How private forest owners try to bring Integrative Approaches to their forests

“Autumn arrives, and our Integrate Meeting already comes along”, opens Bernhard Wolfslehner (EFI) this year’s Integrate Network Annual Meeting with a vivid reminder of our get-together in Luxembourg, “when we were watching bats and having a drink in a cave”. As is tradition by now, around 40 Integrate Members and other colleagues from within the network and beyond gathered end of October to discuss the European state of the art of Integrative Forest Management. This year, the current Integrate chair, Georg Frank, invited members to his home country Austria to draw attention to private forest ownership and to discuss integrative case studies and local measures for biodiversity enhancement.

After a warm welcome from the Secretariat, Georg Frank (BFW), Johannes Shima (BML), and Peter Meyer (BFW) continued the round of opening speeches by highlighting current challenges in the forestry world – including connecting national strategies to the needs of private forest owners. They emphasized that forest management often involves navigating complex regulations and diverse interests, making it essential to study and understand local contexts and frameworks. As host and chair, Georg Frank highlighted how this can take various forms here: Austria’s forest cover is about 47.9%, while two-thirds of the country is covered by mountains. Such variety in topography is also reflected in Austria’s 117 forest types, making its forests quite diverse!

Drawing attention to the regulatory context, Stefanie Schmidt (DG Environment) zoomed out and gave an update on EU forest legislation. Spotlighting the Nature Restoration Law, Stefanie mentioned that it could open new doors for integrative approaches, as they are among the exemplary measures for supporting national restoration plans. From an EU perspective, we shifted back to the local level, where Hans Jörg Damm (Wilfersdorf Forest Enterprise) shared practical insights on biodiversity measures in his local forest and agricultural landscapes, including sustainable hunting initiatives and educational partnerships with schools. Kurt Christian Schuster (Lenzing Group) discussed the wood industry’s evolving responsibility in biodiversity conservation, moving beyond certifications to transparent practices that meet rising public and regulatory demands. Collaborations on conservation measures, such as with BIMUWA, a project on biodiversity and multifunctional management in the forest reflect the industry’s shift towards proactive, biodiversity-positive forest management. This biodiversity-positive forest management is exactly what Pro Silva stands for, being more than a club of practical “dot-makers”. Tomáš Vrška (Pro Silva) highlighted how they combine soil conservation, production, and biodiversity strategies in dealing with uncertainties. Tomáš also showed how important it is to mix structures, species and management types to increase forest resilience.

After fruitful discussions over lunch, our afternoon session invited us to venture over diverse European forest contexts. Starting off in the Northwest of Europe, our Irish member representatives Jonathan Spazzi (Teagasc) and Dermot Dunphy (Department of Agriculture) showcased transformative approaches to build up their country’s forest cover which stands at the moment at 11%. As Ireland is a “blank canvas” in that sense, close-to-nature is being promoted via diverse programmes (such as the Woodland Improvement Scheme) to both increase ecosystem services and foster income for forest owners. To mobilize forest owners, Teagasc hosts and promotes both practical training in demonstration sites, such as marteloscopes, and digital learning experiences, such as their recent ForestMoocforChange, attracting more than 12,000 learners this year. Their aim is to collaboratively close the “knowledge gap” among forest owners, eager to implement more integrative approaches and practices. Going South to Italy, Serena Buscarini (D.R.E.A.M.Italia) presented new initiatives supporting integrative forest management with the Italian Forest Strategy, promoting biodiversity via financing tools, EU projects, and sustainability certification schemes (FSC/PEFC). These efforts aim to facilitate IFM training and regional planning as e.g. in Tuscany. In Hungary, Gergely Zagyvai (Sopron University) and Péter Csépányi (Pilis Park Forestry Company) addressed challenges posed by invasive species and climate change, highlighting the role of technology and decision-support tools in managing conservation and drought-resistant species across vast areas. To round off our afternoon, Barbara Steurer and Christiane Gupta (ÖKL) shared about their work to foster increased awareness around biodiversity among private forest owners. Through collaborative site visits and biodiversity talks, their program connects owners, building a peer network focused on linking production with ecological conservation.

The late afternoon was marked by Integrate’s Annual Voting and Discussion Session, where the Secretariat and current Integrate Network Member Representatives came together to discuss activities of the past year, as well as the future direction and work plan of the network. Together, they voted on Hungary to take on the Chairmanship in 2026, as well as confirmed that the Steering Committee in 2025 will be composed of Austria, Ireland, Hungary, Germany and Spain. After a short break, all participants gathered to drive to a Gumpoldskirchen, a village outside of Vienna, to celebrate the end of an insightful conference day with a delicious dinner and local wine at a traditional Austrian restaurant.

In the Midst of Growth, Shaping a Legacy

The second day took us on a  journey through Austria’s forests. It began early as we made our way to the Forest Enterprise Burtscher in Pottschach, Lower Austria. On the bus, our guide and host, Georg Frank, got us excited with a talk on the legacy of black pine. There is an isolated population ing on limestone, like the Dolomites. Historically, black pines were a major resource, cultivated for resin and timber. Although resin refineries once thrived here, they have since declined, and black pine faces new challenges causing significant dieback. Today, some black pine stands are being gradually replaced by beech or oak to increase resilience.

At our first stop, we are welcomed by Thomas Burtscher and Franz Puchegger at the Forest Enterprise Burtscher in Pottschach, which is a privately owned forest that has undergone a significant transformation. Twenty-five years ago, the current owner Thomas inherited the land and, seeing its potential, began converting it into a continuous cover forest, together Franz that supports with the management of the stands. It now includes a diverse mix of Scots pine, Larch, and regenerating oak, representing the owner’s strategy to introduce more resilient, deciduous tree species. This area, nicknamed “Little Finland” by Georg, resembles northern landscapes due to acidic soil indicators like blueberry – yet in reality, we stood firmly on the slopes of Kohlberg, or “Charcoal Mountain,” at the edge of the Alps. We continued to a stand featuring an impressive oak habitat tree. Trees that are retained to enhance biodiversity in private forests are supported through a regional incentive scheme. Additional subsidies encourage the accumulation of deadwood to enrich habitat diversity. To monitor the development of integrative approaches, BFW has set up reference sites (ReSynatWald Project) as a way to quantify and showcase insights around costs and benefits for biodiversity conservation in close-to-nature managed forests.

In tandem with economic considerations, they monitor aspects of nature conservation within the sites, and the next thing we know, Thomas proudly points out, that we are standing in such a demonstration site! These types of reference stands are managed according to the principles of close-to-nature forest management. In this specific stand, spruce trees are gradually disappearing, making room for mixed species that better suit the conditions. With selective thinning lower-vitality trees are removed first, and all regeneration occurs naturally, as managers avoid planting unless absolutely necessary. Yet, as our host highlighted, promoting the young growth of trees is challenging due to ongoing browsing pressure. It’s vital to safeguard such natural regeneration through management techniques that foster resilience. Maintaining diverse tree species and monitoring tree vitality can help forests recover more quickly from disturbances, which in turn supports natural regeneration and resilience, as this local landscape example shows.

In the afternoon, we travelled to Urbarialgemeinde Neckenmarkt, a unique display of teamwork in a communal forestry enterprise in Burgenland with a long history of public land management. Here, Markus Lang, the chairman, welcomed us in a festive spirit and shared the story of this local cooperative, which owns the Lange Leitn Strict Forest Reserve – the first reserve of its kind in Austria. Established in 1996, the reserve preserves a historic coppice oak forest, representing a commitment to conservation shared by local stakeholders. Within this cooperative model, members actively participate in a sustainable management of their forest: each person is assigned a plot for thinning by lottery, and tree marking is overseen by an elected board. Lange Leitn provides an inspiring model of community-led forest management and forest conservation. By maintaining the reserve as a natural habitat free of any management measures, the community preserves an ecologically rich landscape. Excursions are often held here to showcase how local engagement and sustainable forest management can go hand in hand to protect these valuable ecosystems of today and for the future. As the evening approached, we gathered for a final meal hosted by the Neckenmarkt community. Reflecting on the day’s journey, we discussed how Austrian forests, shaped by a balance of tradition, community stewardship, and innovative management practices, serve as a resilient model of integrative, close to nature forest management.

A Royal Closure

Our final day dawned with a visit to Lainz Forestry Enterprise on the outskirts of Vienna, an urban forest serving the city’s need for ecosystem services under the guidance of manager Hannes Berger. This forest exemplifies multifunctional management—balancing recreation, biodiversity, and natural resource protection. One essential function is water protection: the Lainz forest plays a crucial role in filtering and preserving Vienna’s drinking water, which flows from springs within its borders. Payments for these ecosystem services not only support the forest enterprise but ensure that critical soil and vegetation remain intact to maintain water purity. This urban forest also offers immense recreational value, hosting roughly 500,000 visitors per year, along with 300,000 dogs. The footpaths, playgrounds, and scenic trails make Lainz a green refuge for Viennese residents while cooling the local microclimate by up to six degrees in the hot summer months—a benefit equated to more than 2 million units of air conditioners, according to the Enterprise.

Another pressing issue here is climate change adaptation. Preserving the water supply in the face of a changing climate is a challenge, especially as the forest shifts from water-dependent spruce monocultures toward more resilient, diverse species. With rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, drought stress has become an ongoing battle. The strategy at Lainz is to diversify: By maintaining mixed species stands and promoting natural regeneration, the forest builds resilience against both climate stress and biodiversity loss. Biodiversity itself becomes a defense mechanism—continuous cover forestry encourages the growth of habitat trees and various stages of deadwood, which in turn support species richness and offer ecological stability in times of stress. As we ventured deeper, we saw firsthand how managed forest stands were enriched by designating so called  “stepping stones” of high biodiversity value, including retained habitat trees. Important to mention is that  about 20% of the forest area is strictly protected. The integration of segregate elements such as stepping stones and protected areas ensures a layered diversity across the landscape, a safeguard against pests and diseases that can devastate uniform stands.

Natural regeneration is a priority according to Hannes, especially under selective thinning that allows sufficient light for saplings. Controlled hunting regulates browsing pressure, crucial to the survival of young oaks and beech, while canopy density is managed to promote species regeneration adapted to drier climates. In drought-prone years, large deadwood serves as water reservoirs, releasing moisture slowly to surrounding plants, provides shelter e.g. for amphibians, and aids fire prevention. To reduce erosion, foresters avoid heavy machinery in sensitive areas, maintaining manual methods with skidding roads spaced widely apart. To have the local people on board, outreach and education has top priority. School groups regularly visit to learn about the ecosystem services this forest provides, creating a multiplying effect as the young start to appreciate and understand the value their forests.

Our journey concluded at the Hermesvilla, the historic hunting lodge of Empress Sisi. This elegant setting offered a fitting close to our three days of exploring and learning about Austria’s forests. After our final lunch, Georg Frank shared final reflections on integrating biodiversity within forest management and the need for better definitions and more clarity in communicating these complex goals to policymakers. The integrative approach seen here —linking top-down initiatives with bottom-up practices—represents a versatile model for sustainable forestry. As the meeting wrapped up, the symbolic handover of the “key” from Austria to Ireland marked both an end and a new beginning, with Ireland as the incoming chair for 2025, set to continue exploring integrative and communicative approaches in forest management.

With much gratitude we look back at this year’s chairmanship of Georg Frank, who not only put much effort into hosting the Annual Meeting and sharing his expertise around integrative solutions within Austria’s forest landscape – but also dedicated his career to advancing biodiversity conservation within forest management. A Royal Salute to Georg, we sincerely thank him for his service and efforts as the Chair of the Integrate Network in 2024 and are looking forward to welcoming Irish representatives Dermot Dunphy and Jonathan Spazzi as new Chairs for the upcoming year!

Special note: Please find all presentations hyperlinked to each respective speaker name in the text.

Text: Silvester Boonen, Rahel Könen, and Andreas Schuck
Pictures: Rahel Könen and Silvester Boonen