Image: VOLKER Weihbold
A multi-stage classification system from the Federal Research Center for Forests (BFW) helps to specifically assess the benefits and risks for local forests. “Euphoric approval and blanket rejection are not effective,” said Katharina Lapin from the APA’s BFW. That is why she drew up factual recommendations for action with colleagues.
“We first looked at which non-native tree species occur regionally in Austria,” explains Lapin, who heads the Institute for Forest Biodiversity and Nature Conservation at the BFW: “These are primarily the black locust, which comes from North America, the hybrid poplar ‘Populus x canadensis’, the red oak and the Douglas fir as needle alternatives”. There are also many other types, but they are only used very sporadically. According to the researcher, the proportion of non-native species throughout Austria is “marginal” at one percent: “It has not changed in the past three decades, and something extraordinary would have to happen for this to happen quickly in the future”.
From the point of view of forestry, promising
Based on six pilot regions (near Feldkirch in Vorarlberg, Steinfeld in Lower Austria, Perg in Upper Austria, in the Salzburg area, the Klagenfurt Basin, as well as southern Burgenland hills and terraces), the BWF experts in the “WaldWandel” project examined the advantages of the cultivation of non -native tree species could have and what risks it entails. “From the point of view of nature conservation, it is critical that non-native trees are species that can spread massively and change the ecosystem,” reports Lapin: “From the point of view of forestry, however, they offer great opportunities because some grow where you can probably has a gap with the native species in the future”. Alien species could fulfill important “ecosystem services” there, for example as a source of wood, for the water balance, as a carbon store, as protection against rockfall, avalanches and erosion and also provide a habitat for native animal and plant species.
Standard suitability test with risk analysis
‘We developed a standard proficiency test with risk analysis,’ she explained. First, a detailed investigation is carried out to determine whether the non-native tree species being considered for cultivation can actually survive in a specific location. “That’s not automatically the case,” says Lapin: “At the same time, you look at which native species occur and which will be lost as climate change progresses.” This can now be predicted well. Finally, it is also taken into account whether the area is farmed or is in a protected area. “With these three steps, you can finally formulate the options for action for forest management or protected area management,” she explained.
These recommendations would have turned out quite differently for the individual locations in the pilot regions. “For example, in a pilot region in Vorarlberg at an altitude of over 1,000 meters, you can say that the robinia can be used there under certain circumstances,” reports Lapin: “However, this would not be the case in low-lying areas in floodplain areas and protected areas.” Accordingly, one cannot make general recommendations, but must decide regionally. “Now you have the knowledge that you can put non-native tree species where they bring the best and where you better not plant them because that’s where they would only do harm,” she said.
Source: Nachrichten
