On 6 November 2026, Living Lab Central met in Wehr (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) for an excursion dedicated to the first forest growth simulations developed within Small4Good. Organised by WaldBeiderBasel and Forstkammer Baden-Württemberg, the afternoon brought together 15 participants from the Living Lab, including small private forest owners and forestry professionals.
The excursion began with a visit to a spruce and silver fir stand in Wehr, one of the forest properties involved in the project, which served as a practical example for the discussion. Clemens Blattert and Justus Nögel from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) then presented the growth projections they developed for participating forest properties in the region, complemented by a silvicultural perspective from local forestry experts.
The following discussion focused on what the simulations mean in practice for small and very small private forests: which management decisions can be derived from them, which tree species and management approaches can provide which forest services, and how current management concepts fit into such long-term projections.
The excursion offered a valuable opportunity to connect scientific modelling with owners’ practical experience on the ground. The simulations presented in Wehr are part of Small4Good’s work on multifunctional management, documented in the deliverable D4.1 Multifunctional Management for Small Forest Owners.
