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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021

Trilemma of Nordic-Baltic Forestry-How to Implement UN Sustainable Development Goals

Hogbom, Lars; Abbas, Dalia; Armolaitis, Kestutis; Baders, Endijs; Futter, Martyn; Jansons, Aris; Jogiste, Kalev; Lazdins, Andis; Lukmine, Diana; Mustonen, Mika; Oistad, Knut; Poska, Anneli; Rautio, Pasi; Svensson, Johan; Vodde, Floor; Varnagiryte-Kabasinskiene, Ivta; Weslien, Jan; Wilhelmsson, Lars; Zute, Daiga

Abstract

Forests are the dominant land cover in Nordic-Baltic countries, and forestry, the management of forests for improved ecosystem-service (ES) delivery, is an important contributor to sustainability. Forests and forestry support multiple United Nations Sustainability Goals (UN SDGs) and a number of EU policies, and can address conflicting environmental goals. Forests provide multiple ecosystem services and natural solutions, including wood and fibre production, food, clear and clean water and air, animal and plant habitats, soil formation, aesthetics, and cultural and social services. Carbon sequestered by growing trees is a key factor in the envisaged transition from a fossil-based to a biobased economy. Here, we highlight the possibilities of forest-based solutions to mitigate current and emerging societal challenges. We discuss forestry effects on forest ecosystems, focusing on the optimisation of ES delivery and the fulfilment of UN SDGs while counteracting unwanted effects. In particular, we highlight the trilemma of (i) increasing wood production to substitute raw fossil materials, (ii) increasing forest carbon storage capacity, and (iii) improving forest biodiversity and other ES delivery.

Keywords

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; ecosystem services; forest; forestry; management practices; European Green Deal

Published in

Sustainability
2021, volume: 13, number: 10, article number: 5643
Publisher: MDPI

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Skogforsk
Abbas, Dalia
American University
Armolaitis, Kestutis
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
Baders, Endijs
Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Jansons, Aris
Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"
Jögiste, Kalev
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Lazdins, Andis
Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"
Lukminè, Diana
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
Mustonen, Mika
Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
Oistad, Knut
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)
Poska, Anneli
Tallinn University of Technology
Rautio, Pasi
Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies
Vodde, Floortje
Estonian Univ Life Sci
Varnagiryte-Kabasinskiene, Iveta
Lithuanian Forest Research Institute
Weslien, Jan
Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Skogforsk
Wilhelmsson, Lars
Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Skogforsk
Zute, Daiga
Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land
SDG13 Climate action
SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Environmental Management

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105643

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112645