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Review article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

Forest damage and forest supply chains: a literature review and reflections

Roos, Anders

Abstract

Timber supply is affected by natural disruptions such as storms, wildfires, and insect infestations, which modify timber properties and disturb the supply to forest industries. Climate change threatens to increase the prevalence of forest damage and supply chain disturbances. This review analyzed the research between 2000 and 2022 on the effects of forest damage on wood supply chains and management measures to handle such disruptions. The review identified 23 studies from North America, Europe, and Australia and analyzed them regarding damage type and impact, research approach, and key findings. The literature on the topic covers the leading causes of damage: fire, wind damage, and insect infestation. In some cases, climate change was identified as the underlying cause of the supply disruptions. Research approaches involved calculations of consequences, scenario modeling, optimizations, and qualitative studies. This review identifies the essential considerations for successfully handling supply chains after forest damage. Robust supply warrants a range of adaptations, including choices for forest establishment, forest management methods, and collaborative planning. In addition, future research themes based on findings in the retrieved papers are suggested.

Keywords

climate change; supply chain management; supply risk; value stream; wood procurement

Published in

International Journal of Forest Engineering
2023, Volume: 34, number: 3, pages: 330-339

    Associated SLU-program

    SLU Plant Protection Network
    SLU Forest Damage Center

    Sustainable Development Goals

    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Transport Systems and Logistics
    Economics
    Business Administration

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2023.2240607

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122947