PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In the 19th century in Denmark, the forest area had fallen to 2-4%, which led to the first forestry law (1805) and prohibition of grazing in the woods. Extensive forest drainage in the 19th and 20th centuries intensified timber production which remained in focus until 1989. This resulted in drained, dark forests with little deadwood and few old trees, uniform age structure, lack of natural dynamic and a focus on economically attractive tree species. Denmarks Forest Act in 1989introduced multipurpose use for the forests, but management has not sufficiently focused on nature. Although the average amount of dead wood in deciduous forests within Danish Natura 2000 sites is almost three times higher than outside of the network, it is still below thresholds set by the Danish definition for favourable conservation status. Dead and rotting wood is necessary for species such as hermit beetles, whose larvae develop inside older hollow trees, primarily oaks.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE Open Woods aims to improve the conservation status of nine forest habitat types and the endangered hermit beetle, Osmoderma eremita, all listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive, in Natura 2000 network sites. Specifically, the project aims to:
improve the conservation status of around 1 855 ha of 9 forest habitat types in 20 Danish Natura 2000 sites by improving their structure and ecological function, increasing the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor, controlling invasive species, improving hydrological conditions, and increasing the area of and connection between forest habitats; improve the conservation status of hermit beetle in five Natura 2000 sites (four in Denmark and one in Germany) by securing habitats and the, genetic diversity of populations, and by protecting host trees, decreasing habitat fragmentation, filling the tree age gap by using mould boxes in the short term and securing rejuvenation of and planting new oaktrees in the long term, veteranisation of trees (to mimic the damage found in older trees), and the establishment of a genetic mirror population of hermit beetle in the German Natura 2000 sites; build capacity, share best practice, increase and update knowledge and experience, as well as awareness among site managers, landowners, state administration, students, public and NGOs concerning the management of the targeted habitats and species; contribute to the development of the next generation of action plans for state owned forests in 23 Danish Natura 2000 sites based on best practice on achieving favourable status of habitats and species of EU concern; contribute to lowering barriers in Danish compensation schemes to increase uptake by private estate owners to secure habitats of hermit beetle populations; and contribute to the Biodiversity 2020 targets by improving the structure and ecological function of forest habitats in Denmark.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Forest habitats:
development towards favourable conservation status on about 7 571 ha of deciduous forest habitats, including 9 habitat types of the Habitats Directive in 20 Natura 2000 sites in Denmark; structure and ecological function of 9 forest habitats improved by: increased amount of deadwood on over 1 000 ha of tree stands 80-150 years old, removal of shading trees around veteran trees, increasing structural variation of tree plantations on 31 ha, grazing on 5 421 ha, controlling alien species, improvement of hydrological conditions, and increased connectivity of forest habitats; and preparation and implementation of plan for Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) in one Natura 2000 site. Hermit beetle:
improvement in conservation status of approx. 50% of hermit beetle populations in Danish Natura 2000 sites and the whole population of hermit beetle in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany; secured existing and future habitat for Osmoderma eremita by removing shading trees around 370 veteran trees, selective pruning of 113 old trees, and the signing of long-term management agreements with private landowners in up to four Danish Natura 2000 sites; connectivity of hermit beetle habitats increased by setting up mould boxes in 3 Danish Natura 2000 sites; preservation of genetic variability of hermit beetle population in Schleswig- Holstein, achieved by creation of mirror population in the German Natura 2000 project site; and implementation plans prepared for sites with hermit beetles in five (four Danish and one German) Natura 2000 sites based on best management practice. Capacity building, sharing best practice and increasing knowledge and awareness:
guidelines (e.g. veteranisation) prepared and disseminated; private Owners Network organised in Denmark and increased knowledge on forest management for hermit beetle of at least nine estate owners with Osmoderma eremita; recommendations for improvement of Danish compensation schemes for forest biodiversity; 21 drafts of next generation action plans (2021) prepared for forests in Danish Natura 2000 sites; principals presented to educate future forest managers in best practices in management of all forest habitats towards a favourable conservation status; and awareness and knowledge about best practice management of forest habitats and hermit beetle increased among stakeholders.
