National Forest Inventory Data to Evaluate Climate-Smart Forestry

Christian Temperli,Giovanni Santopuoli,Radoslaw Sroga,Alessandra Bottero,Roberto Tognetti,Ignacio Barbeito,Jerzy Lesiński,Iciar Alberdi,Sonia Condés,Christoph Fischer,Bozydar Neroj,Michal Bosela,Thomas Gschwantner,Matija Klopčič

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-80767-2_4

Abstract

AbstractNational Forest Inventory (NFI) data are the main source of information on forest resources at country and subcountry levels. This chapter explores the strengths and limitations of NFI-derived indicators to assess forest development with respect to adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, that is, the criteria of Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF). We reflect on harmonizing NFI-based indicators across Europe, use literature to scrutinize available indicators to evaluate CSF, and apply them in 1) Switzerland, where CSF is evaluated for NFI records and simulation model projections with four management scenarios; 2) 43 selected European countries, for which the indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) are used. The indicators were aggregated to composite indices for adaptation and mitigation and to an overall CSF rating. The Swiss NFI records showed increased CSF ratings in mountainous regions, where growing stocks increased. Simulations under business-as-usual management led to a positive CSF rating, whereas scenarios of increased harvesting decreased either only adaptation or both mitigation and adaptation. European-level results showed increases in CSF ratings for most countries. Negative adaptation ratings were mostly due to forest damages. We discuss the limitations of the indicator approach, consider the broader context of international greenhouse gas reporting, and conclude with policy recommendations.

Highlights

Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) has been suggested as forest management concept with the goal to combine 1) the adaptation of forests to climate change, 2) the mitigation of climate change through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon by trees, and 3) the maintenance of forest ecosystem service provision (Bowditch et al 2020)
National governments are encouraged to device forest policy recommendations to mitigate climate change (FAO 2018). This can be achieved with management that favors tree and forest growth such that more CO2 is sequestered from the atmosphere than released from the forest through respiration, decay of deadwood, and the decay and burning of harvested wood products (Köhl et al 2020)
diameters at breast height (DBH) diversity decreased in the Plateau and the Prealps, while it increased in the other regions

Summary

Introduction

Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) has been suggested as forest management concept with the goal to combine 1) the adaptation of forests to climate change, 2) the mitigation of climate change through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon by trees, and 3) the maintenance of forest ecosystem service provision (Bowditch et al 2020). National governments are encouraged to device forest policy recommendations to mitigate climate change (FAO 2018). This can be achieved with management that favors tree and forest growth such that more CO2 is sequestered from the atmosphere than released from the forest through respiration, decay of deadwood, and the decay and burning of harvested wood products (Köhl et al 2020). This may encompass the prolongation of cutting cycles to sequester carbon in the living biomass. Adaptation, mitigation, and the provision of ES need to be balanced in climate-smart management recommendations, at a regional to national scale

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Conclusion