Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030

n/

Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030

Concerted efforts are required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In our study, we intend to outline how valuable synergy effects can be obtained from bilateral cooperation between Germany and Patagonia in order to protect temperate forest ecosystems and to ensure long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. The additional benefit of this transcontinental and transhemispherical cooperation is that there are analogies between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, but also distinct differences that complement each other perfectly. We show in an exemplary way, how the challenges of Global Warming and the associated increased vulnerability to forest fires and other natural risks can be tackled. Knowledge transfer and common strategies will provide sound solutions for SDG 13 (urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts), SDG 15 (sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss) and SDG 17 (strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development).Fil: Walentowski, H.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Hohnwald, S.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Thren, M.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Kappas, M.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Leuschner, C.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bava, J.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Loguercio, Gabriel Angel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Urretavizcaya, María Florencia. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Barrotaeveña, C.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Zerbe, S.. Free University of Bozen ; Itali

Integrativer Naturschutz aus Sicht der Geobotanik und Ökologie

Die Geobotanik beschäftigt sich mit den Veränderungen der Vegetation auf regionaler und globaler Ebene und auf historischen bis geologischen Zeithorizonten. Im Folgenden soll der Versuch unternommen werden, die Artenvielfalt Mitteleuropas, mit Fokus auf Pflanzen, in einen geografischen Rahmen zu stellen, um daraus für den Artenschutz in der Gegenwart zu lernen. Integrativer Naturschutz, in dem Schutzbestrebungen des Naturschutzes mit Interessen wirtschaftlicher Nutzung verbunden werden, ist die vielleicht wichtigste Möglichkeit, Artenvielfalt auf großer Fläche zu erhalten

Approaches to utilising QuickBird data for the monitoring of NATURA 2000 habitats

The implementation of standardised methods for the monitoring of NATURA 2000 sites in Europe is still a key topic in environmental research. Effective, economically priced and, as far as possible, automated applications are required. Rapidly developing sensor technology together with advanced image processing methods offer new possibilities for application of remote sensing data to NATURA 2000 monitoring. The studies presented here combine commonly available GIS data, such as Biotope Type Maps or Forestry Site Maps with remote sensing classifications of the very high spatial resolution (VHSR) QuickBird sensor. Two knowledge-based approaches under inclusion of a priori object-based information are utilised to detect the extent of habitats as well as their quality according to the German NATURA 2000 mapping guidelines. While one method used a segmentation of forested sites in Bavaria (southern Germany), the second technique applied available objects to classify heathland habitats in the Brandenburg Region (northern Germany). The results were subsequently compared, in close cooperation with local environmental authorities, with habitats mapped terrestrially for NATURA 2000 management plans. These results indicate that different remote sensing methods can be a valuable support for terrestrial mapping. Woodland habitats can be detected and specific NATURA 2000 quality parameters (e.g., percentage of natural forest types) are recognisable. In the case of heath-dominated sites, terrestrial mapping can even be replaced by remote sensing of certain habitat types for which it is also possible to obtain adequate measures of quality. Having evaluated the quality of forest and heathland NATURA 2000 habitats, two general challenges when implementing the guideline regionally could be indicated. Firstly, the very general scope of the Habitats Directive contradicts to specific local protection purposes. Secondly, the protection aims given for NATURA 2000 areas are very static. The Directive could be improved by adapting existing management and conservation strategies to pro-actively respond on likely anthropogenic influences

Vegetation changes of alpine calcareous grasslands in the Berchtesgaden National Park (SE-Germany) during the last three decades.

© 2016, Floristisch - Soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft. Anthropogenic impacts such as global warming, land-use change and nitrogen deposition are affecting plant communities worldwide, and particularly alpine communities have been undergoing significant changes in recent years. We therefore analysed changes in the alpine calcareous grassland vegeta-tion (Carex sempervirens and Carex firma communities) in the Berchtesgaden National Park over the last 30 years. We used data from permanent plots to produce a "floristic time series" from the 1980s to the present. We analysed the changes in the composition and species richness and tried to link these to autogenic or allogenic processes, with special focus on anthropogenic nitrogen deposition as a potential major cause. We found clear floristic changes over the study period, with an increase in average species richness of more than 10 species per plot in both communities. The Carex firma communities also showed a significant decrease in the average indicator values for continentality, suggesting that the floristic changes might be related to global warming and the resulting climatic effects. Global warming may have also accelerated the natural successional processes affecting the vegetation, but the time frame of 30 years is too short to consider this autogenic succession as one of the main factors. In contrast, nitrogen deposition or changes in land use appear to have played a smaller role in the vegetation changes

Reply to Mikoláš’s comment on “Opinion Paper: Forest management and biodiversity” by Schulze et al. (2014)

No abstract available

Opinion paper: Forest management and biodiversity

In this opinion paper we investigate the effects of forest management on animal and plant biodiversity by comparing protected areas with intensively and extensively managed forests in Germany and in Romania. We want to know the extent to which differences in diversity of Romanian compared to German forests are based on management. The number of tree species was not different in protected and managed forests ranging between 1.8 and 2.6 species per plot in Germany and 1.3 and 4.0 in Romania. Also herbaceous species were independent of management, ranging between 13 species per plot in protected forests of Romania and 38 species per plot in German coniferous forest. Coarse woody debris was generally low, also in protected forests (14 to 39m3 ha−1). The main difference between Romania and Germany was the volume of standing dead trees (9 to 28m3 ha−1 for Romania), which resulted in larger numbers of forest relict saproxylic beetles independent of management. Large predators (wolves, bears and lynxes) are only found in regions with low human intervention. Thus, we identified a “cut and leave” type of management in Romania, in which clear-felling of forest are followed by long periods of no human intervention. Forests managed in the “cut and leave” mode contained the highest diversity, due to a natural succession of plant species and due to habitat continuity for animals. In Germany intensive management eliminates poorly formed tree individual and species of low market value during stand development. Forest protection does not ensure the maintenance of more light demanding key species of earlier stages of succession unless competition by shade-tolerant competitors is reduced through disturbances. We compare the economics of intensive and extensive management. The “cut and leave” mode delivers less wood to the wood market, but saves expenses of tending, thinning and administration. Thus the net income could be quite similar to intensive management at a higher level of biodiversity. Our analysis suggests that forest protection per se does not yet ensure the maintenance of species. Clearfelling followed by natural succession may even be superior to the protectio

Faunal diversity of Fagus sylvatica forests: A regional and European perspective based on three indicator groups

<p>While the postglacial history of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and the plant species composition of beech forests in  Central Europe are fairly well understood, the faunal biodiversity has been less well investigated. We studied three groups of  mostly sedentary organisms in beech forest at regional and European scales by combining field studies with a compilation of existing literature and expert knowledge. Specifically, we examined the relationship between host tree genera and saproxylic  beetles, and the diversity and composition of forest ground-dwelling molluscs and ground beetles in relation to the abundance  of beech. At a west central European scale (Germany), where beech has a “young” ecological and biogeographical history,  we found 48 primeval forest relict species of saproxylic beetles associated with beech, 124 ground beetles and 91 molluscs  inhabiting beech forest, yet none exclusive of west central European beech forests. High levels of faunal similarity between beech and other woodland trees suggested that many of the beech forest dwelling species are euryoecious and likely to  originate from mid-Holocene mixed broadleaf forests. Beech forests of the mountain ranges in southern and east central  Europe, which are ecologically and biogeographically “old”, were found to harbour distinct species assemblages, including  beech forest specialists (such as 10 carabid species in the Carpathians) and narrow-range endemics of broadleaf forest. The  observed biodiversity patterns suggest differentiated conservation priorities in “young” and “old” European beech forest  regions.</p

A review on plant diversity and forest management of European beech forests

The impact of historical and present drivers on forest biodiversity is poorly understood. A better understanding is mandatory to ensure conservation and appropriate management of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the face of climate warming and increasing demand for wood products. Here, we assess forest management strategies for maintaining plant biodiversity in Central European beech forests, with a focus on Germany. We show that (1) diversity of the German vascular plant flora increased exponentially during the Holocene reaching 3874 species mainly through apomictic and hybrid speciation. Vascular plant species confined to forests comprise about 10 % of this flora. No loss in vascular plants restricted to forests occured over the past 250 years despite of forest management; (2) the indigenous arboreal flora has a low diversity (64 tree species) compared with other continents due to environmental changes in the last 2 million years; (3) forest management has maintained a high plant diversity in the past. It should be an aim of silviculture to ensure this in the future; and (4) only 22 of the indigenous tree species are commercially used; nine of these commercially used species are threatened by diseases. We introduce the concept of palaeo-neophytes to address genera that existed in Central Europe during the latest Cenozoic. The introduction of species of palaeo-neophytic genera and sub- Mediterranean species is discussed as a measure to buffer negative effects on native species caused by climate change and spread of novel diseases