Forest management plans are the central element for controlling and planning utilization within public forests in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Harvesting operations, thinnings and regeneration measures are planned for the next 10 years, new maps are created and the state of the forests is quantified. Freiburg’s Regional Council commissioned the preparation of these management plans for 15 municipal and church forests in the southern part of the Black Forest. Most areas belonged to the municipalities of Wutach and Ibach. Their forests, including the famous Wutach gorge and some bog forests around Ibach, provide superior environmental services (Natura2000 sites). The implementation included the mapping of beech forests of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive (FFH) and the planning for Special Protection Areas (SPA) and FFH areas.

• Analysis of inventory data of Wutach forests.
• Tree growth and timber yield estimations in smaller enterprises.
• Site-inspection with responsible foresters, assessment of previous management and accounting.
• New delineation of stands, updating of stand data, gathering of ecological data (Natura2000).
• Coordination of operative and ecological planning, assistance and quality management.
• Explanation of results to local council and mayor (site-inspection with formal resolution).