Technology for safeguarding biodiversity under conventional commercial hemiboreal forest management

European Union Cohesion Policy programme 2021–2027, European Regional Development Fund Specific Aid Objective 1.1.1 "Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies" Measure 1.1.1.3 "Practical research" project No. 1.1.1.3/1/24/A/095

Project partners are LSFRI "Silava" (leading partner), INGKA Investments Management Ltd. and OTEMA Ltd.
Project implementation period is 36 months.
Total budget is 592,218.59 EUR, incl. ERDF funding 459,983.96 EUR.

Northern Europe is the region capable to ensure locally produced raw materials for development of bioeconomy of European Union, even while facing accelerating climatic changes. Under the interaction of growing demand for wood-based resources and strategies to balance diverse management goals at the forest landscape scale, conventional forest management (retention forestry) will still dominate in the region. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the measures intended to safeguard and promote biodiversity in the commercial forests, are effective. Hence, the goal of the project is to asses the efficiency of existing measures and to develop technology for their enhancement in terms of biodiversity promotion to ensure larger-scale implementation of closer-to-nature management in hemiboreal forest of Europe (eastern Baltic region).

The project will be carried out as applied, industrial research unrelated to economic activity in smart specialization (RIS3) area Knowledge-intensive bio-economy, field of Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The results will contribute to development of economic sector of silviculture and other forestry activities (NACE2 02.10). The project will be carried out in cooperation with two forest management companies, based on competence of their personnel: 1) INGKA Investments Management Ltd., the largest private forest owner in Baltic states (thus heaving high on-site knowledge, competences and assets, valuable to gather data); company aims to ensure sustainable production of raw material in retention forestry setting and strategy to implement components of closer-to-nature forestry, thus interested to boost development of applicable recommendations and policies; 2) OTEMA Ltd., which possess high qualification and competences in assessment of epiphyte and vegetation species diversity; company is representing the small forest owners, hence its involvement is essential for verification of the scalability (including downscaling) of the results of the project also for smaller businesses, which are crucial for national economy and for development of RIS3 in rural areas.

The tasks of the Study:

1. Effectiveness. Assess the short- and medium-term effect of species, number, and distribution (scattered, small groups, large groups) of retention trees on nesting success of medium and large birds and diversity of other species groups;
2. Baring capacity. Quantify sufficiency (baring capacity) of retention trees with different distribution in terms of bird nesting in intensively managed forest massifs compared to districts where harvesting is not allowed/extensive;
3. Disturbances. Evaluate the effect of post clear-cut management (e.g., soil preparation, planting, weed control, precommercial thinning) on nesting success of medium and large birds sized birds in retention trees and other species groups in post clear-cut young stands;
4. Recolonization. Assess the effect of retention tree species, distribution and site type in terms of facilitation of recolonization of epiphytes in post clear-cut young stands in mid-term;
5. Gap size. Evaluate long-term effects of salvage logging scale on ground cover vegetation and epiphytes in terms of variable gap sizes in context with restoration practices for light demanding epiphytes and opening-demanding bird species.

Each of the tasks will end with at least one open-access scientific publication and conference presentation. Additionally, results will be distributed in national forest sector seminars and events (at least 4) and presented to policy makers in ministries dealing with protection and management of forest ecosystem (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Smart Administration and Rural Development, Ministry of Climate and Energy). Research partner (LSFRI "Silava") in open auction will secure license agreement for the technology to increased efficiency of retention techniques to establish it as built-in tool forest management support systems thus develop it to further technology readiness levels.