Climate Change Adaptation of Northern Forests: Risks and Prevention of Damaging Agents

Forest damaging agents negatively affect many of the ecosystem services that forests provide, including climate regulation, production of renewable raw materials, and other provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting ecosystem services. Climate change-related disturbances are already impacting forest growth dramatically in many parts of Europe, and these problems are estimated to increase and expand northwards. Because Aurora areas, like northern Finland and Sweden, are projected to experience more dramatic temperature increases than lower latitudes, these areas will probably face more severe effects of climate change.

The overall objective of the project is to develop new forest damaging agent prevention tools and risk management methods to support and ensure livelihood in Aurora regions in relation to forests. By decreasing the effect of damaging agents and developing new methods, the region's economy and vitality are improved. New RDI cooperation in the forestry sector will be created and new know-how is shared. The project will generate new knowledge for short- and long-term activities to enhance sustainable ecological, social, and economic use of northern forests.