Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry

Developing adaptation measures in forestry is an urgent task because the forests regenerated today will have to cope with climate conditions that may drastically change during the life of the trees in the stand. This paper presents a comprehensive review of potential adaptation options in forestry i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marco Marchetti, Piermaria Corona, Anna Barbati, Sylvain Delzon, Antoine Kremer, Sigrid Netherer, Manfred J. Lexer, Marja Kolström, Rupert Seidl, Terhi Vilén, Michael Maroschek, Marcus Lindner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2011-11-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/2/4/961/
id doaj-cf55b0c47c274a86b8904496c5dee28b
record_format Article
spelling doaj-cf55b0c47c274a86b8904496c5dee28b2020-11-24T22:30:27ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072011-11-012496198210.3390/f2040961Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European ForestryMarco MarchettiPiermaria CoronaAnna BarbatiSylvain DelzonAntoine KremerSigrid NethererManfred J. LexerMarja KolströmRupert SeidlTerhi VilénMichael MaroschekMarcus LindnerDeveloping adaptation measures in forestry is an urgent task because the forests regenerated today will have to cope with climate conditions that may drastically change during the life of the trees in the stand. This paper presents a comprehensive review of potential adaptation options in forestry in Europe based on three pillars: a review of the scientific literature, an analysis of current national response strategies, and an expert assessment based on a database compiled in the COST Action ECHOES (Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture). The adaptation measures include responses to both risks and opportunities created by climate change and address all stages of forestry operations. Measures targeted to reduce vulnerability to climate change may either aim to reduce forest sensitivity to adverse climate change impacts or increase adaptive capacity to cope with the changing environmental conditions. Adaptation measures mitigating drought and fire risk such as selection of more drought resistant species and genotypes are crucial. For adaptation to be successful it is of the utmost importance to disseminate the knowledge of suitable adaptation measures to all decision makers from the practice to the policy level. The analysis of the ECHOES database demonstrates that this challenge is well recognized in many European countries. Uncertainty about the full extent of climate change impacts and the suitability of adaptation measures creates a need for monitoring and further research. A better understanding of how to increase adaptive capacity is also needed, as well as regional vulnerability assessments which are crucial for targeting planned adaptation measures.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/2/4/961/forestryEuropeclimate changeadaptation strategiesforest management
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Marco Marchetti
Piermaria Corona
Anna Barbati
Sylvain Delzon
Antoine Kremer
Sigrid Netherer
Manfred J. Lexer
Marja Kolström
Rupert Seidl
Terhi Vilén
Michael Maroschek
Marcus Lindner
spellingShingle Marco Marchetti
Piermaria Corona
Anna Barbati
Sylvain Delzon
Antoine Kremer
Sigrid Netherer
Manfred J. Lexer
Marja Kolström
Rupert Seidl
Terhi Vilén
Michael Maroschek
Marcus Lindner
Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
Forests
forestry
Europe
climate change
adaptation strategies
forest management
author_facet Marco Marchetti
Piermaria Corona
Anna Barbati
Sylvain Delzon
Antoine Kremer
Sigrid Netherer
Manfred J. Lexer
Marja Kolström
Rupert Seidl
Terhi Vilén
Michael Maroschek
Marcus Lindner
author_sort Marco Marchetti
title Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
title_short Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
title_full Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
title_fullStr Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
title_full_unstemmed Reviewing the Science and Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in European Forestry
title_sort reviewing the science and implementation of climate change adaptation measures in european forestry
publisher MDPI AG
series Forests
issn 1999-4907
publishDate 2011-11-01
description Developing adaptation measures in forestry is an urgent task because the forests regenerated today will have to cope with climate conditions that may drastically change during the life of the trees in the stand. This paper presents a comprehensive review of potential adaptation options in forestry in Europe based on three pillars: a review of the scientific literature, an analysis of current national response strategies, and an expert assessment based on a database compiled in the COST Action ECHOES (Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture). The adaptation measures include responses to both risks and opportunities created by climate change and address all stages of forestry operations. Measures targeted to reduce vulnerability to climate change may either aim to reduce forest sensitivity to adverse climate change impacts or increase adaptive capacity to cope with the changing environmental conditions. Adaptation measures mitigating drought and fire risk such as selection of more drought resistant species and genotypes are crucial. For adaptation to be successful it is of the utmost importance to disseminate the knowledge of suitable adaptation measures to all decision makers from the practice to the policy level. The analysis of the ECHOES database demonstrates that this challenge is well recognized in many European countries. Uncertainty about the full extent of climate change impacts and the suitability of adaptation measures creates a need for monitoring and further research. A better understanding of how to increase adaptive capacity is also needed, as well as regional vulnerability assessments which are crucial for targeting planned adaptation measures.
topic forestry
Europe
climate change
adaptation strategies
forest management
url http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/2/4/961/
work_keys_str_mv AT marcomarchetti reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT piermariacorona reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT annabarbati reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT sylvaindelzon reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT antoinekremer reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT sigridnetherer reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT manfredjlexer reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT marjakolstrom reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT rupertseidl reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT terhivilen reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT michaelmaroschek reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
AT marcuslindner reviewingthescienceandimplementationofclimatechangeadaptationmeasuresineuropeanforestry
_version_ 1725740990189273088