From Samechov to the world: forest lessons inspire the Living Lab Network
It was the morning of 22 September 2025 when the TRANSFORMIT team gathered at the hotel, shaking off the early chill before boarding the bus to the forest. Inside, a gentle mix of English, Czech, Finnish, and Chinese filled the air – voices from across continents united by a shared curiosity about the forest. Greeted by the Czech management team and our hosts, Petr and Miro, we were soon immersed in the story of Samechov – a place where ecological forestry is not just discussed but lived. Inspired by ideas developed by Jerry F. Franklin and colleagues in the United States, the approach here follows the rhythms of nature itself, using natural disturbance regimes as a model and treating the forest as both classroom and teacher. By the time we stepped beneath the canopy, the concept ofIntegrated Forest Management had transformed from words into something tangible.
Although the area is naturally dominated by beech, only about 29% of the forest reflects that today – the rest remains shaped by the long-standing spruce monocultures typical for the region. Against that backdrop, the beech stands appeared as pearls in a spruce storm.
Petr and Miro explained that ecological forestry in Samechov aims to restore natural diversity – using biodiversity not as a goal, but as a driver for other ecosystem functions. Natural regeneration plays a key role in promoting this variety, alongside a mix of management approaches rather than relying on just one. This creates structural diversity and resilience, supported by core principles such as avoiding clearcuts, preserving veteran and habitat trees, and managing deadwood according to the “1:10 rule” of biomass retention.
As we walked deeper into the forest, the discussions turned lively. Participants compared ecological and economic criteria, debated the challenges of financing mixed forests, and talked about risk management in a changing climate.
“Natural variability is the best key for resilience,” one of the hosts reminded us – a phrase that lingered throughout the day.
Later stops revealed the practical side of this philosophy. We visited stands where old spruce and pine had been logged, leaving space for light-demanding species like maple and beech to thrive. In other areas, small unmanaged patches showed that sometimes the best management decision is to simply let nature take its course, allowing habitats for fungi, lichens, beetles, bats, and endangered species to thrive.
The afternoon brought us to younger stands, where foresters are experimenting with Variable Density Thinning – a technique that mimics natural disturbances by creating varied light and gap conditions. While sometimes controversial, this approach breaks the monotony of even-aged stands and strengthens long-term resilience.
The day ended in a nearby nature reserve – an awe-inspiring old-growth beech forest where management stops and nature takes over. Surrounded by centuries-old trees, deadwood, and rich biodiversity, participants could see the principles of ecological forestry in their purest form. “We are standing inside the very template that guides our management,” someone noted quietly as the group stood beneath the tall beeches.
Another milestone
Four representatives of Satellite Demonstration Areas (SDA) from Norway, Italy and Germany joined the meeting, further expanding the Living Lab network. In total, 31 SDAs have now committed to contribute their experiences and sites to the project – a crucial step to bring even more perspectives and practical examples into our collaboration.
The second day was dedicated to in-depth discussions in parallel working groups:
- One group explored policy frameworks, comparing how Europe and China define and apply IFM, and identifying indicators that could be shared across contexts.
- Another focused on decision-support tools – what’s needed to provide tools for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers, and the potential of a joint platform
- A third group worked on international collaboration, brainstorming ideas for joint publications, trainings, study trips, and exchanges between Living Labs.
- The communication group looked at practical ways to stay better connected through joint webinars, newsletters, and closer links between project websites.
Deepening the dialogue
On the third day, discussions turned practical – and forward-looking. Participants split into groups to explore key challenges the project faces: how to bring IFM to life, how to strengthen internal communication, and how to engage more people beyond the project’s core network.
One group tackled one of the biggest questions: how can IFM be implemented under real economic and institutional conditions? The conversation circled around market realities (where timber prices still dominate) and the limited budgets of public forests. Participants agreed that ecosystem services like carbon storage or biodiversity need to become more than just ideals; they must also make economic sense. They highlighted that IFM isn’t just about balance, but also about resilience: by diversifying outputs and approaches, forests can better withstand both ecological and financial uncertainty. To move forward, they saw a need for stronger advisory services, supportive legal frameworks, and clearer communication of the benefits IFM brings.
Another group focused on internal communication and project engagement – a challenge when partners are spread across continents. Language barriers, different expectations, and even practical issues like visa requirements for Chinese colleagues often stand in the way. The group suggested creating a shared event roadmap, distinguishing between online meetings for research and in-person events for practitioners, and updating contact lists to make roles and responsibilities more visible. The message was clear: communication works best when it’s coordinated, open, and easy to navigate.
The third group looked outward and asked the following question: whose voices are we still missing? They pointed to schools, NGOs, media, and policymakers as key groups that could help spread understanding of IFM and its benefits. Ideas ranged from inviting journalists to Living Labs, to producing simple and translated materials, to bringing policymakers directly into the forest. The group agreed that engagement should be proactive. Instead of waiting for stakeholders to come to us, we should invite them in. Firsthand experience, after all, is what turns curiosity into commitment.
A living example of nature-led forestry
The meeting wrapped up with the visit to the Satellite Demonstration Area Velká Bíteš, a landscape that tells its own story of transformation. The forests here are owned by seven municipalities and managed by the Forest Cooperative of the Union of Municipalities.
The forest management style presented on the excursion is a “freestyle” or ecological forestry approach that emphasises natural processes and respects ecological principles and wildlife. Implementing IFM here means working with nature – focusing on recovery, regeneration, and deadwood management – an approach still rather unusual for this area.
Disturbances affecting the SDA also endangered the local population economically, so actions were needed. The drought and the outbreak of bark beetles wiped out almost all the spruce monocultures. But it also created opportunities for a new style of forest management in accordance with the recommendation of Czech forest scientists. Instead of replanting spruce monocultures, foresters decided to let nature take its course. Now, there is birch succession alongside other pioneer tree species like maple, oak and rowan, full of red berries. Rather than harvesting all the affected trees, foresters decided to leave some in place to foster biodiversity, protect soil and, most importantly, shield surviving trees and prevent clearcuttings and costs. The forest is now full of life. Among the deciduous trees, there are many bird species – including some that are endangered – along with wild animals and mushrooms. The remaining spruce stands still mark the areas where they were once planted.
As forester Jirka Nohel, who guided the visit, explained, this approach now offers a model for resilience that others can learn from. The Pro Silva president gave positive feedback on the management approach, predicting it could one day make its way into textbooks.
This project meeting clearly showed that while Europe and China may have different historical and political contexts, they face similar challenges – from climate change to economic frameworks and balancing forest protection with use. The excursion, the new SDA partnerships, and the lively discussions demonstrated the great value of international collaboration.
With 31 Satellite Demonstration Areas on board, an expanding network, and fresh ideas, we are well prepared to take the next steps – to further develop and implement Integrated Forest Management together in practice.
Text: Martina Kičić, Petr Kjučukov, Katharina Freund, Silvester Boonen, Daria Kononenko
Pictures: Petr Kjučukov, Shanqing Gao, Daria Kononenko