Abstract
While the role of forestry in mitigating climate change is increasingly subject to political commitment, other areas, such as water protection, may be at risk. In this study, we ask whether surface waters are sufficiently safeguarded in relation to the 2015 launch of a series of measures to intensify forest management for mitigation of climate change in Norway. First, we assess how impacts on water are accounted for in existing regulations for sustainable forestry. Secondly, we provide an overview of the impacts of forestry on water quality relevant to three support schemes: afforestation on new areas, increased stocking density in existing forests, and forest fertilisation. Lastly, we assess the uncertainties that exist with regard to surface waters in the implementation of these measures. We find that the safeguards in place are adequate to protect water resources at the point of initiation, but there is a large degree of uncertainty as to the long-term effect of these mitigation measures.
Highlights
Based on the 2012 white paper the Norwegian Climate Policy, the Norwegian parliament came to an agreement (‘‘Klimaforliket’’) that states Norway’s ambitions for meeting international obligations on emission reductions (KLD 2012)
As the fertilisation operations to a large degree rest on these environmental criteria set by the authorities and the standards for sustainable forestry, and in practice ensured by the use of official maps indicating sensitive environmental values, as well as the automated operation of application of fertiliser in line with these criteria and maps, we consider the risks for impacts on surface water from the forest fertilisation at the point of initiation to be minimal
We have conducted a review of the impact on surface water of three climate mitigation measures introduced to the Norwegian forestry sector; afforestation on new areas, increased stocking density, and forest nitrogen fertilisation
Summary
Based on the 2012 white paper the Norwegian Climate Policy, the Norwegian parliament came to an agreement (‘‘Klimaforliket’’) that states Norway’s ambitions for meeting international obligations on emission reductions (KLD 2012). Presented as a climate-policy measure, increased stocking density as specified by the Norwegian Agriculture Agency, is part of the ordinary silviculture activities, and does not imply changes to how forest areas are managed (NAA 2019) This measure falls under the forest sector’s existing regulations, so that environmental values are here safeguarded with reference to the national Regulation on Sustainable Forestry (LMD 2006) and the forest industry’s PEFC standard. As the fertilisation operations to a large degree rest on these environmental criteria set by the authorities and the standards for sustainable forestry, and in practice ensured by the use of official maps indicating sensitive environmental values, as well as the automated operation of application of fertiliser in line with these criteria and maps, we consider the risks for impacts on surface water from the forest fertilisation at the point of initiation to be minimal This is less certain for the longer term
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