Together with the EU Birds Directive, the EU Habitats Directive forms “Natura 2000” network of protected areas across Europe. In Germany, 1.8 million hectares of the 11.1 million hectares of forest were reported as Flora and Fauna Habitat (FFH) areas. In collaboration with the Johan Heinrich von Thünen-Institute, the Goettingen University and the Forest Research Institute in Freiburg, UNIQUE carried out a research project to analyze the ecological and economic impacts of the EU Habitats Directive on forest and timber enterprises. The study assessed the impact of FFH measures on a number of forestry business case studies on the basis of forest management plans and operational data.

• Evaluation of the Habitat Directive implementation process and the management planning.
• Analysis of the ecological and economic impacts of the Habitats Directive on the forest sector.