Transnational Forestry Management Strategies in Response to Regional Climate Change Impacts (ForeStClim)

Description:

High population densities, strong economic activities and climate change, place natural environments in North West Europe (NWE) under increasing pressure. The sustainable management of these natural resources is of vital importance for the advancement of the entire NWE zone. ForeStClim aims to strengthen the ecological and economic stability of NWE's forests through producing recommendations for transnationally harmonised forest management and protection strategies. ForeStClim examines the consequences of climate change on • tree growth • tree species composition (competition) • site changes (water, carbon) • forest functions (e.g. flood protection) • silvicultural targets (high grade wood, energy wood) The results will feed into a newly developed decision support system for forest owners, administrations and policy makers. This system is designed to highlight the respective ecological and economic consequences of different silvicultural strategies, and will thereby help to minimise risks associated with decisions. The utility, protection and recreational functions of forests will have to be maintained under climate change conditions! the project is being developed through: -Setting up a data centre -Downscaling IPCC AR4 climate change scenarios -Development of modules to assess forest site shifts, forest stand shifts, risks for forests and woodland, water regime, ecological goods of woodland and economical consequences under given climate change developments -Compiling of forestry management and forest risk strategies. -Continuing of a strategy which combines water management and forestry measures to improve water retention in forests. -Adoption of digital and transnational modules in forest planning and forest site surveying practices, which do not cope with climate change, implementation of the site surveying practices, implementation of forestry management and risk mitigation strategies in combination with water management measures, advisory board to secure the applicability, fostering capacity building and raising awareness.

Project information

Lead

Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz (DE)

Partners

Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz (DE), Universität Trier (DE), Technische Universität München, Forest Yield Science (DE), kontextU - Umweltberatung und Kommunikation GbR (DE), Office National des Forêts (FR), Université de Strasbourg (FR), Groupement d’Intérêt Public du Pays de Redon et Vilaine (FR), Centre Permanent d’Initiatives à l’Environnement Val de Vilaine (FR), Ville de Beignon (FR), Association syndicale libre forestière d'Allaire et du Pays de Redon et Vilaine (FR), Ville de Allaire (FR), Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Unique du Vauvert (FR), Centre de Récherche Public – Gabriel Lippmann (LU), Forestry Commission (UK), Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Natural Environment Research Council (UK), University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Civil Engineering and Geosciences (UK), Bangor University, School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography (UK), The Mersey Forest (UK), MNV Consulting Ltd. (UK), Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap (NL), University of Twente, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (NL).

Source of funding

Interreg IV B North West Europe