Austrian Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW) had a two-day meeting in July 2018 with NATURA2000 STMK (State Office of the Government of Styria, Regional Office Southeastern Styria, Office for Natura2000 and Forests). NATURA2000 STMK is the regional authority for nature conservation and forest management in the Austrian part of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve and responsible for NATURA2000 site “Steirische Grenzmur”. As such NATURA2000 STMK is a valuable partner for providing essential information in WP4 “Conservation and Silviculture”. The purpose of the meeting was to jointly visit two sites managed by BFW to see whether and how these could be included in REFOCuS activities. Partners also discussed status and challenges in forest management in this area as well as possible synergies with other projects.

BFW and NATURA2000 STMK representatives on the oak demonstration site were different silvicultural options were applied (Photo: Markus Sallmannshofer)

BFW and NATURA2000 STMK in the nearby natural forest reserve “Halbenrain” with oak hornbeam forest stand that has been protected since 1997 and with no management activities applied (Photo: Markus Sallmannshofer)