Ökosystemleistungen von Dauerwäldern – eine aktuelle Analyse des Waldbaus

Abstract

Ecosystem services and continuous cover forests – a silvicultural analysis Current concepts of “Dauerwald” or continuous cover forestry rely on complex silvicultural strategies, which are often modified according to site conditions and the management objectives of the forest owners. The preservation of continuity and the provision of an adequate structural diversity within forest ecosystems are the common underlying principles of the different concepts of continuous cover forestry. In light of the uncertainty of the predicted climatic changes, an increased risk of disturbances and changing demands regarding the services provided by forests, it is questionable whether the silvicultural strategies currently applied in the context of continuous cover forestry (e.g. “Plenterwald”) fully embrace these changes. In order to address this issue, forest structures favoured by concepts of continuous cover forestry are assessed with respect to their direct impact on different ecosystem services (utilization, conservation, recreation). The analysis illustrates that there are currently few studies dealing with the direct link between the silvicultural strategies applied in continuous cover forests, the forest structures resulting therefrom and, subsequently, the provided ecosystem services. Although continuous cover forests deliver a wide range of ecosystem services, their concept must nevertheless be developed further, because even in continuous cover forests the equitable maximization of diverse ecosystem services cannot be realized.