A1 Journal article (refereed)
Climate targets in European timber-producing countries conflict with goals on forest ecosystem services and biodiversity (2023)

Blattert, C., Mönkkönen, M., Burgas, D., Di Fulvio, F., Toraño Caicoya, A., Vergarechea, M., Klein, J., Hartikainen, M., Antón-Fernández, C., Astrup, R., Emmerich, M., Forsell, N., Lukkarinen, J., Lundström, J., Pitzén, S., Poschenrieder, W., Primmer, E., Snäll, T., & Eyvindson, K. (2023). Climate targets in European timber-producing countries conflict with goals on forest ecosystem services and biodiversity. Communications Earth and Environment, 4, Article 119. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00771-z

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Blattert, Clemens; Mönkkönen, Mikko; Burgas, Daniel; Di Fulvio, Fulvio; Toraño Caicoya, Astor; Vergarechea, Marta; Klein, Julian; Hartikainen, Markus; Antón-Fernández, Clara; Astrup, Rasmus; et al.

Journal or series: Communications Earth and Environment

eISSN: 2662-4435

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 14/04/2023

Volume: 4

Article number: 119

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00771-z

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86455

Abstract

The European Union (EU) set clear climate change mitigation targets to reach climate neutrality, accounting for forests and their woody biomass resources. We investigated the consequences of increased harvest demands resulting from EU climate targets. We analysed the impacts on national policy objectives for forest ecosystem services and biodiversity through empirical forest simulation and multi-objective optimization methods. We show that key European timber-producing countries – Finland, Sweden, Germany (Bavaria) – cannot fulfil the increased harvest demands linked to the ambitious 1.5°C target. Potentials for harvest increase only exists in the studied region Norway. However, focusing on EU climate targets conflicts with several national policies and causes adverse effects on multiple ecosystem services and biodiversity. We argue that the role of forests and their timber resources in achieving climate targets and societal decarbonization should not be overstated. Our study provides insight for other European countries challenged by conflicting policies and supports policymakers.

Keywords: ecosystem services; environmental impact assessment; forestry

Free keywords: ecosystem services; environmental impact; forestry

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1