Formation of a sustainable forest management strategy

The paper is focused on the problem of developing a strategy for sustainable forest management and the forest sector of the economy of the territories. The aim is to improve approaches to its creation based on an ecosystem approach to generating real economic incomes from forest products and forest services and improving the environment. For this, the conceptual framework of the study based on the ecosystem approach is substantiated, considering the relationship between ecosystem services of the forest and various forms of their contribution to the economic development of territories, taking into account the forest and non-forest sectors of the economy. To determine the ecosystem services of the forest, the methods of direct counting, comparative analysis, assessment of “willingness to pay”, assessment of the carbon budget, etc. were used. The study of the economic value of the ecosystem services of the forest of transboundary territories showed the differences between the direct and indirect contribution of forests to the economy of the regions, which are determined by climatic features, the state of the forest fund, the degree of forestry activities, applied methods of forest management and forest use. The study made it possible to develop strategic directions for sustainable management of forest ecosystem services in transboundary territories and to draw a conclusion about the need to move from a conservation type of forest management to the principles of sustainable development based on the preservation and enhancement of the economic, social and ecological value of forests.