Is there a consensus in German forest conservation? Targeting forest conservation with compensatory payments

Implementing forest conservation measures may lead to lower revenues, opportunity costs and additional expenses for forest owners. Half of the German forest area is privately owned, where it is even more challenging to implement forest conservation. Besides fair monetary compensation for income reduction, forest conservation targets and measures should be evidence-based and supported by forest owners and conservation agencies, likewise. However, problems are rooting in trade-offs between aims, limited consistency in target setting, vague concepts and discrepancies in compensatory payment legislations and implementation (1). In order to derive a framework of targets and measures for compensatory payments in privately owned forests, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of nature conservation concepts of different stakeholders. By deducing an evidence-based and consensual system of conservation targets and measures, we claim a high degree of transferability and generality for the methods and results of our study. We conducted quantitative and qualitative textual status quo analysis in 79 biodiversity and forest conservation concepts. The concepts represented different stakeholders on various spatial scales, relevant to German forest conservation. To review the scientific rationale of targeting compensatory payments in Germany, we developed hierarchically ordered classification systems for forest conservation targets and measures. Furthermore, we wanted to reveal whether discrepancies in targets obstruct the conservation of forest biodiversity. In order to enhance the implementation of forest conservation measures in privately owned forest, we deduced a framework of relevant structures and biotopes for forest conservation. Our analysis showed that in general, there is a broad consensus concerning forest conservation across stakeholders in Germany, with few differences in primary conservation focus. The main emphasis is laid on the preservation of species, ecosystems and natural forest elements. However, a broad range of targets was found, covering social, biotic and abiotic natural resources. Furthermore, the concepts mainly focus on active restoration and preservation measures to secure old and habitat trees and to protect species habitats in forests. Suitable measures to improve forest conservation in private forests are e.g. restoring degraded forest biotope types, continuing traditional forest management practices (wood pastures or coppicing) and conserving natural forest elements (habitat trees and deadwood). In conclusion, targeting forest conservation in privately owned forests with compensatory payments can only be reached by choosing long-lasting contractual agreements with fair monetary compensation and improved cooperation among all participating parties. (1) European Court of Auditors (2017): Special Report Nr. 1/2017: More efforts needed to implement the Natura 2000 network to its full potential. Luxembourg.peerReviewe