PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The information currently available on the climate vulnerability of the forest sector is mainly based on large time scales (e.g. climate predictions by 2050, 2100) and on a global basis. Therefore, it is very difficult for forest managers to determine the climate vulnerability of a specific forest area and to adjust management plans accordingly in order to improve the resilience of those forests to climate change in the long term. Managers of both publicly- and privately-owned forests are showing an increasing interest in climate change, due to increases in droughts, forest fires and pest and disease occurrence, and more frequent extreme weather events. These will have a big environmental (forest habitats and species, ecosystem services) and economic (forest productivity) impact. In the Spanish province of Soria, for example, forest management has been ongoing since the Middle Ages, but this management now needs to be modified to make the forests more resilient to climate change.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE SORIA FORESTADAPT project aimed to increase the resilience of southern European forests to climate change, including through adaptation measures in public and private forest management plans.
A Technical Reference for Forest Management with climate change adaptation measures would be the basis for a gradual modification of the forest management plans throughout the province of Soria. The project aimed to update planning for 200 881 ha of public forest in the long term (an average of 12 000 ha/year will adopt climate adaptation measures) and also to influence afforestation programmes on private lands, especially agricultural land. The aim was to expand the model to the rest of the Autonomous Region of Castilla y Len, and then to the rest of Spain and Southern Europe.
The project’s specific objectives were to:
- improve the knowledge basis and the monitoring of adaptation measures in public forest management plans and new afforestation programmes on private lands
- contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative silvicultural practices
- develop an extended methodology (first created in LIFE AgriAdapt) with certified indicators to assess the vulnerability of forests and to support decision-making
- replicate this methodology throughout Europe using the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Asociacin para la Certificacin Espaola Forestal (PEFC) certification tools and the obtained indicators for new forest management plans adapted to climate change
- focus adaptation measures on soil conservation and carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and air quality
- develop replicable adaptation measures in relict and priority wooded ecosystems threatened by climate change (Pinus uncinata, Juniperus thurifera, Taxus baccata, etc.)
- involve the private sector in financing adaptive measures to complement those of carbon footprint compensation in the forestry sector
The project was expected to contribute to the EU Adaptation Strategy, specifically Action 4 on closing the knowledge gap, Action 5 on developing climate adaptation information, and Action 6 on facilitating climate action through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Rural Development Programmes. It would also support Spanish and regional strategies on climate change.
RESULTS
The project has been exceptionally well executed, surpassing initial expectations and engaging a broad range of stakeholders through both dissemination and active participation. The objectives were fully achieved, resulting in high-impact documents that are now key references for analysing the vulnerability of forest species to climate change in the province of Soria. The deliverables serve as technical and scientific benchmarks for forest management and international research. All documents are publicly available on the project website.
Key results are as follows:
- development of two tools for assessing forest vulnerability to climate change: FITOCLIM (https://soriaforestadapt.es/fitoclim/#) and the ForestAdapt Tool (https://soriaforestadapt.es/herramienta/)
- creation of a technical manual outlining a six-step process to support forest managers in integrating climate adaptation into planning and management
- update of the four “Zone Guidelines” for Soria to reflect current and projected climate conditions
- production of eight reports: seven on adaptation measures for non-wood forest products (resin, pine nuts, beekeeping, mushrooms, truffles, pastures and water), and one on current and future carbon storage in Soria’s forests
- integration of adaptation measures across more than 200 000 hectares of public and private forests in Soria and beyond
- certification of 16 890 ha in Soria, exceeding the original target by 6 890 ha
- launch of a platform for companies interested in implementing forest adaptation projects, promoting alternatives to traditional carbon offset models
- public access to tools for assessing forest vulnerability
- presentation of data from multiple perspectives to support informed decision-making
- awareness-raising and capacity building for forest managers, policymakers and businesses
- direct contribution to reducing forest vulnerability by enhancing ecosystem stability, biodiversity and service provision
- strengthening of climate governance in the forestry sector
