

Berlin 

LV 

Latvia 

National  

DE-BW 

Germany  

Baden- 
Württemberg  

LU 

Luxembourg  National  

DE-BY 

Germany  

Bayern  

DE-HE 

Germany  

Hessen 

NL 

PL  

The 
Netherlands  

National  

Poland 

National  

DE-MV 

Germany  

Mecklenburg 
Vorpommern  

-

PT-AZ 

Portugal  

Azores 

DE-NI 

Germany  

Niedersachsen  

PT-C  

Portugal  

Continent  

DE-NRW 

Germany  

Nordrhein-
Westfalen  

SE 

Sweden 

National  

DE-RP 

Germany  

Rheinland- Pfalz 

SI 

Slovenia  

National  

DE-SAAR  Germany  

Saarland 

SE 

Sweden 

National  

DE-SH 

Germany  

Schleswig 
Holstein 

SK  

Slovakia 

National  

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DE-SN 

Germany  

Sachsen  

UK  

United 
Kingdom  

National  

DE-ST 

Germany  

Sachsen-Anhalt 

DE-TH 

Germany  

Thüringen  

EE 

Estonia 

National  

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Annex 2 List of Forest Focus studies and demonstration projects 2003-2006: 

MS 

Description 

DK 

DK 

SE 

Forest Biota (Forest Biodiversity Test-phase Assessments)  

http://www.forestbiota.org/

Synthesis of litterfall monitoring in Denmark 1985-2006 

Biodiversity indicators in national forest inventories  

http://www.resgeom.slu.se/resana/projekt/common/default.htm 

(Com  Mon)  comparison  and  evaluation  of  methods  for  monitoring  of 
deadwood, vegetation, epiphytic lichens and stand structure in European 
forests 

SE 

Collection of precipitation in winter 

AT 

AT 

EL 

FI 

FI 

FI 

FI 

FI 

ES 

ES 

ES 

Soil-bio-Params  –  analysis  of  basic  soil  parameters,  effects  on  soil 
storage  

Biodiversity  indicators  in  national  forest  inventories  -  review  and 
monitoring and assessing forest structure as an indicator of biodiversity 
in NFI 

Forest Biota 

monitoring biodiversity in boreal forests 

Monitoring changes in the carbon stocks of forest soils 

The role of under-storey vegetation, forest litterfall and forest floor in the 
carbon and nitrogen fluxes of boreal coniferous forest ecosystems 

Laboratory ring test for deposition and soil solution 

Forest Biota 

Ozone  monitoring  coordination  -  website  of  ozone  injury  on  European 
forests ecosystems: http://www.ozoneinjury.org/  

Forest Biota 

fire  causes,  motivation  of 
Forest 
http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/sevilla-
2007/contributions/doc/SESIONES_TEMATICAS/ST4/Barroso_Gonzal
ez_SPAIN_EURAL.pdf  

forest  arson 

fires 

in  Spain 

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IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

IT 

forest fire causes 

Canadian fire weather index  

Ozone flux  

Working ring test 

HARMODEPO 

ForestBiota 

GMO and Biodiversity  

Biorefugia - response of tree species to climate change 

Carbon flux 

PT 

forest fire causes in continental Portugal  

Implementing an operational methodology for biodiversity monitoring in 
Portuguese 
forests 
http://www.isa.utl.pt/ceabn/content/2/155/implementing-operational-
methodology-biodiversity-monitoring-portuguese-forests/  

Forest Biota 

Use of tree nurseries for monitoring visible ozone injury 

Quality assurance - crown condition  

Improvement of modelling of catchment water dynamics 

PT 

PT 

UK 

UK 

UK 

D-BFH 

ForestBiota 

D-BY 

Soil respiration  

D-BY 

genetic characterisation of beech forest stands 

D-BW 

carbon stocks - soil 

D-BW 

Small scale variability of humus types 

D-BB 

Simulation model carbon balance 

D-BB 

Regionalization of soil change due to a lowering of the water table 

D-BB 

Fine root inventory on soil profile pit 

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D-BB 

genetic diversity 

D-NW 

monitoring epiphytic lichens 

D-NW 

carbon stocks monitoring 

D-HE 

genetic diversity - beech stands 

D-HE 

litterfall and carbon cycles 

D-HE 

carbon stocks - soil 

D-NI 

carbon stocks - soil 

D-NI 

carbon flux 

D-NI 

working ring test 

D-SH 

epiphyte monitoring  

D-SN 

regionalisation of soil data  

D-SN 

epiphyte monitoring  

D-SN 

forest fire - ecological and economic impacts 

D-RP 

remote sensing - habitats and structures 

D-RP 

genetic diversity - beech stands 

NL 

FR 

FR 

FR 

FR 

FR 

FR 

FR 

Assessment  of  the  relative  importance  of  N  deposition,  climate  change 
and  forest  management  on  the  sequestration  of  carbon  by  forests  in 
Europe (predicting changes in forest growth and carbon sequestration) 

forest fire - moisture content of Mediterranean wildland fuels 

forest fire - fire ignition 

fungal pathogens 

integrated pest management through monitoring 

humus sampling 

forest soil biodiversity 

fungi and lichens monitoring 

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FR 

Working ring test 

BE-VL 

forest soil biodiversity 

BE-VL 

forest soil survey design and harmonisation  

BE-WA  ENFIN - National Forest Inventories 

EL  

Economic evaluation 

FR 

FR 

FR 

Moisture content wild land fuels 

Valorisation geographical Information 

Forest fires and biodiversity 

HU 

Development of public relations 

IT 

IT 

IT 

PL 

PL 

Identification causes, dynamic 

Assessing fire risk Molise 

Methodology fire dynamic 

Assessing fire risk and spread 

Prevention by road firebelts 

PT - cont  Forest fire prevention 

Biosoil soil module 

Biosoil biodiversity module 

Annex 3. Studies coordinated by the Joint Research Centre 

Studies coordinated by the JRC 

Support to the technical coordination of the Biosoil project and central laboratory 

Climate change impact and carbon sequestration in European forests 

Development of a simple and efficient method field assessment of forest fire severity 

Use  of  National  Forest  Inventories  to  downscale  European  forest  diversity  spatial 
information in five test areas, covering different geo-physical and geo botanical conditions 

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Harmonizing NFI in Europe 

Development  of  harmonised  indicators  and  estimation  procedures  for  forests  with 
protective functions against natural hazards in the alpine space 

Linking  and  harmonizing  the  forests  spatial  patterns  analyses  at  European,  National  and 
Regional scales for a better characterization of the forests vulnerability and resilience 

Elaboration of a field guide of the forest monitoring in the context of the F Focus Reg. and 
evaluation of the field sampling schemes 

http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/studies-a-research-projects/forest-focus  

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