Differences in tree diversity, structural diversity, and aboveground carbon storage across Austrian forest types – implications for forest conservation management

11 S.

e-journal

200212759

The conservation of forest patches aims to contribute to sustainable forest management, countering biodiversity loss and addressing the challenges of climate change by the preservation of forest carbon pools. Nevertheless, the complexity of forest ecosystems necessitates comprehensive conservation planning to effectively safeguard aboveground carbon storage and biodiversity conservation. Certain structural and environmental characteristics of forests—such as the volume of deadwood, the presence of habitat trees, and the occurrence of rare ecosystems or species—serve as indicators of forest biodiversity. Based on this concept, we selected forest patches aligned with specific biodiversity indicators to encompass a broad spectrum of forest biodiversity. Tree species shape forest ecosystems, functions, and structural diversity, and can serve as a key factor in conservation planning strategies. To examine the relationship between tree alpha diversity, forest biodiversity, and aboveground carbon stock, we analyzed differences across the identified biodiversity indicators and forest types using data from 247 study plots in Austria. We found the highest aboveground biomass in forests that were designated to two biodiversity indicators: habitat trees and deadwood, and in three forest types: hydrogenic, mixed, and broadleaved forests. None of the variables related to carbon stock were correlated with tree species diversity. To effectively promote both aboveground carbon storage and forest biodiversity conservation, defined biodiversity indicators serve as practical and integrative tools by increasing structural variability. Our study offers guidelines for the use of biodiversity indicators and selecting appropriate forest patches for conservation of both forest biodiversity and aboveground carbon storage, in consideration of forest types.
Keywords: Aboveground biomass, Biodiversity indicators, Deadwood, Structural diversity, Tree diversity