Raben

Forests play a central role in climate mitigation by storing carbon in living tree biomass. In the Zehrensdorfer Wald, forest carbon storage is currently shaped by a high share of pine-dominated stands, reflecting historical management and age-class structures. Under conventional, rotation-based forest management, such pine-dominated stands are typically managed with a focus on regular harvesting cycles. In combination with increasing climate-related risks, this would lead to declining forest carbon stocks over time in the reference scenario. Through improved forest management (IFM), the project deliberately alters this trajectory. By reducing harvesting pressure, extending biomass retention, and gradually transforming pine-dominated stands into structurally diverse, climate-resilient mixed forests, existing carbon stocks are stabilized and long-term losses are significantly reduced compared to the baseline. As a result, the forest is strengthened as a reliable long-term carbon sink, safeguarding existing forest carbon stocks and enabling the generation of high-quality carbon credits while improving resilience to drought, pests, and extreme weather events.