DIGITAL

Life Prognoses

Strengthening primary and old growth forest protection in Europe by capitalising on World Heritage sites

Beech Forest

Credit: JOANNEUM RESEARCH/ Hirschmugl

Motivation

Primeval forests in Europe – fact or fiction? In fact, they do exist, but only about 0.7 % of Europe’s entire forested area is still characterized as so-called primeval or old growth forest.

Even though this proportion is extremely small, these forest habitats are highly valuable for Europe’s biodiversity and represent an important terrestrial carbon storage, making a valuable contribution to climate regulation. Furthermore, the recreational function of a natural, intact forest ecosystem is highly relevant for us human beings.

The lack of knowledge and awareness of the diverse functions and importance of primeval forests on the one hand, and sheer economic interests on the other hand, have led to a continuous loss of land, especially through illegal deforestation, but also through legal, but inappropriate and unsustainable forest management.

Objective
Logo of the project Life Prognoses

In order to stop the continuous loss of primeval forest areas, the project Life Prognoses aims to raise awareness of the importance of the ecosystem services of primeval forests, especially among political decision-makers, but also among the public in general.

The geographical focus is on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites "Ancient Beech Forests and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe". One milestone of the project is the consistent assessment and mapping of these primeval beech forests. This is done using both in-situ field surveys and remote sensing methods. To this end, JOANNEUM RESEARCH - DIGITAL is analyzing a wide range of remote sensing data to develop a holistic and comprehensive mapping approach. In addition to mapping, diverse ecosystem services such as carbon storage, biodiversity, ecotourism etc. are quantified in order to determine and illustrate the immense value and diverse benefits of primeval beech forests.

The UNESCO World Heritage Beech Forest network currently includes 41 protected primeval beech forests in 12 European countries. Within the frame of Life Prognoses, primeval beech forests in 8 countries are used as case study areas. In Austria, the Kalkalpen National Park, which is also a project partner, covers an area of 5,252 ha and is the largest primeval beech forest in the Alps. Further test regions of the project are located in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Romania, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

Study areas of the project Life Prognoses

Study areas of the project Life Progonoses.

Old-Growth Forests - Life Prognoses

Project Partners

Coordination: Sonian Forest Foundation

Further Partners:

  • E.C.O. Institute of Ecology
  • Kalkalpen National Park
  • INBO Research Institute Nature and Forest
  • Central Balkan National Park
  • Czech University of Life Sciences
  • City of Angermünde
  • Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
  • Northwest German Forest Research Institute
  • Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
  • University of Tuscia
  • Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
  • University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty
  • Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
Funding

This project receives funding by the European Union‘s LIFE programme under grant agreement number LIFE20 PRE/BE/000011 and is co-funded by the for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Federal Ministry.

Life Logo
Logo of the federal ministry for climate protection, environment, energy, mobility, innovation nd technology
In cooperation with
Logo World Natural Heritage Beech Forests
Logo UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Logo Patrimonio Mundial
Logo Natura 2000