Integrate+

Despite rainy weather the attendance was high. About 50 persons took part representing both foresters and non-forestry participants. The main purpose of the excursion was to show the interested public what close to nature forestry actually means. They were introduced to the principles of close to nature forestry and its challenges today and in the future.
The Pahernik Marteloscope which was set up in the course of the Integrate+ project was presented by our former colleague at EFICENT, Kristina Sever. She explained the rationale behind Marteloscopes and demonstrated their potential applications giving special emphasis to tree related microhabitats. A tree selection exercise was performed which sparked lively discussions. Participants with a forestry background were very much interested in the tree related microhabitats and the underlying ‘Catalogue of Tree Microhabitats’. They expressed the wish to receive the ‘Catalogue of Tree Microhabitats in electronic version. That was done immediately following the field trip. Forest owners found the Marteloscope particularly attractive as it also allowed to see tree selection results in terms of economic return. High interest was expressed by the University of Ljubljana, Department of Forestry, to receive the I+ software package for the Pahernik Marteloscope. It will then allow to perform more such tree selection exercises for example with students. Discussions concluded around the topic dead wood and habitat trees and their importance for biodiversity and forest resilience.

Kristina Sever explaining the Pahernic Marteloscope (Photo: Anton Lesnik)