Adaptation of Forest Management Regimes in Southern Sweden to Increased Risks Associated with Climate Change

• Published in: Forests Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Authors: Subramanian, Narayanan, Bergh, Johan, Johansson, Ulf, Nilsson, Urban, Sallnäs, Ola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Abies; Adaptation; bark beetle; Betula pendula; Betula pubescens; Climate change; Fagus sylvatica; Forest management; forest production; Forest Science; Forestry; Forestry and Wood Technology; land expectation value; Larix; Pathogens; Picea abies; Populus tremula; profitability; root rot; Scolytidae; simulation model; Skog och träteknik; Skogsvetenskap; Storm damage; storm-felling; Temperature; Trees; Norway; Sweden; Europe; ANE, Sweden
• ISSN: 1999-4907; 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f7010008

Even though the growth rates of most tree species in Sweden is expected to increase in the near future as a result of climate change, increased risks of damage by storms and various pests and pathogens, notably root rot and bark beetles, may also occur. Thus, forest management practices such as changes to thinning regimes, reductions in rotation lengths, and switching to other species (native or exotic) may represent adaptive management strategies to increase the resistance and resilience of Swedish forests to climate change. Clearly, thorough analyses examining the effects of anticipated climatic changes on damage levels, and the potentially relieving effects of possible management adaptations are needed before implementing such changes. In this study, damage caused by storms, root rot and bark beetles (single and in various combinations) under selected climate and management scenarios were simulated in Norway spruce (Pice abies L. Karst) stands. The results indicate that reductions in thinning intensity and rotation lengths could improve both volume production and profitability in southern Sweden. In addition, cultivation of rapidly growing species, such as hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii Coaz.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.), could be as profitable as Norway spruce cultivation, or even more profitable. However, slow-growing species, such as Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), Downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) indicated low economic output in terms of Land Expectation Value.