Objectives of the whole joint project

This project aims to study the possibilities and methodological basis of new technologies and innovative approaches in the context of land use improvement, especially the management of forests in China. Multifunctional forest management can in diverse ways secure and improve the ecosystem services, such as water and erosion protection, contribute to carbon sequestration, and meanwhile increase the land use efficiency in terms of economic productivity.

People in China, particularly those in rural area, depend in a large part on the  relevant services provided by plantion forests, for the number of natural forests is limited. Since 1980s, scientists found a drop in productivity particularly in the plantations of Cunninghamia lanzeolata (Chinese fir) in southern China, mainly due to soil degradation, lack of provenance control and decreasing vitality. In consideration of this situation, the project serves as an example for the improvement of the young and middle-aged plantation stands-accounting for ca 4.3 million ha.

Development of sustainable silvicultural management concepts for increasing land use efficiency and investigate the related risks takes hereby priority. In the framework of this project, an integrated carbon inventory and monitoring system, which considers also bamboo stands and mixed forests, will be developed with a focus on the combination of terrestrial inventory and remote sensing.

This project aims furthermore to make scientific contribution to the stabilization of forest ecosystems.  The study on the adaptability to future climate change is, therefore, an important criterion in the framework of weighing multiple objectives, such as increase in site specific productivities, close-to-nature forest management and the changing societal demands on forests.  

The efficient production of woody biomass is also investigated in view of increasing the supply of renewable raw materials for enerny generation. Innovative technologies for assessment, harvesting and estimation of wood quality and wood utilization are studied. Possibilities of site adapted production concepts for wood biomass are evaluated and scrutinized under economic, ecological and sustainability criteria.

The envisaged Sino-German communication platform on forest sciences aims toward the establishment of a scientific dialog in the long term, mutual capacity building and networking of young scientists. Furthermore, the project's visibility to outside is thereby supposed to be guaranteed.