Integrity, stability and management of protection forests in the European Alps

Ecosystem management of protection forests aims at maintaining forests near a state during which effective protection is secured. As the evolution of a dynamic forest ecosystem cannot be stopped, silvicultural measures are required which aim at maintaining both the ecosystem integrity and the protective function of mountain forests. Ecosystem integrity is defined as the system`s capacity to maintain structure and ecosystem functions using processes and elements characteristic for its ecoregion. Here, ecosystem functions also reflect the capability of the ecosystem to provide functions of value to humans. Ecosystem integrity of a protection forest implies that the stability (mainly the property resilience is addressed) of the forest is high, because that is required to provide a high level of protection in the long term. The main conditions promoting natural evolutionary processes and ecological stability in protection forests are: (1) a diverse composition of species; (2) sufficient natural regeneration; (3) an optimal forest structure. The first example in this chapter explains how these conditions might be achieved by silvicultural interventions in a forest that mainly protects against rockfall in the Austrian Alps. The second example deals with socio-economic aspects of ecosystem integrity of a forest that also protects against rockfall, but then in the French Alps. Both examples show that forest authorities are aware of techniques to improve the stand stability of protection forests, but the problem is that current forest management is often a kind of trial and error, because the exact consequences of interventions for forest ecosystem dynamics are not known. Therefore, it is proposed that forest ecosystem research should shift focus from protection forest dynamics to the geo-ecosystem functioning of protection forests, including the effects of natural and human disturbances. For this, the concept of panarchy may be a promising way forward.