Forest management plans are the key tool for controlling and planning forestry activities for the public forests in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. These plans outline the harvesting operations, tree maintenance and regeneration measures for the next 10 years based on knowledge regarding the state of the forest. Management plans seek to find the right balance between trade-offs such as timber production, protection and tourism. Since 2008 UNIQUE prepared management plans for 7.000 hectare of state and 13.000 hectare of municipal forests. UNIQUE’s expertise includes the development of management plans that resulted in positive benefits related to environmental services, especially biodiversity (e.g. Wutach gorge, bog forests or Rhine plain forests).

• Analysis of sample plot inventories, with focus on small and medium forest enterprises.
• Site-inspection with responsible foresters.
• New delineation of stands, actualization of stand data, gathering of ecological data.
• Assessment of previous management and accounting.
• Coordination of operative and ecological planning.
• Data input, data validation and approval by the administration.
• Explanation of results with local council and mayor (site inspection with formal resolution).