The Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW) is looking for areas of between 0.5 and 1.5 hectares featuring habitat trees or a high proportion of deadwood, succession areas following bark beetle infestation, and riparian forests with ash tree populations. These areas will be taken out of use as part of a contractual nature conservation scheme and will serve as stepping-stone biotopes for habitat connectivity.
Motorways and large areas of surface sealing fragment habitats for animals that require a network of biotopes for their normal hunting or feeding territory, or for animals and plants that need a biotope network to reach new habitats under changing climatic conditions.
"Nature conservation and forestry therefore rely on stepping-stone biotopes that promote habitat connectivity," explains biodiversity expert Janine Oettel from BFW. As part of the "Connect Forest Biodiversity" project, which is supported by the federal government, the federal states, and the European Union, BFW is searching for stepping-stone biotopes with the support of BIOSA.
From 15 December 2021, private forest owners and local authorities can register areas. The following are being sought:
- areas with habitat trees,
- areas with a high proportion of deadwood,
- succession areas following bark beetle infestation, and
- riparian forests with ash tree populations.
Contractual Nature Conservation
BFW will enter into a contract with forest owners for the area to be taken out of use for ten years. All private forest owners and local authorities are eligible for funding in accordance with the special guidelines for Rural Development 2014–2020.
The registered areas will be assessed using GIS-based modelling and ranked by priority according to their significance as a stepping-stone biotope. In the next step, in spring 2022, the boundaries of the area will be defined and a survey carried out during a joint inspection with the forest owners. Based on this, the one-off flat-rate payment of between €1,750 and €2,520 per hectare over ten years will be determined according to tree species and age, and the contract will be drawn up. During the contract period, a brief report on the condition of the area must be prepared on a regular basis.
Area registration and explainer video: www.trittsteinbiotope.at
