Climate resilient forest management

As part of closer-to-nature forest management, stakeholder involvement has a key role and includes citizens, local companies, public administrations, protected area and forest managers. Stakeholders can be involved in:

• Forest Monitoring: keeping watch on the trees, insects, diseases, and fires is necessary to ensure safety against climate related threats. For example in the Sonian forest,trees are mapped and measured by the forest service to monitor and encourage the development of very large trees, monitor disease and to ensure that the forest is well protected. Very large trees are one of the main characteristics of old-growth forests. Old-growth forests are biodiversity rich because of their many micro-habitats, and they are of high recreational value.
• Facilitation of ecosystem services: getting people excited about enjoying the forest enhances collective knowledge and culture as well as the spirit of taking care of the forest and its resources. To support forest management is important to make sure the forest is (strategically) accessible or restricted for different activities. This could for example involve the protection of nesting birds, signage for tourism or foragers on paths that are safe, or restrictions of areas that are being managed or protected.
• Forest education: Informing stakeholders about forest management practices is extremely important. This also includes visitors to forests and neighboring farms or landowners, in order to ensure safe practices in and around forests. This can help prevent fires and is also a great way to improve engagement. For example, neighbouring farmers can be informed about the risks of using farming machinery in the dry season around forest edges. On dry days, the moving parts of the farming machinery may cause sparks or grind a stone which spontaneously ignites the dry grass and may even spread the surrounding forest. Another management strategy could be to ensure grazers are kept away from recovering forest patches in order to allow regrowth after a harvesting event. Grazers may inhibit the natural regeneration of the forest if not contained in the early stages of tree growth.

Managing climate resilient forests can be done through government policies, programmes, regulations as well as through social and behavioural changes of the forest managers themselves. Connections between stakeholders for participatory forest management is also helpful for implementing this option.

Limiting factors

The main limiting factors are related to: (i) the limited financial resources and to (ii) the rules applying to different areas of the same forest, whenever it is shared under different jurisdictions. Understanding and working within the limits of regional and national legislation are a challenge when implementing forest management.

Moreover, effective communication represents an additional challenge. Setting regulations, limits on visit or uses of the forest or seasonal restrictions requires additional communication resources and infrastructure to uphold the regulations, especially when it concerns the public and permits.

Forest management actions can take time. This can be influenced my many different factors including:

• Initial forest condition: forests that are heavily degraded or have been managed intensively for timber production may take longer to transition to a close-to-nature state compared to less disturbed forests.
• Scale of implementation: the size of the forest area being managed will impact the implementation time. Larger areas may require more time and resources to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Stakeholder involvement: effective collaboration with stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and conservation organizations, can influence the pace and success of implementation.
• Funding and resources: availability of financial and human resources is crucial to carry out the necessary interventions and ongoing management.

Success factors

Enabling factors can be found in the participation in projects funded by LIFE Programme or Horizon Europeto support climate adaptation measures in forests. These have enabled monitoring programs, fire prevention, stakeholder engagement projects and also provided funding for maintenance and state of the art technologies that enable monitoring and reporting. 

Several other European initiatives promote forest climate adaptive management strategies, such as mixed stands and the management of dead wood, to enhance resilience and biodiversity. The new Forest Strategy includes measures for strengthening forest protection and restoration, enhancing sustainable forest management. Notable initiatives include Forest Europe, the European Forest Institute (EFI), and the Natura 2000 Network. These initiatives support sustainable forest management through research funding, policy guidance, and the promotion of best practices. They aim to ensure forests' long-term health and their ability to withstand climate change impacts.

Depending on the size of the forest and the specifics of the project, establishing a new forest management program can vary in cost. Usually, maintaining a forest can be a costly endeavour ranging from hundred thousands to billions per year. For this reason, it is important to establish partnerships with different stakeholders and acquire funding or support from local, regional, national or European authorities.

The costs of implementing close-to-nature forestry practices vary significantly based on location, forest type, and management objectives. However, close-to-nature management generally requires less intensive interventions compared to conventional forestry, potentially lowering some long-term costs.

Initial setup costs often involve activities like selective thinning, promoting natural regeneration, and ensuring biodiversity through the introduction of native species. These interventions can range from €150 to €500 per hectare, depending on the forest's condition and specific interventions required. Continuous cover forestry, a common approach in close-to-nature management, avoids clear-cutting, leading to less environmental disruption and lower replanting costs(European Forest Institute)(LIFE4Forest).

In Denmark, for example, it has been noted that close-to-nature management involves relatively low operational costs because it minimizes soil disturbance and relies on natural processes. Costs associated with soil preparation and artificial planting are reduced, though initial investments in planning and species selection can be higher (LIFE4Forest). Still, maintaining a careful balance of intervention and natural regeneration may require ongoing monitoring, which can contribute to operational costs (European Forest Institute, 2022).

In addition to an improved resilience to climate change, long-term and close-to-nature forestry may provide economic benefits by contributing to the sustainable development (wood and non wood forest products, marketing of wood residues, sustainable tourism) and contrasting land abandonment for example in silvo-pastural areas.

Many European forests are protected by the Habitats directive or through the Natura 2000 network and measures concerning the use are limited to restrictions based on these directives. Otherwise, it is important to understand the land ownership situation before undergoing changes in forest management. This can become an issue that needs resolving through stakeholder engagements or legal processes. Other legalities concern borders and regulations between regions that may differ for implementation of certain projects.

The implementation time for climate resilient forestry can vary significantly based on several factors, including the current state of the forest, the specific practices being implemented, and the goals of the management plan. Here are some key considerations that influence the timeline:

Short-Term (1-5 years)

• Initial Assessments and Planning: Conducting thorough assessments of the forest's current condition, biodiversity, and existing stressors. Developing a detailed management plan.
• Initial Interventions: Beginning initial interventions such as selective thinning, promoting natural regeneration, and introducing a mix of native species. These actions can start showing early results in terms of improved forest structure and health.
• Monitoring and Adjustments: Setting up monitoring systems to track progress and making necessary adjustments to management practices.

Medium-Term (5-20 years)

• Forest Structure Development: Continued selective thinning and management of natural regeneration will gradually lead to a more structurally complex forest
• Biodiversity Enhancement: As forest structure improves, biodiversity is expected to increase. This period is crucial for observing the establishment and growth of diverse species, both flora and fauna.
• Soil and Water Improvements: Improvements in soil health and water regulation can be observed, contributing to the overall resilience of the forest ecosystem.

Long-Term (20+ years)

• Mature Close-to-Nature Forest: Achieving a mature climate resilient forest state where the forest is self-sustaining involves well-developed canopy layers, rich biodiversity, and robust ecosystem services.
• Continued Monitoring and Adaptive Management: Ongoing monitoring to ensure the forest remains resilient to new stressors such as climate change. Adaptive management practices may be needed to address emerging challenges.

Climate resilient Forestry is a long-term commitment that involves gradual changes and continuous management to align forest practices with natural processes. While initial improvements can be seen within a few years, fully realizing the benefits of closer-to-nature forestry typically requires decades. The approach aims for sustainable and resilient forest ecosystems that can adapt to changing environmental conditions while providing ecological, economic, and social benefits.

The "lifetime" of climate resilient forest practices is not fixed but is rather a perpetual cycle of implementation, monitoring, and adaptation. While certain benefits and changes can be observed in the short to medium term (within 1-20 years), achieving full forest resilience to climate change is a long-term, multi-decade endeavour. These practices must be sustained and adapted indefinitely to ensure that forests continue to thrive under changing climatic conditions.