Climate smart forestry with stakeholders engagement

Traditional forest management practices in the Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark, especially those focused on timber production monocultures, are becoming less effective at addressing the challenges of climate change, natural hazards, pests, and diseases.This project seeks to enhance forest resilience through innovative management practices. The primary objectives are to establish replicated field trials in Norway spruce stands at the thinning stage, test alternative thinning treatments with deadwood retention, and compare regeneration methods (natural versus planting). The trials will be conducted in plots of at least 0.25 ha and will ensure, that only sites with consistent site conditions, including soil, topography, and climate will be compared. The project will also restore the area through species diversification, thinning regimes, and deadwood enrichment, emphasizing mixtures of drought-resistant species.The project will generate standardized field measurements and restoration indicators by collecting baseline and first-year data on key climate-smart forestry (CSF) and restoration indicators. Further, the project will quantify the early impacts of CSF practices on forest health, carbon storage, and biodiversity. Throughout all activities, the engagement of forest owners, stakeholders, and municipalities within the Nature and Geopark Styrian Eisenwurzen will be incorporated in trial design, along with knowledge sharing that contributes to policy development and the integration of findings into forest management strategies