CLIMATE-FIT FORESTS

Forests play an important role in carbon fixation and in providing CO2 neutral raw materials. Due to predicted climate changes it is important to know to what extent European forests will be impacted by climate change, how best to mitigate these potential changes through adaptive forest management strategies, maintain current carbon fixation rates and minimize carbon emissions by forest operations. By utilizing the unique temperature and moisture gradient along a north-south orientation from Germany to Italy and South Africa, and with South Africa’s warmer climate and arid conditions, it is potentially possible to simulate future predicted climatic conditions in Europe. This methodology will also allow observations of the characteristics and behaviour of close-to-nature forests versus plantation forests as found in each of the partner countries under climate change conditions.

The research activity within Climate-Fit Forest improved our knowledge of climate induced changes in tree and stand growth as well as in wood properties. This includes a better understanding of the growth performance, growth partitioning and stand dynamics under changing conditions and growth reaction on drought events. Findings were used to improve existing growth models. A comprehensive data base on CO2 release by forest operations reflecting a multitude of stand types, topographic features and operation systems. Analyses based on this data base reveal the potential of mitigation possibilities in this sector. Applying methodologies from economic science facilitated the estimation of carbon release reduction from forests through risk distribution. A tool for simultaneous measurement of fuel consumption (i.e. carbon emission) during operation was developed.