Arvidsjaur FIRE chronosequence

Summary

Society is actively debating the role of rotational forestry in delivering a multitude of ecosystem services, including biomass production, biodiversity, and climate benefits. These debates are based on incomplete information about how these ecosystem services are delivered across the full rotational time scale of managed forests relative to young and old natural forests over comparable timescales. Key knowledge gaps our research will fill include: a) How do key ecosystem services change over time in response to rotation forestry compared to recovery from wildfire? b) How does rotational forestry impact these ecosystem services relative to unmanaged primary Swedish forests (i.e. old growth forests)? c) At what time point during rotational forestry are break-even points achieved for key ecosystem services, such that potential trade-offs between productivity, climate benefits, and biodiversity are minimized? To achieve this we will measure ecosystem services across two contrasting forest age gradients, one wildfire recovery gradient (spanning 3 and 370 years since stand replacing wildfire) and one rotation forestry gradient (spanning the full age spectrum of a typical 100-year rotation period). The project will deliver the exact data needed to help resolve societal debates regarding forest ecosystem services, as well as empower key forest stakeholders to more optimally manage forests for the climate transition.

Chronosequence growth carbon