Mixed forests consisting of broad-leaved trees and conifers are recommended to support climate resilient and multifunctional forests in temperate zones. But increasing numbers of ungulates, especially deer and their feeding preference for the young trees of certain tree species challenge the natural regeneration of resilient mixed forests. Conflicting motivations and interests of the different stakeholder groups have led to a highly polarised environment and prevented a unified approach towards a common goal. There is an urgent need for an open dialogue.
Forest resilience needs stakeholder dialogue
In the context of climate change and increasing disturbances, it is well documented that higher tree species diversity is an important component to ensure the resilience of future forests.
Deer can influence natural forest regeneration as they like to feed on the young plants of climate resilient tree species (e.g., maple or oak). Since deer densities in Central Europe have greatly increased in the last decades, this poses a problem for forest management to achieve forests that have high species diversity with a mix of broad-leaf and coniferous species. The conflicting interests of among foresters, hunters, farmers, and the general public have sparked a debate about the necessary interventions.
Large predators that can naturally regulate deer populations such as wolves were eradicated from many parts of Europe. Now that wolves are recolonizing their former range, the debate has become even more complex. The perception of this wildlife-forestry conflict varies greatly among the different stakeholders and represents a dilemma for forest management.
The Deer Observer project has an innovative, interdisciplinary approach and combines ecological data with stakeholder perceptions and social science methods to open space for dialogue and bridge the polarization in the debate.
The comparison of field data and questionnaire surveys with different stakeholders will allow to assess the ‘real’ and the ‘perceived’ estimates of deer density and their impact on tree regeneration. In parallel, the project will analyse the narrative presented around deer, hunting and resilient forests in print and social media at local and regional level, as this can impact people’s perceptions.
The goal is to establish ecological and societal baselines on deer densities and stakeholder perceptions against which future deer management interventions can be evaluated. By facilitating science-informed communication between stakeholders, the project team aims to stimulate change and foster dialogue. Finally, it will be interesting to see if wildlife-forestry conflicts in other areas in Germany and beyond can be addressed with a similar approach.
The project is coordinated by Diana Tuomasjukka and Trishna Dutta from the European Forest Institute and implemented in partnership with Michael Elmers from Wald & Holz, North Rhine Westphalia and Christoph Scherber from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change in Germany.
