Impacts of climate change on European forests and options for adaptation

March 23, 2009 by timbercommunity

Climatic changes will have many and complex consequences for forests in different European bioclimatic regions. A new report published by DG Agriculture presents the results of a study into the impacts of climate change on European forests and options for adaptation. The study identified different adaptation options for European forests. Most of them are either in use or planned to be implemented in different parts of Europe. The most important adaptation measures identified were: more research; selection of species, provenances and genotypes which are either more tolerant towards expected changes (i.e. have a broader niche) or are particularly fit for specific potential future conditions; changing tending and thinning practices; and reducing biotic and abiotic disturbance risks.