We are pleased to share a new publication by our colleague Stefanie Linser, titled Report on Forest Biodiversity based on Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management of the Austrian Forest Dialogue. The indicators were revised in a broad, participatory stakeholder process, with particular focus on climate-sensitive indicators and sub-indicators with agreed targets or thresholds.

The report highlights the positive development of Austria’s forest biodiversity and points to areas where further efforts would be beneficial. It documents an increase in more climate-resilient mixed and deciduous forests, more diverse regeneration, and a significant increase in deadwood. Around one fifth of the forest area is under protection, and habitat trees are being surveyed nationwide for the first time. However, risks are also intensifying, for instance invasive species continue to spread, pressure on endangered species is increasing, the number of endangered vascular plants in forests has grown from 200 to 286 over the past 35 years, and forest connectivity has declined slightly.

The authors outline constructive ways forward, including strengthening biodiversity-oriented forest management, expanding protected areas and enhancing their ecological quality, curbing invasive species more consistently, advancing targeted species and habitat measures, promoting stepping-stone habitats to support connectivity, and extending forest monitoring to address data gaps.

The report is written in German with an English summary and can be downloaded here