Stakeholder views of adaptation measures to improve climate resilience: Case study evidence from European wood value chains

Abstract

This study examines stakeholders' views of the feasibility and effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures across selected wood value chains in Europe based on survey data from 182 respondents. Respondents view the future implementation of adaptation measures as more feasible and effective than present implementation. Managers of conifer forests see more opportunities for implementing measures than managers of non-coniferous forests. This may be ascribed to the many measures currently being applied in countries with even-aged, non-site-adapted vulnerable coniferous forests. Furthermore, measures that predominantly increase resilience against bark beetle outbreaks and windthrow events are viewed more effective in coniferous forests, where these events are more frequent. Softwood processing experts generally consider implementing measures at processing facilities as less feasible and effective than hardwood processing experts. This may be due to the benefits gained by some softwood value chain segments from lower roundwood prices (which also applies to the lower-quality segments of hardwood processing), the more diversified raw material base in the softwood value chain and in secondary and tertiary processing facilities, and the hardwood industry's dominant reliance on high-quality wood, which cannot be harvested prematurely. Policy implications include prioritising measures with high effectiveness and resolving barriers to their feasibility. The findings highlight the need to invest in infrastructure and transition to mixed-species forests to create and manage climate-resilient forests effectively. Non-coniferous forests also require a shift from even-aged to uneven-aged stands. Respondents from the processing industry prioritise investments in infrastructure and acquiring flexible machinery for processing diverse tree species and damaged wood.