Sustainabilisation of forests and soils and valorization of the achieved ecosystem services in the county of Landsberg (Life Future Forest)
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) is a scientific partner of the EU environmental and climate project "Future Forest" with the Landsberg district as the lead partner. The model project aims to improve the forest floor, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and add value to the ecosystem services of the forest. It is financed by the EU funding instrument "LIFE". The project partners signed the contract in mid-December, and the project will run until the end of 2023.
The Landsberg project aims to use a local example to help ensure that permanently sustainable management approaches for forests and forest soil are accepted and widely implemented throughout the EU. Ecosystem services are promoted, measured and evaluated: For example, timber quantity and quality should increase by optimally developing forests and soils. Timber harvesting without bark, higher fine root density and greater earthworm abundance through appropriate tree species selection are expected to strengthen soil quality and biodiversity. Another goal is to increase the water retention capacity of the forest and the availability and quality of drinking water for the region. The project participants also want to achieve an increase in the forest's CO2 storage capacity and root mass. Evaluating drinking water quality and clean air as economic factors, instead of only looking at timber utilization in this regard, as has been the case in the past, is a new approach introduced by the project.
As a scientific partner, HSWT is conducting studies on the growth behavior of various tree species, for example, and is investigating how quickly leaves, needles and bark decompose and are thus fed into the nutrient cycle. In addition, the participating scientists and students are measuring fine dust pollution, temperature and humidity in the forest and working on models to reward ecosystem services at the regional level.
240,000 tons of CO2 are to be stored by "Future Forest" by 2023 and "living" soils are to be created on 10,000 hectares of forest land. Project partners are the city and district of Landsberg, the market town of Kaufering, the municipalities of Fuchstal, Igling, Obermeitingen and Scheuring, and the private forest with the Landsberg Forest Owners Association.
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