Forest management plans are the key tool for controlling and planning 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. The management plans aim at balancing conflicting interests such as timber production, protection and tourism. They also include an assessment of recent management. Since 2008 the forest agency commissioned the elaboration of management plans to UNIQUE. Some forests provide superior environmental services. In these cases, implementation also included mapping of beech forests and ecological management planning (Natura 2000).

• Analysis of sample plot inventories, cruise in smaller enterprises.
• Site-inspection with responsible foresters, new delineation of stands, actualization of stand data.
• Gathering of ecological data like woody debris, mature timber and ground vegetation.
• Assessment of previous management and accounting.
• Coordination of operative and ecological planning.
• Data input, validation and approval by the administration.
• Explanation of results with local council and mayor (site-inspection with formal resolution).