#oakadapt

Central European oak dominated forests have been used for centuries and currently exhibit serious biodiversity decline associated with global environmental changes. Nonetheless, they preserve considerable natural capital. They have a key role in the timber provisioning for the society, protection of forest biodiversity and recreational purposes. They have a large potential in mitigation of climate change, protection of soil and water. Forest management has high responsibility in the sustainable use of forests, integration of protection elements and resilience against climate. Developing of sustainable management approaches that increase the resilience of forests and support biodiversity are central in current applied ecological research. Scientists from the Technical University in Zvolen (SK) and the Centre for Ecological Research (HU) experimentally investigate the effects of different forestry interventions and gap-cutting characteristics on forest microclimate, biodiversity, tree growth, and regeneration. Within the project, they will continue with experiments, make comparisons between forest stands managed by continuous cover forestry and rotation forestry, produce scientific research papers and transform the results into the forestry practice for local management partners: Forests of Krupina City (SK) and the Pilis Park Forestry Company (HU). This research can contribute to the scientific basis of continuous cover and close-to-nature management systems, that are used by the manager partners on large forest area. In addition, new management guidelines for ecologically sustainable forestry will be prepared in cooperation with National Forest Centre (SK) and Real Forest (SK) organizations. Pilis Park Forestry Company will develop and introduce the administration system of gaps and gap management, as well as introduce a monitoring of game browsing for successful forest regeneration. National Forest Centre will provide service for data sharing and information reflecting favourable status of forest biodiversity before global environmental changes. Such information and databases will support knowledge-based decision-making and partner’s cooperation. Results of the project will be widely disseminated among stakeholders, including education, nature conservations and forestry sector and provide important example and reference for future climate smart forestry.

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