Criterion 4: Maintenance, Conservation and Appropriate Enhancement of Biological Diversity in Forest Ecosystems

The maintenance, conservation, and appropriate enhancement of biodiversity remains an important goal for forest management in Europe. Biodiversity is generally considered valuable per se as well as being important for the adaptability and stability of forests. Forest management can support biodiversity through a range of practices – such as supporting natural regeneration and expansion, leaving part of the wood for decomposition, designating valuable habitats as protected areas or genetic conservation units, actively systematically protecting genetic resources of tree species, and suppressing invasive species.