Forest Management Planning in the Black Forest

Forest management plans are the key tool for management and planning forests in Baden-Württemberg. Harvesting operations, thinning and regeneration measures are planned in 10-year cycles. New maps are created and the state of the forests is assessed. Management plans aim to balance conflicting interests surrounding the forests such as timber production, conservation and tourism. The plans also include an assessment of recent management activities. In 2019, the biggest forest owning company in Baden- Württemberg commissioned UNIQUE with the preparation of the management plan for their 5,200-hectare private forest. The plan had a strong economic focus, but also incorporated the Natura 2000 initiative and aimed to strengthen forest resilience against climate change.