In the Austrian–Hungarian border region, scientists have initiated a bilateral collaboration to address habitat and species connectivity with respect to climate change using the management and conservation approach of assisted migration. They applied this approach to European beech and sessile oak with support from local managers and governments as part of a project. The implementation process began by employing modeling studies to assess future species distribution and vulnerability, as well as to identify suitable forest reproductive material (FRM) and appropriate locations for conservation and experimental plots. The FRM selection considered both the “local” and “future climate-adapted” provenances. The implementation process culminated in reforestation efforts, where these provenances were planted at six locations evenly distributed across Austria and Hungary. Upcoming regular inspections, silvicultural measures, and phenological observations over a 15-year trial period will validate the outcomes of the applied assisted migration strategy. Monitoring efforts will evaluate damage, growth, quality characteristics, and mortality rates of different seed sources, as well as their genetic diversity. Forest managers and research institutions share the responsibilities for management and monitoring. This project aims to enhance the resilience of European beech and sessile oak forests in the Austrian–Hungarian border region against climate change impacts. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the established plots will provide valuable insights into the successes and challenges of the assisted migration approach.
