Alternatywne koszty ustanowienia stref ochrony gatunkowej ptaków w lasach na przykładzie wybranych nadleśnictw

The article presents the results of research on the opportunity costs related to establishment of perennial bird protection zones in forests located in two randomly selected forest districts of the Mazowieckie Province: Grójec and Zwoleń (Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Radom). The analysis included calculation of profits lost by forest districts due to termination of timber harvest in bird protection zones and also estimation of work places lost as a result of introduction of new limitations (social costs). The analysis was conducted based on the assumption that currently protected tree stands within protection zones would have been managed in a regular manner, i.e. that pre−commercial and commercial thinning, as well as final cuttings would have taken place and that they would have been a source of income to the examined forest districts. Based on the characteristics of tree stands within protection zones derived from the forest management plans for the forest districts at stake, potential thinning and cutting volumes for a 10−year period as well as potential incomes from timber sale were determined. The calculated timber volume was also used for estimating labour intensity of timber harvesting and skidding. Establishment of perennial bird protection zones generated losses in timber harvest in the amount of about 24.6 thousand m³ during the period of 10 years, which equals to about 1.7% (Grójec) and 2.2% (Zwoleń) of planned timber harvest amounts stated in the forest management plans of the studied forest districts. Total opportunity costs were equal to 3478 thousand PLN during 10 years or 1313 PLN/ha of protection zone annually. Annual opportunity costs calculated per unit of forest area of the forest districts were equal to 11.56 PLN/ha. The estimated loss in work places was 0.85 full−time jobs annually per every 100 ha of perennial bird protection zones. Results show that economic and social costs of nature protection activities concentrate in places of their origin. Those costs are felt the most by owners of affected forests and local communities. Exploration and introduction of instruments allowing mitigation of negative effects resulting from restrictions in forest use are therefore recommended.