The close, variable and complex, direct and indirect interactions between humans and forests, and between forest ecosystems and other categories of land-use systems in Europe, makes it very difficult to assess risks and prospects of protection and conservation schemes and options. The political discussion since 1980 until today has emphasized the separation of protection areas apart from multifunctional forests. This concept favoured especially by politicians, environmental ministries and NGOs leads to many consequences in administration and practical management of protected areas, and may increase risks in stability of forests. However, as a major part of forests in Europe is being used simultaneously for economic, recreational and other multiple use purposes, integrated forest management plays a major role in maintaining biodiversity. Currently the concepts of forest conservation are going through a significant change from static approach towards dynamic approach. In fact, conscious management,
ranging from non-intervention to intensive methods, is necessary to assure conservation and dynamic evolution of species and ecosystems.
It is assumed that, to counteract uncertainties, comprehensive forest biodiversity monitoring should be extended beyond the forest border to cover interaction with other land use components and with trees in the landscape (Parviainen and Paivinen, 1998; Puumalainen, 2001). In addition to conventional assess ents, multifunctional forest resource assessments should study forests in the landscape context and provide information on the transition zone between forest patches and other types of land cover. Seasonal and diurnal migration and casual crossings between the edges
and borders of biotopes are of prime importance for the diversity of specific organism groups and their abundance in nature. For example, in forests and agricultural fields the abundance of species is related to the inner areas and outer fringes of the forest or field. Diversity in structure is related to high species diversity forest stand and landscape levels.
Edge effects caused by the mosaic of patches and borderlines inside of forests are not of less importance and can be influenced and even directed by silvicultural methods.