Climate change adaptation in Swedish forestry: driving forces, risks and opportunities

For forests and forestry, climate change means both increased risks and new opportunities. From a social science perspective, it is possible to study how actors with responsibility for management and long-term planning of forests perceive the challenges posed by climate change and the implications for their own activities. Studies of forest owners and forestry advisers provide insights into their perceptions, driving forces and reasons for decisions. At the same time, complex effects may be felt from climate change in other parts of the world. Knowledge of climate issues, personal experiences and effects of climate change, communicated clearly, play a major part in how forest owners – and forest stakeholders – can adapt their activities.

This report summarizes insights from Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) research under the Mistra-SWECIA programme, with a focus on the drivers of and barriers to adaptation in the Swedish forestry sector.