The project, NorBal2F, is focused on studying recent forest growth trends in the Nordic-Baltic region to develop innovative climate-sensitive models for sustainable forest management. Participating countries include Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden. These models will be useful for a wide range of stakeholders, helping to manage forests sustainably and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
Project Objectives
- Assess Climate Impact: NorBal2F will begin by examining the recent impacts of climate change on forest growth and damage using a cross-regional forest database, the largest of its kind in the region, and comparing them across participating countries. We will identify the best climate and weather drivers of forest growth.
- Develop Climate-Sensitive Models: NorBal2F will use the above results to enhance the accuracy of forest growth models by including the climate drivers of forest growth identified above. The model will be prepared thanks to an extensive analysis of forest growth data in a groundbreaking effort of trans-national collaboration. This will lead to better forecasts of future forest development.
- Analyse alternative forest management: The aim is to create forest growth models that accommodate various management systems, including Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). While CCF offers diverse ecosystem services, it is currently underrepresented in existing models. An essential goal is to consolidate scattered data about CCF within the Nordic-Baltic region into a single, comprehensive dataset. This will support practical forest management and encourage multi-purpose use, balancing economic, social, and biodiversity needs.
Outcomes
- Interactive Web Application: Results will be published as an interactive web application, co-designed with various stakeholders. This user-friendly tool will be accessible to anyone interested in exploring the effects of climate change and forest management across the region.
- Impact: NorBal2F will support sustainable forest management practices that respond to current climatic and environmental challenges by providing a wide range of ecosystem services for all stakeholders. The project aims to ensure the long-term health and resilience of the forest sector in the Nordic-Baltic region.
