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The Life in Deadwood

Educational and public materials

Apr 22, 2026
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Standing deadwood (photo: Gesche Schifferdecker)

Europe’s forests are undergoing a quiet rethink – turning “waste” wood into an ecological priority. The Life in Deadwood, the final LIFE SPAN project documentary, explores how deadwood can be preserved within actively managed forests. Filmed in Italy and Germany, it follows researchers and foresters working to support saproxylic species that depend on decaying wood. The film highlights “Saproxylic Habitat Sites,” small patches where trees are left to age and decompose, creating vital habitats. Rather than isolated reserves, these sites form networks that sustain biodiversity. By shifting perception – seeing decay as life – the project promotes adaptive forestry that balances human use with ecological continuity.

Europe’s forests are undergoing a quiet rethink – one that turns yesterday’s “waste” wood into today’s ecological priority.

A new documentary is reframing how forests are managed across Europe, shifting the debate from whether deadwood has value to how it should be preserved in working landscapes. The Life in Deadwood, the final film from the LIFE SPAN project, explores this evolving approach through case studies in Italy’s Cansiglio Forest and Germany’s Sailershausen University Forest.

Guided by conservation biologist Jörg Müller of the University of Würzburg, the 20-minute film highlights a subtle but critical tension: the coexistence of human forestry practices and saproxylic organisms – species that depend on dead and decaying wood. Rather than treating these elements as waste, the documentary presents them as essential components of forest ecosystems.

At the heart of LIFE SPAN’s proposal is the concept of “Saproxylic Habitat Sites” (SHS). These are designated patches within managed forests where natural aging processes are allowed to unfold. Large, mature trees remain standing, fallen trunks are left undisturbed, and openings in the canopy encourage biodiversity. Project coordinator Bruno De Cinti emphasizes that connectivity is key: when these sites form networks, species can move and thrive across the landscape.

The film also calls for a shift in perception. What traditional forestry once removed—broken branches, hollow trunks, and decaying wood – is reintroduced as vital habitat. Forest manager Daniel Kraus notes that the documentary helps viewers “develop a better eye” for these overlooked features.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/__3HFlAZMnQ?si=Nb9y4u3EHwJhWPgn

The video is entirely in English, but official Italian and German subtitles can be selected in the YouTube settings.




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Source/Author(s)
  • Compagnia delle Foreste
Topic
  • Active Restoration
  • Integrative Forest Management
  • Planning & Upscaling
Purpose
  • Specific habitats (deadwood, microhabitats, habitat types,...)
  • Wood and biomass production