Monitoring forest ecosystem services in Germany: How do data demand and operational supply match

Abstract

Ecosystem services represent a significant contribution that forest enterprises make to human well-being. However, the extent to which these services are recognized by society and politics varies considerably. On the one hand, political attention has so far been limited to a narrow range of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. On the other hand, there is a lack of data availability, especially at the forest operational level, which impedes a comprehensive representation of ecosystem services. This is of particular relevance, as every operational decision has a direct impact on ecosystems and their associated services. To address this gap, politically relevant ecosystem services were first identified. Subsequently, a scoping review was conducted to determine applicable indicators for their representation. For these indicators to be integrated in an existing Forest Accountancy Network, they had to meet specific criteria. These criteria were evaluated through two separate surveys assessing the feasibility and suitability of these indicators at the forest operational level. Feasibility was examined through a survey of forest enterprises, whereas suitability was evaluated by a dedicated survey of ecosystem service experts. The results provide a set of applicable indicators that allow for representation of specific ecosystem groups at the forest operational level. In doing so, this research lays the foundation for a more transparent and precise evaluation of forest enterprise performance, thereby enhancing comparability among forest enterprises and offering policymakers and society a clearer understanding of the multifunctional contributions made by forest enterprises.