Seeking consensus in German forest conservation: An analysis of contemporary concepts

Abstract

Setting operational conservation objectives is a major challenge for effective biodiversity conservation worldwide. To analyse forest conservation objectives in Germany in a transparent manner and to achieve a consistent and consensual framework, we systematically classified conservation objectives suggested in concepts by different stakeholders. We analysed 79 biodiversity and forest conservation concepts of different stakeholder groups at various scales and applied textual content analysis and Dirichlet regression to reach a high degree of transferability and applicability. Our analysis revealed a broad consensus concerning forest conservation across stakeholders and scales, albeit with slight differences in focus, but we detected a scale-related mismatch. A wide array of conservation objectives covered social, biotic and abiotic natural resources. Conservation of species, ecosystems and structural elements in forests were found to be of primary importance across stakeholders and scale levels. Shortcomings in the conservation concepts were found in addressing genetic diversity, abiotic resources and socio-cultural objectives. Our results show that problems in forest conservation may be rooted in trade-offs between aims, targeting mismatch across scale levels and insufficient implementation of objectives.

Using Choice Experiments as a Planning Tool for Reforestation after Extreme Events: The Case of the Vaia Windstorm in Italy

“…A similar result was achieved by other authors that analyzed landscape policies related to forests, such as, for example, Vecchiato and Tempesta [17] in a peri-urban context and Nielsen et al [14]. This result has some implications from a management perspective, given that in terms of timber production, a planted solution might be preferred, while from the provision of other ecosystem services (biodiversity, habitats, recreation, extreme events protection) a natural reforestation might bring greater benefits [42,43].…”

Suitability of contract-based nature conservation in privately-owned forests in Germany

“…Context-specific conservation measures, referring to specific conservation objects, funding periods and amounts, as well as possible monitoring to verify success, are contractually agreed upon. A broad consensus among different stakeholders in Germany with respect to conservation objectives (Demant et al 2019) may further promote the implementation of contract-based conservation in private forests.…”

Supplementary material 2 from: Demant L, Bergmeier E, Walentowski H, Meyer P (2020) Suitability of contract-based nature conservation in privately-owned forests in Germany. Nature Conservation 42: 89-112. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.42.58173

“…The aim of our study was to develop a comprehensive catalogue of forest conservation objects and measures eligible for contract-based funding. We built on the framework of conservation objectives suggested by Demant et al (2019) and focussed on forest habitat types, structural elements, and developmental processes as the most relevant conservation objects. We identified the conservation value of the objects by assessing the need for protection (owing to threat, endangerment) and the worthiness of preservation.…”