Shaping the future of biodiversity in our forests: Perspectives on the new EU forest strategy for 2030

The new EU forest strategy for 2030 emphasizes the multifunctionality of forests and lists concrete proposals for action to improve their quality and quantity. Saxony is with 28.2 % forest area below the national average of around 32 % and is impacted from measures in the new EU forest strategy for 2030 to increase forest area. Improving forest quality is also of particular importance for Saxony, as its forests are suffering from climate change and the associated heat stress of recent years. Due to its tree species composition, targets and challenges regarding forest growth and biodiversity are given. Thus, this study investigates how current challenges of biodiversity management in Saxonian forests can be improved by the new EU forest strategy for 2030 from the perspective of a state forest enterprise, nature conservation stations, and nature conservation associations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten representatives of these stakeholder groups, followed by a qualitative content analysis. The results show that with the new EU forest strategy for 2030, a complex instrument was created, which is partly linked to current forest-related biodiversity challenges in Saxony. Opportunities of the new EU forest strategy for 2030 for Saxony lie in the plans for climate change adaption, the intent to financially reward non-timber-based ecosystem services and the proposed multi-stakeholder platform to foster exchange and balance diverging perspectives and interests.