Forests are under growing pressure – from climate extremes and invasive pests to rising wood demand and biodiversity loss. In a new article, Prof. Dr. Andreas Rigling (ETH Zurich) explains how integrated forest management can help forests navigate these changes while still providing vital ecosystem services. 

Rather than relying on either multifunctional or segregative strategies alone, integrated forest management brings the two together. It supports natural regeneration, encourages structural and species diversity, and provides temporary or permanent protection for certain areas when needed. This balanced approach helps forest managers adapt to different local conditions while meeting ecological, economic, and social needs. 

The European Integrate Network plays a central role in advancing this vision and is also introduced in the publication. Through shared demonstration sites, knowledge exchange, and policy collaboration across 12 countries, the network supports forest professionals in bringing integrated solutions into practice. 

Read the full article here

Reference: Rigling A (2025) The importance of integrated forest management. Open Access Government, July 2025, 426-427. ISSN 2516-3817

Photos: Gesche Schifferdecker. Integrative forest management approaches in Aachen, Germany, and in Horst aan der Maas, Netherlands