Silvicultural research on stand-, regeneration- and deadwood-dynamics in consideration of light-ecology in beech and oak forests in the biosphere reserve Wienerwald for further development of sustainable resource management

Biosphärenpark Wienerwald (Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve) represents one of the biggest areas covered with deciduous forests in Europe, with the beech being the most common tree species. As set out in the guidelines for biosphere reserves, the forests are split into different management units according to their specific aims and interests (buffer zone and transition area), or they are not affected by human use at all (core area). In its mission statement, the Biosphärenpark commits itself to maintaining the ecological balance. Along with economic security and social equality, this balance is referred to as being one of the three pillars of sustainability. Therefore, close-to-nature management of forests can be defined as a guiding principle. By tradition, regeneration of forests in transition areas is achieved either by shelter wood cutting or by a mixture of shelter wood and strip cutting, which is becoming increasingly more frequent. Owing to the different structure and light requirements of the tree species, the targeted species composition and ratio can hardly be reached in many cases. The preservation of oak trees is of particular significance as they are crucial tree species for the sake of diversity. Great uncertainty remains as to the success of different silvicultural interventions at each site for the regeneration, preservation and use of "small areas", as well as to the aspects of deadwood in beech and oak tree populations both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The present project includes the following objectives: Primary objectives • enhancing the silvicultural knowledge and skills on close-to-nature management of beech and oak forests at Biosphärenpark Wienerwald while considering their specific aims and interests in use (biodiversity, species protection, timber and wood energy production, recreation, carbon storage) • developing concepts on strategic and operational management of forests to optimise a multi-purpose, sustainable management of resources • improving the bases for silvicultural decision-making for the regeneration, preservation and use of beech and oak tree populations within the context of a close-to-nature management with due regard to local and climatic changes. Sub-objectives • comparative research on regeneration ecology, structure and dynamics in differently managed forests (shelter wood, permanent forest management) and unmanaged forests with particular attention being paid to light ecology • research on structure and dynamics of deadwood in managed and unmanaged forests as the basis for targeted deadwood management Close-to-nature management of forests does not only include aspects of species composition, but rather focuses on the structure of the forests. Deadwood is a fundamental characteristic of hemeroby and is strongly connected to biodiversity. Research in this field is supposed to identify the extent to which different management exerts influence on biomass compartments in managed and unmanaged forests of the Wienerwald and aims at further developing a targeted monitoring system at Biosphärenpark Wienerwald. Cooperation with the management of the Biosphärenpark and the Österreichische Bundesforste AG (Austrian Federal Forests) makes it possible to incorporate the project partners' objectives in forest management as well as to apply the knowledge and skills acquired.