New Study Published on the Prioritization of Stepping Stone Areas
The forest biodiversity team at BFW has published a new study on the identification and prioritization of suitable stepping stone areas for Austrian forests. This study provides a spatially explicit framework that combines four indicators related to connectivity, biodiversity, species richness, and protection status of forests to determine the best areas for small-scale contract-based nature conservation.
A variety of spatial data were considered. The prioritization (with values ranging between 0 (low priority) and 1 (high priority)) aims to establish several hundred stepping stones distributed across Austria, thereby strengthening the network of protected areas in the long term.
Key Findings
- Results: The entire forested area of Austria (39,587 km²) was analyzed to prioritize stepping stones for biodiversity and forest conservation. 84% (33,344 km²) of the forest area was deemed fundamentally suitable, while 16% (6,243 km²) were excluded due to their protective function or an already high protection status.
- Ecoregions and Elevation Zones: Significant differences in prioritization values were observed between ecoregions and elevation zones in Austria. The highest priority was found in ecoregion 5.1 (Eastern Peripheral Region of the Alps) with an average of 0.65, followed by ecoregions 4.1 (Northern Peripheral Region of the Alps—West Part) and 2.2 (Northern Transitional Region of the Alps—West Part). Montane elevation regions showed the highest prioritization in the model, whereas colline and subalpine elevations had the lowest prioritization.
Discussion and Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of stepping stones in conservation strategies for forest ecosystems. These stepping stones provide habitats for various species, including saproxylic insects, birds, mosses, fungi, and lichens. The developed framework offers a comprehensive method for prioritizing forest areas for contract-based nature conservation in Austria and emphasizes the need to adapt this approach to local data availability, species requirements, and regional conditions in other regions and countries.
Future Applications and Research
The researchers recommend applying this framework in different regions and contexts, allowing sufficient time for planning and securing the necessary data sources. Further investigations into the precision and reliability of satellite imagery or aerial photography could further improve the identification of stepping stones.
This study represents a significant advancement in conservation planning and provides valuable insights for future measures to preserve and protect biodiversity in forest areas.