Forest Farming Trials

In our interpretation, “forest farming” is both an agroforestry practice and a form of land use. The focus of the research plan is to combine a forest by-product, the collection of mushrooms, with the wood uses of silviculture management within the framework of the technology described as the forest farming method, in young or middle-aged forest stands.

In addition, the collection and transport of locally harvested timber from final cleaning or selective thinning operations is often unprofitable, which in many cases leads to delays or abandonment of forest silvicultural work.

The use of the term “method” is deliberate, as the project does not aim to induce changes in the given forest stand or its stand structure. During the planning and implementation of cultivation cuts, the on-site utilization of harvested timber—through its decomposition for mushroom cultivation—is a cost-effective, adaptive method.

Aspects to be examined:
– Wood: selection of suitable tree species, in consonance with tree species occurring/planted due to climate change.
– Examination of the dimensions of the wood used.
– The basis for the comparison also includes the selection of the most successful mushroom strains applicable under given ecological conditions in tree species–mushroom strain pairings.

Beyond the aspects to be examined and compared, the coordination of technological development, work processes, and currently available innovative techniques and tools is also a valuable contribution to the dissemination by expert advice.