Climate-smart forestmanagement helps increase resilience of forests
The premise of small-scale climate-smart forest management is that you strengthen the whole system, creating a stable and protective forest climate that can dampen weather extremes. When the forest climate is in order, humidity and soil moisture levels remain higher, making it possible to better buffer temperature extremes in the air and soil. Maintaining the crown canopy is very important in this respect. As is good mixing and structure, which increase system flexibility and reduce risks.
Vulnerable forest ecosystems require targeted management choices and guidance
In LIFE Climate Forest, the focus is therefore on:
- more variety in species and origins
- a better structure and age structure
- well-functioning and more nutritious soil
- contributing to successful rejuvenation
- focus on wildlife protection
- creation of nature networks contributing to increased biodiversity
- focus on carbon sequestration
- tree-oriented management
The importance of vital, resilient forests
A vital forest is a resilient forest ecosystem capable of moving with change. A forest that can continue to develop just as well in the new conditions and will be vital enough to provide its valuable products and services even a hundred years from now. Very important because a forest provides habitat for plants and animals, purifies our water and the air we breathe, produces the renewable raw material wood, sequesters carbon and is a place for many to relax and enjoy.
A vital and resilient forest ecosystem does mean that the forest environment must meet a number of preconditions. A good variety of species and provenances, targeted management choices for a better structure and age structure, a well-functioning and nutrient-rich soil and successful rejuvenation.
We see that our forest ecosystems are struggling and lacking resilience. Vitality and biodiversity are under great pressure, which calls for choices and appropriate management types. Small-scale climate-smart forest management offers targeted opportunities to address the issues and thus contribute to the creation of resilient and vital forest ecosystems, ready for the future.
See in practice
In LIFE Climate Forest, we have selected several demo forests and reference forests, which are our 'example forests'. Here we can show managers, owners, policymakers and other stakeholders in practice the possibilities of climate-smart forest management and how to translate this small-scale and tree-oriented management type to a specific stand.