Integrate+

On Monday Andreas, Jan Kiehne and Anna Ortmann met with Loïc Duchamp, manager of the nature conservation areas in the Bitche Region as part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord and his colleague Christophe Fabing. ONF was represented by Bernard Woerly, Director ONF Bitche Forest accompanied by Daniel Heybeck as the local forester. Jointly the group examined to potential area for setting up a M-scope. During lively discussions an agreement was found on where to establish the site.

From left to right: Daniel Heybeck, Loic Duchamps, Bernard Woerly, Christophe Fabing, Jan Kiehne, Anna Ortmann.
(Photo: Andreas Schuck)

The site is located below a sandstone rock outcrop which is under strict protection. This is due to the fact that the endangered peregrine falcon nests in the rock cavities. The forest is nonetheless under management but underlies restrictions. Further can it only be visited outside breeding seasons of the peregrine falcon.

The Mscope site is situated on a steep slope dominated by beech and oak. The upper third of the M-scope lies above a skidding trail. That section is a less productive site with shallow soil layer. Thus the trees are lower in height and diameter as compared to the lower section.

      Photo: Andreas Schuck

Starting Tuesday Andreas from the Integrate+ team, Jan and Anna (contractors) set up the perimeter and assessed the coordinates of 308 trees and numbering them preliminarily. Having the numbers and tree locations allowed to measure dbh, tree heights, and perform an assessment of ecological and economic values. In the course of assessing microhabitats it became obvious that the trees were richer in habitat structures as first anticipated. That was for all exciting news. Daniel Heybeck gave detailed insight into the local wood assortments in order to make reliable estimates of the economic values for each tree in M-scope.

Photo: Jan Kiehne

During the whole week Loic and his colleagues strongly supported data collection allowing to finalise work both professionally and speedily. It was agreed with Loic that the trees will receive permanent numbering with small plates as has been done for other Integrate+ M-scopes. Those will be sent to Loic and fixed to the trees during November 2015.