A case study on forest practitioners’ perspectives on climate extremes: consensus on impacts and conflicts in responses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15287/afr.2025.3981Abstract
Climate extremes present significant challenges to the German forestry sector, impacting forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and overall forest health. This study examines the perspectives of forest practitioners regarding the impacts of climate extremes, such as drought, heat waves, storms, and heavy rainfall, as well as their proposed responses and potential conflicts. Utilizing a transdisciplinary approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 forest practitioners. The findings reveal that over 89% of practitioners acknowledge drought as the most significant climate extreme affecting forests, highlighting its detrimental impacts on tree health and forest ecosystems. Additionally, storm events are recognized as a serious threat, particularly concerning economic losses and forest damage. Notably, two divergent management approaches were identified: those prioritizing wood production (FWP) tend to focus on economic viability and timber management strategies, while those emphasizing protection and recreation (FPR) concentrate on ecological sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Both groups agree on the importance of promoting mixed and multi-layered forest stands to enhance resilience to climate extremes. These insights underscore the need for integrating diverse perspectives in forest management to effectively address the complexities of climate change, facilitating collaborative approaches that balance ecological, economic, and social objectives in forestry practices.References
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