SYNFOREST

Could increased use of oak for production of high quality timber contribute to climate adaptation and higher species richness in Norwegian production forests? Synforest explores how forest management and wood ware production could be developed to allow for more oaks in Norwegian forests.

Forestry in south Norway is dominated by the spruce value chain with widespread planting, harvesting, and processing of spruce, mainly for paper and saw wood production. The forests of the future need to be sustainably used and adapted to the rapidly changing climate. Spruce, however, is sensitive to climate change. Therefore spruce is already losing ground in many parts of Europe. How can we reduce risks from droughts and storms, keep up value creation, and at the same time improve the situation for biodiversity and other forest ecosystem services under a changing climate? 

Forests better adapted to a warmer climate

Temperate broad-leaf tree species are better adapted to warmer weather and winter storms than spruce. Planting more temperate broad-leaf trees for high-quality timber, may therefore promote forests that are better adapted to warmer climate with more frequent storms. This will also be good for biodiversity. Without widespread planting, however, oaks and other temperate broad-leaf trees will not be able to spread as fast as the climate changes. 

Collaboration for change

While seemingly promising, a transition from spruce production to temperate broad-leaf tree production is challenging. In this collaborative project, we study how a transition to more temperate broad-leaf tree production may be realized for Norway. Forest ecologists and local managers study forest regeneration and how to protect oak plantations from ungulate browsing. Economists study the economic and social viability of managing young mixed forests for high quality oak timber and other ecosystem services. Social scientists, forest interest representatives, and policy experts analyse societal support and challenges for increased production of temperate broadleaf timber. Finally, industrial and wood technology partners lead trials to guide product development based on broad leaf timber to increase the demand for Norwegian temperate broad-leaf trees. Such use and demand may enable the forestry value chain to adapt to the future climate.