Auberive – A shift in forest management driven by social concerns 

Auberive’s forest also plays an important ecological role: 

• 1235 ha are protected for their ecological value 

• 410 ha are part of the Natura 2000 network 

• 130 ha are special reserves  

Conservation-oriented management towards these habitats consists of maintenance of these open areas (grasslands and marshes) as well as biodiversity-friendly forest measures. These measures are integrated in the uneven-aged forest management and include the preservation of a multi-layered forest cover, the mixture of tree species and the conservation of habitat trees, in accordance with production objectives. 

The forest is accessible to the public with several walking, mountain bike and horse trails. However, the frequency of visitors remains relatively low, since the population density of the area is very low. Societal aspects is still important and always taken into consideration, as it was originally the reason for the change in forest management.