Management of Mountain Forest Habitat Types in N2000 Sites – Networking Seminar

Zhůří near Keply, Šumava National Park (CZ) © Štěpán Rosenkranz

The management of mountain forest habitat types in Natura 2000 sites: experience and case studies from the Continental Biogeographical region

The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process

Between 7th and 9th November 2017, EUROPARC, in cooperation with the Šumava National Park (CZ), and with the support of the EUROPARC Central Eastern Europe Section, organised a Networking Seminar to address issues related with the management of Mountain Forest Habitats in the Continental Region.

Outcomes and Presentations are for Download here.

In the course of recent years, the management of mountain forest habitat types has become a more challenging priority for managing authorities at European level. In particular, in the Continental region, managers are being confronted with several issues, mainly related to bark beetle infestations, water regime maintenance, and restoration and, in many cases, also the need to plan and structure cross border cooperation regimes. In addition, considering that significant parts of mountain areas are also designated by national legislation for the protection of natural processes, this adds more complexities for harmonizing plans, setting conservation objectives and for the implementation of conservation measures.

Peat pond – Borová Lada, Svinná Lada, Chalupská slať – Sumava National Park

The two days seminar, allowed managers, experts and authorities with responsibilities for site management to exchange practical experience in management of mountain forests as part of Natura 2000 sites. New scientific findings were presented, contributing to improve the understanding of natural processes in mountain forests in the Continental region.

The long-lasting experience of the Šumava National Park in the management of Mountain forest, together with the fruitful cross border cooperation established with the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany), will offered an important baseline for a constructive learning exchange among participants.

During the course of the seminar, case studies were presented focusing on:

  • restoration of water regime,
  • bark beetle management,
  • nature based forest management
  • and the impact of those measures on Natura 2000 sites and their targets.

A site visit to the Bohemian forest contributed to maintaining a strong connection between theory and practice for the effective management of mountain forest habitats.

This seminar was proposed as a networking event taking forward the discussion which had started in the course of the Continental Biogeographical Seminar in Luxemburg in June 2015.

The full programme is for download here.

Outcomes and Presentations are for Download here.

The western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is seriously threatened by habitat degradation, particularly conversion of diverse native forest into often single-species timber plantations. The population that lives in the Sumava National Park (CZ) represents one of the few larger Capercaillie populations residing in medium altitude mountains in central Europe Photo by Marek Drha, Sumava National Park (CZ)

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