Forestry

Deadwood forest in Finland ©Markus Melin

Boreal forests face escalating pressures from climate change and unsustainable forestry practices.

Rising temperatures, water stress and changing weather patterns combined with species monocultures, species-site incompatibility and clear-cutting are already contributing to the spread of pests, pathogens and disease. From studying bark-beetle outbreaks to trialling mixed species regeneration, Precilience’s forestry demonstrations will explore how forest landscapes and biodiversity can be protected, whilst preserving the timber economy and supporting carbon sequestration.

Explore the demonstrations below to see what we’re testing and where.

Risks, Biodiversity & Damage Agents

Tomicus minor ©Markus Melin

Lead partner: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

The impacts of climate change on Nordic forests is increasingly visible, but management methods are also contributing to their vulnerability. Spruce bark beetle outbreaks and drought-induced dieback, for example, pose serious threats to forest health. Building resilience means understanding both the risks (human and environmental) and the susceptibility of different forests types to these risks. Read on to find out how existing data from Central Europe, combined with findings from Precilience’s field trials will assess risks and develop management strategies.

Kymenlaakso
This site will assess the causes and consequences of a spruce bark beetle epidemic. Causes being analysed include site type, forest structure, landscape (clear-cuts, storm damage), and the presence of fungal pathogens e.g. root rot, with a view to helping foresters make improved regeneration decisions.
Varsinais-Suomi
Drought stress in Scots pine is driving outbreaks of Diplodia tip blight and bark beetle infestation. These threats are newly observed in the region, and no forest management protocols currently exist to address them. Demonstration plots are monitoring beetle populations and the presence of Diplodia sapinea.

Forest Regeneration

Lead partner: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Boreal forests dominated by single-species conifer stands are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, drought, pests and disease. Precilience is testing climate-smart alternatives in four countries aiming to demonstrate how mixed-species forest regeneration can support forest health and resilience, even in drought-prone areas.

Spruce seedling ©Markus Melin

Northern Estonia
State-owned regeneration sites are being surveyed for seedling composition (pine, spruce, birch), planting vs natural regeneration and (a)biotic & disturbances. Additional data from different climatic and soil conditions will help produce a comprehensive comparative study of regeneration outcomes between monoculture and mixed-species forests.
Åland, Kymenlaakso & Varsinais-Suomi
Privately-owned regeneration sites with trees less than six years old are being surveyed for seedling composition (pine, spruce, birch) in planted regeneration and (a)biotic & disturbances. Additional data and analysis of soil and needle samples for the mycobiome will help produce a comprehensive comparative study of regeneration outcomes between monoculture and mixed-species forests. These sites will be monitored for three years.
Innlandet, Indre Østfold and Trøndelag
In Norway, Precilience is assessing the feasibility of using harvester-based position mapping to locate decay-affected spruce. This information will be used to inform precision planting of the next tree generation, therefore minimising the potential for decay transfer.
South-Sweden
Planted regeneration sites are being surveyed for seedling composition (pine, spruce, birch) and (a)biotic & disturbances. Additional data from different climatic and site conditions will help produce a comprehensive comparative study of regeneration outcomes between monoculture and mixed-species forests.

Forest Management Methods

Lead partner: Estonian University of Life Sciences

Closer-to-nature forest management methods — such as continuous cover forestry (CCF) and shelterwood — are gaining ground as alternatives to traditional rotation forestry. CCF, for example, ensures that forest stands are never left without mature trees. However, such approaches come with trade-offs, including greater exposure to windthrow, snow damage and the spread of pests and pathogens. Each country’s approach is shaped by different environmental, historical and legal contexts, with the shared objective of understanding how different practices influence the health, development and productivity of forest ecosystems.

Forest fieldwork in Estonia ©Jürgen Aosaar

Long-term, nationwide experimental sites applying various closer-to-nature management approaches.

Species Disease Susceptibility

Lead partner: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of tree diseases in boreal forests. Forest regeneration efforts must take into account species’ susceptibility to emerging fungal threats, disease and pests. These demonstrations look in depth at Diplodia sapinea, root rot and phyllosphere diseases and genetic variations in susceptibility.

Lääne-Viru County
Clone trials of demonstrations in Sweden (see below).
Kalmar & Skåne län
Norway spruce with a focus on Heterobasidion root rot. Measuring growth loss, crown dieback, and wood decay to assess how site conditions and past management influence disease spread and interactions with spruce bark beetle.
Gotland
Scots pine on well-drained, dry soils, focusing on Diplodia tip blight and crown damage.
Northern Sweden
Mixed-age stands comparing natural vs. planted regeneration (inc. CCF) focusing on different disease susceptibility in the regeneration layer.
Kalmar, Gotland län or Gästrikland
Scots pine forests with signs of root rot and stress e.g. sandy soils. Assessing resilience to Armillaria and Heterobasidion root rot. Tracking growth decline, basal decay, and root health under changing climatic conditions.

Latest updates

Webinar: climate risks & adaptation in Nordic agriculture

Watch our latest webinar exploring how climate-related changes are unfolding across Northern Europe and how farmers, forest managers, and researchers are responding.

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Blog: Summer Greetings

Petteri Karisto, Precilience’s Project Coordinator, shares his reflections as Precilience begins its second year.

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Blog: Biotic Stress in Nordic Forests

Markus Melin shares insights on the biotic impacts of climate change on Nordic forests and key priorities for accelerating adaptation.

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