Managing European forests for biodiversity conservation and global change adaptation: An assessment of current management concepts

Integrative forest management (IFM) aims at integrating biodiversity conservation and global change adaptation into forest management for the sustainable provision of multiple ecosystem services. In this paper, the authors define IFM and a framework of guiding principles and attributes directing decision-making and objectives. Based on the definition, a review is made to evaluate a set of widely used forest management concepts in Europe, including Continuous Cover Forestry, Close‑to‑Nature Forest Management, ProSilva, the Stepping Stone Concept, Retention Forestry, TRIAD, Climate‑Smart Forestry, and Closer‑to‑Nature Forest Management. 

When you seek for brief definitions on different forest management concepts in Europe and how they address biodiversity conservation among diverse forest management objectives, this is a useful reference point both for science and practice.

Keywords: Forest management concepts; Multifunctional forestry; Ecological resilience; Biodiversity-oriented management

V. Vitali, F. Krumm, A.P. Spinu, F. Schnabel, J. Bauhus, A. Konczal, L. Schimetka, S. Schwegmann, G. Winkel, A. Rigling. 2026. Managing European forests for biodiversity conservation and global change adaptation: An assessment of current management concepts, Forest Ecology and Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123698.

The study is part of the HorizonEurope project "TRANSFORMIT: Transforming Forest Management for multiple ecosystem services and nature conservation via the Integrative approach", further information from the project website: https://transformforests.eu/