Tage der Biodiversität 2027

In the face of climate change, habitat fragmentation and increasing pressures on forest ecosystems, long-term and standardized biodiversity monitoring is becoming increasingly important. Protected areas provide valuable reference sites where changes in species, communities and ecosystem functions can be observed under reduced direct human influence. However, protected areas alone may not be sufficient to capture the spatial and ecological dynamics of forest biodiversity across fragmented landscapes.

The Austrian stepping stone biotope programme follows a complementary approach: ecologically valuable forest areas are identified, forest management is ceased, and the areas are integrated into a nationwide network for habitat connectivity and biodiversity research. Since 2021, more than 450 stepping stone biotopes covering about 1,400 hectares have been identified and connected across different forest types and landscapes. Standardized rapid biodiversity assessments (RBA) record forest structure, tree species composition, deadwood, tree-related microhabitats and vegetation, while complementary intensive surveys enable extension of the monitoring to fungi, saproxylic beetles, birds, bats and soil biodiversity. Initial assessments demonstrate that these sites provide a broad range of biodiversity information while also capturing different components of ecological connectivity. This network of sites therefore extends beyond the function of individual set-aside areas. The RBAs provide a basis for tracking changes in species and biodiversity indicators and for detecting changes associated with climate change and landscape fragmentation. First results highlight the value of long-term monitoring and the potential to extend observations to additional taxonomic groups and forest types.

We propose the integration of stepping stone biotopes with existing protected areas to establish a connected monitoring system for Austrian forests. This approach combines conservation agreements, habitat connectivity and standardized biodiversity monitoring, thereby extending the role of these areas towards a spatially distributed observatory of forest biodiversity under global change.