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Doctoral thesis2024Open access

Adapting forest regeneration to a changing climate

Domevscik, Matej

Abstract

Forest regeneration in Sweden is increasingly challenged by the rapidly changing climate, making traditional management practices less reliable. Firstly, this thesis addresses these challenges by examining performance of main regeneration methods across Sweden in the context of variable growing conditions. The extreme drought of 2018, which is part of all studies included in this thesis, was used as an example of conditions expected to become more common in the future. Secondly, possible adaptations to these conditions were tested, including mechanical protections against pine weevil damage, changing of planting positions, addition of organic fertiliser, using coated seeds and applying natural regeneration. Results show that mechanical protections against pine weevils performed equally well as insecticide in a nondrought year, suggesting their potential as replacements. In a drought year, however, a synergistic response between drought and pine weevil damage was found, highlighting the interactions of different stressors on seedling establishment. Further, survival of nursery seedlings was significantly reduced by drought, but less so when they were planted directly in mineral soil and fertilised with arginine phosphate. Similarly, coated seeds were significantly influenced by moisture loss, mainly because of unsuccessful soil attachment, and achieved an average establishment rate of 56%. Additionally, methods of mechanical site preparation significantly increased survival of planted and naturally regenerated seedlings. Finally, these findings underscore the need for diverse and flexible management practices to ensure that the regeneration stage can adapt to the complex and evolving challenges posed by climate change. This approach, grounded in the principles of resistance, resilience, and transition adaptation, aligns with broader climate adaptation strategies and offers a roadmap for managing Sweden's forest regeneration amid increasing climatic uncertainty.

Keywords

forest regeneration; climate change; Scots pine; Norway Spruce; establishment; drought; pine weevil; coated seeds; climate adaptation

Published in

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2024, number: 2024:75ISBN: 978-91-8046-366-9, eISBN: 978-91-8046-402-4Publisher: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Forest Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.7edllms851

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/130470