1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Land Use Based Mitigation for Resilient Climate Pathways (LANDMARC)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Öko-Institut (Öko-Institut) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

There are opportunities for robust forest management strategies in Germany to enhance land-based climate change mitigation. Through targeted measures, forest management can contribute to the continuous uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere by trees, and to the increase of carbon stocks in living and dead biomass, as well as in the soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Through targeted measures, forest management (FM) to enhance land-based climate change mitigation can be applied to all forested land within Germany. The aim is to increase carbon (C) uptake and storage in forests. FM options generally include forest protection (e.g. by taking forest area out of wood use), increasing forest carbon stocks (e.g. by extending the harvest cycle, and reducing the number of harvested trees), forest adaptation (e.g. increasing resilience of forest stands through the introduction of adapted species and varieties), and increasing the carbon stock in harvested wood products (e.g. by increasing the share of long-lived products).
This case study covers the whole 11.4 million hectares under forest in Germany. Coniferous trees make up 54% and deciduous trees cover 46% of the forest area. Half of the forests are privately owned, with an average property size of 3 ha. About 50% of private forest properties are under 20 ha and only 13% of private forest owners manage forests of more than 1,000 ha.
Incentive systems for rewarding ecosystem and environmental protection services in land use in general, and climate protection services in forest management in particular, should be established, so that forest owners have a source of income besides cutting and selling timber. Such a system should reward the efforts and ambitions to develop forests’ contribution towards a more climate resilient ecosystem that further provides society with clean air, water retention capacities, healthy soils, biodiversity and contributes crucially to the goal of C removal.
The measures to promote carbon sinks in the forest can be implemented on the existing forest area, which means that, in contrast to other land-based climate protection measures, there is no direct competition for land.
Synergies with the protection of biodiversity can result if native deciduous tree species are promoted and, above all, a higher proportion of older deciduous trees is left in the forest. In addition, a higher proportion of deadwood and a greater diversity of deadwood structures (lying, standing; different dimensions) also contribute. Promoting more deciduous trees in the forest can lead to higher groundwater percolation rates compared to coniferous stands.
Oeko-Institut has been developing the Forestry and Agriculture Biomass Model (FABio) since 2015. FABio-Forest describes the growth of individual trees as a distance-independent individual tree growth model. Parameters for tree growth and mortality are derived from National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. Assumptions on forest management as well as for climate change drive the future development of tree stands.
In addition, FABio includes modules for estimating carbon stored of wood products, forest litter and soil. The model is based on the following components:
•a model for the characterisation of tree growth based on diameter, height, site productivity and forest stand density;
•an ingrowth model for the characterisation of new trees based on stand density and tree species;
•a mortality model for the characterisation of dieback processes depending on tree species, site productivity, age and stand density;
•a deadwood model factoring in decomposition of dead trees;
•a soil carbon model simulating the decomposition of biomass in litter and soil over time depending on climate factors; and
•a model for the sorting and classification of wood products, i.e., to sort harvested trees into use categories and quantify carbon retention times of wood products.

FABio supports scenario analyses for various silvicultural practices and management scenarios and their effects on wood supply, carbon sequestration and aspects of nature conservation.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• natural and semi-natural forest management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

€

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

0.93

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	fencing to allow undisturbed regeneration without game pressure	all year
2.	planting new trees	spring, no frequency
3.	game control to allow natural regeneration/planted trees to grow	hunting season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

10000.0

Comments:

The range is between 5.000 - 15.000 €/ha per hectare, the cost vary, e.g. depending on what tree species are chosen, how many saplings are planted or how much natural regeneration is allowed. Total area is 11,4 mio hectares.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	tending, thinning of young trees for managing tree species composition	every few years
2.	monitoring of areas taken out of use	througout the year
3.	wildlife management	hunting season, 1-2 per year

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

2000.0

Comments:

The range is between 500 - 4000 € /ha depending, among others, on the age and structure of the forest stands. If areas are taken out of wood production or leaving dead wood on the site after calamities then opportunity costs occur in the range between 200 €/ha and 1000 €/ha. Souce: https://www.bmuv.de/download/foerderrichtlinie-klimaangepasstes-waldmanagement-plus. Total area is 11,4 mio hectares.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Availability of labor, availability of seedlings, density of deer population, costs for fencing.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Forests in Germany are found in all different types of landscapes. In the north everything is rather flat, the center of Germany consists of mountains around the elevation of up to 1000 m a.s.l and the very south has high mountain ranges of an altitude of almost 3000 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Same as above as the SLM covers the entire area of the country all different soils with the above mentioned parameters are represented that occur in the respective climatic zone.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Flooding occurs only after very heavy rainfall, when certain weather conditions apply. The latest major floods were in 2003, 2013 and 2024.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

It differs very much from region to region, depending on what type of forest is there, regarding mountainous or flat area, species composition and age structure.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

• all of the above

• all of the above

• no information

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

The model provides information that if timber extraction is reduced that it will impact positively the C sequestration rate and C storage of the forest. There are no other impacts modeled explicitly but impacts can be expected also on the water cycle, soil quality, and biodiversity.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

not assessed

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	moderately
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not known

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Regarding forests, long-term refers to a time span of a minimum of 60 years.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

unknown

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The payment for ecosystem services creates a new field of income and thus diversifies its' revenues.
The establishment of a more resilient forest provides benefits to the forest owner as he can longer profit from the resources the forest produces/provides.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is expected that there will be an increase of biodiversity as a higher diversity in tree species attracts other fauna and new habitats are created. Areas taken out of use might contribute to that aspect as well.
Natural development of forest sites taken out of use provides the opportunity to have old-growth trees in the forest again and diversify the age structure in forested areas. Old trees also provide great habitats to a variety of different species.
The increase of wood stock as less trees are harvested will increase CO2 sequestration.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
reduction of timber supply	import, reduce demand

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
management of multi species forests requires silvicultural knowledge	training

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Forest Vision Germany - Description of methodology, assumptions and results , Böttcher et al., 2018

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.oeko.de/fileadmin/oekodoc/Forest-Vision-Methods-and-Results.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Referenzszenario der Holzverwendung und der Waldentwicklung im UBA-Projekt BioSINK, Pfeiffer et al., 2023

Available from where? Costs?

file:///C:/Users/a.benndorf/Downloads/WP-Referenzszenario-BioSINK.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zukunftsaufgabe Waldanpassung, ANDREAS BOLTE, MARKUS HÖHL, PETRA HENNIG, TOBIAS SCHAD, FRANZ KROIHER, BJÖRN SEINTSCH, HERMANN ENGLERT, LYDIA ROSENKRANZ, 2018

Available from where? Costs?

Zukunftsaufgabe Waldanpassung

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Portal on Forest Inventories

URL:

https://bwi.info/start.aspx

Title/ description:

Förderrichtlinie Klimaangepasstes Waldmanagement PLUS

URL:

https://www.bmuv.de/download/foerderrichtlinie-klimaangepasstes-waldmanagement-plus