Natura 2000 in Forestry Practice

In the European Union, approximately 375,000 km² of forest are protected as SAC sites under the Natura 2000 network, which constitutes about 50% of the total protected area in the network and around 21% of the total forested area in the EU (European Commission, 2016). The protection and management of Natura 2000 sites (SAC and SPA sites) are governed by Article 6 of the Habitat Directive, which imposes three key provisions on member states:

1. Defining necessary conservation measures for each area that meet the ecological requirements of existing protected habitat types and species of EU-wide significance (Article 6.1).
2. Taking action to avoid habitat degradation or significant disturbance to the species for which the areas were designated (Article 6.2).
3. Implementing an assessment procedure for plans or projects that are likely to have negative impacts on Natura 2000 areas (Articles 6.3 and 6.4)

In the forests protected as SAC sites in the Natura 2000 network, forest managers must follow conservation objectives and apply corresponding measures for the habitat types and species listed in the annexes (European Commission, 2015).

To ensure efficient and transparent management that aligns with conservation goals, relevant authorities (including forestry companies and forest administrations) are encouraged to prepare Natura 2000 management plans in partnership with local stakeholders. These plans define the conservation objectives for each Natura 2000 site, specify the measures needed to meet them, and clarify the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved (European Commission, 2016). Management plans typically provide detailed explanations of why the site was designated, the current conservation status of species and habitat types of community importance, and their primary threats and pressures. In Germany, management plans are considered crucial for identifying necessary conservation and development actions across all federal states and at the national level (Magnus et al., 2008).

Under Article 2.3 of the Habitats Directive, conservation measures must consider economic, social, and cultural needs, along with regional and local specificities. Viewing people as part of nature, the directive does not aim to restrict economic activities within protected areas. Instead, it requires Member States to establish conservation measures that allow for a balanced approach, where species and habitat protection coexist with sustainable land use. (European Commission, 2015). In forest habitats, this often involves finding a balance between timber production and environmental protection. In Germany, only 1.9% of forests are entirely untouched and preserved as “process-protection” areas (= “Prozessschutz”), where natural processes occur without human intervention (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2015). The remaining forests, including those within Natura 2000 sites, are managed for both conservation and sustainable forest product production.

The predominant approach to sustainable forestry in Germany is the integrative approach or multifunctional forest management (= "Close-to-Nature Forest Management” ~ “near-to-nature-managed forests” ). This type of forestry practice requires the integration of small-scale elements of forest nature conservation, such as maintaining a certain proportion of deadwood, habitat trees, and old-growth groups, into utilization (Kraus et al., 2013). These elements and structures are essential for protecting various Annex II and Annex IV Forest species, along with other rare or protected species, including birds. They also play a critical role in maintaining a favorable conservation status for Annex I forest habitats (Kraus et al., 2013).

An effective example of sustainable forestry that aligns with Natura 2000 objectives and embodies the multifunctionality of European forests is the deadwood and old-growth concept (AuT), introduced by ForstBW in Baden-Württemberg in 2008. Under the AuT approach, selected tree stands and clusters are left undisturbed, allowing natural development, aging, and eventual decomposition of deadwood. These areas are chosen based on criteria such as the presence of rare and protected species, old growth, and various ecological and silvicultural factors. This careful selection ensures a network of preserved areas across the forest, linking them functionally with strict forest reserves. Since 2010, the AuT concept for preserving deadwood and old-growth has been incorporated into routine management practices throughout all state forests in Baden-Württemberg, including both protected and non-protected areas (Source: Baden-Württemberg, European Commission, 2015).

Another approach to sustainable forestry compatible with Natura 2000 is the so-called "Lübeck Model." This nature-oriented forest management aligns with the natural processes of the area, following the principle of minimizing disturbance to natural processes. This method of forest utilization promotes the natural spread of native, site-appropriate tree species, resulting in lower harvesting rates compared to growth, while simultaneously creating added value through the sale of quality timber. Nature-oriented Forest management requires infrequent care interventions and is suitable for all forests, regardless of their size. It has been applied since the mid-1990s, including in the forests of Göttingen, Lübeck, and Uelzen (European Forest Institute, 2015)

Appropriate management strategies can lead to structurally rich forests while enabling extensive timber harvesting; however, this strategy is not universally applicable to all protected forest ecosystems (Winkel et al., 2015). When selecting the appropriate management strategy, many different factors must be considered. To assist forest managers, the authorities in Baden-Württemberg, where nearly 30% of all forest areas belong to the European Natura 2000 network, have developed the "Area Management Forest" concept (Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Württemberg, 2020). 

Accordingly, the local forestry authorities in cities and counties are supposed to establish a new position of Area Forest Supervisor. Property owners will be assigned a nature conservation expert from the local forestry authority to provide them with advice to ensure that forestry decisions align with the intent of the protected area designation. The primary contact for all inquiries related to forest conservation seeks to provide property owners with increased assurance in their actions while making a significant contribution to the lawful implementation of Natura 2000 (Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Württemberg, 2020).

Sources

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Special Information of the BfN on the “Nature Conservation Offensive 2020” of the Federal Ministry for the Environment: Status, Trends, and Reasons for the Prioritized Goals of the NBS, Bonn - Bad Godesberg, 2015.

European Union, Natura 2000 and Forests Part I-II, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2015.

European Union, Natura 2000 and Forests Part II-III, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2016.

Kraus D., Krumm F., Integrative Approaches as Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation in Forests, European Forest Institute, 2013.

Magnus J. K. Herrmann, NABU e.V. Friedrich Wulf, BUND e.V, Guidelines for the Management of Natura 2000 Areas, September 2008.

Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Württemberg, Report on the State of Nature in Baden-Württemberg, 2020.
Winkel G., Blondet M., Gruppe A., The Implementation of Natura 2000 in Forests: A Trans- and Interdisciplinary Assessment of Challenges and Choices, Environmental Science & Policy, October 2015.