PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Traditional forest management, focused on the maximisation of continuous wood production, has simplified forest stands. This simplification is demonstrated by the scarcity of deadwood and large old trees, and of the related availability of microhabitats. It results in a lack of forest gaps and a reduction in the structural heterogeneity of forests. Afforestation with coniferous species creates habitat that is not suitable for species that have evolved in the original broadleaf habitats. It also makes trees very vulnerable to pests, with outbreaks that result in intensive forest harvests to contain the infestations. These threats to forest biodiversity are included in the European Forest Strategy, which recognises the need to ensure the multifunctional potential of EU forests that are managed in a sustainable and balanced way, enabling fully functional forest ecosystem services.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE SPAN project is to demonstrate an innovative and economically sustainable forest planning and management approach to conserve biodiversity and increase structural heterogeneity in productive forests of the Natura 2000 network in Italy and Germany, which will be achieved through the implementation of specially designed management plans. This will improve the conservation status of habitat types and species of Community Interest in the targeted Natura 2000 network sites. Specifically, the project team will:
Establish a network of Saproxylic Habitat Sites (SHS) in each site, which will represent 5% of the total productive forests for the Italian site (62.5 ha in total, 2.5 ha each, n=25) and 1.2% for the German site (27 ha in total, 1.5 ha each, n=18). The SHS size and spacing will be designed to ensure that their beneficial effects will contribute to increased and protected biodiversity of the entire forest matrix (about 1 257 ha for Italy and 2 176 ha for Germany);Increase the availability of key resources for saproxylic species (utilising dead or decaying wood), by creating microhabitats within trees, increasing the amounts of deadwood, and creating forest gaps within SHS;Transfer the approach to the managers of other Natura 2000 sites, and to other practitioners through training activities and guidelines, to ensure its application in other forests; and Disseminate the approach to the public to increase awareness of the importance of forest biodiversity conservation and integrated approaches.
At EU level, the project contributes to the goals of the EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive and, in consequence, the EU Biodiversity Strategy. At Italian regional level, Regione Friuli Venezia Gulia (FVG) has committed to adopting the guidelines manual as a reference document.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Microhabitats: creation of at least 15 habitat-trees/ha (e.g. making trunk cavities, basal slits for water accumulation);Deadwood: leaving uprooted trees (at least 1/ha), standing dead trees (minimum of 4/ha), and the laying of dead trees (over 10/ha) to exceed the identified minimum threshold (20 m3/ha) to preserve saproxylic biodiversity in mixed-montane forests;Forest gaps: creating open areas (0.15 ha) inside each SHS, which will increase the diversity of herbs and flowers (resources for forest insects);Biodiversity: promotion of increased biodiversity, with SHS hosting at least 10% more species than control sites;Structural heterogeneity: increased availability of old-growth trees (measurable with canopy cover metrics);Ecosystem services: timber and bioenergy production, landscape and tourism attractiveness, and biodiversity conservation;Preparation of 300 paper copies and e-book,in 3 languages, of the guidelines for the implementation of the SHS. The guidelines will be sent to managers of Natura 2000 forest sites and to managers of other areas (at least 30 areas per country), and regional and national forest services (at least 10 contacts per country);Two marteloscopes established, involving at least 300 practitioners and a training course in the University Forest Sailershausen, for forest managers (involving at least 100 students per year, three universities);Local communities informed on the project through the distribution of 2 000 copies of the brochure and the organisation of three public events per site;Primary and secondary school students involved through lessons (at least 10 lessons per year, distribution of 1 000 paper copies of the booklet and e-book version) and distribution of the project booklet; and At least 2 000 people contacted through the newsletter of the project (12 editions).
