Navigating Climate Change: Exploring Plenter Forest Potential in Styria, Austria

Forests stand at the forefront of climate change adaptation strategies, with their ability to sequester and store carbon, sustain bioeconomies, foster biodiversity, and provide a whole range of other ecosystem services. There is an increasing trend of promoting this multipurpose functionality of forests, resulting in a shift towards silvicultural practices that differ heavily from the now dominant even-aged, clear-cut forestry. One of these alternative management practices to promote multipurpose functionality is plenter forest management, a type of uneven-aged selection cutting system. Only little is known about the applicability of this management system on a regional or national scale. Therefore, this study assesses the potential expansion of plenter forest management, crucial for climate change mitigation. Focusing on tree species suitability, harvesting constraints, and road accessibility, we analysed factors impacting plenter management for the Austrian province of Styria for current and future climate conditions. Our findings reveal that while current forestry predominantly features even-aged Norway spruce, approximately 14% of the forest area could be managed as mixed-species plenter forests under current conditions. This research contributes to understanding potential in transforming forest practices for enhanced biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience on a regional scale.