• Energy Research
• Sustainability close

Forests are the dominant land cover in Nordic–Baltic countries, and forestry, the management of forests for improved ecosystem-service (ES) delivery, is an important contributor to sustainability. Forests and forestry support multiple United Nations Sustainability Goals (UN SDGs) and a number of EU policies, and can address conflicting environmental goals. Forests provide multiple ecosystem services and natural solutions, including wood and fibre production, food, clear and clean water and air, animal and plant habitats, soil formation, aesthetics, and cultural and social services. Carbon sequestered by growing trees is a key factor in the envisaged transition from a fossil-based to a biobased economy. Here, we highlight the possibilities of forest-based solutions to mitigate current and emerging societal challenges. We discuss forestry effects on forest ecosystems, focusing on the optimisation of ES delivery and the fulfilment of UN SDGs while counteracting unwanted effects. In particular, we highlight the trilemma of (i) increasing wood production to substitute raw fossil materials, (ii) increasing forest carbon storage capacity, and (iii) improving forest biodiversity and other ES delivery.

Forest ecosystems are significant carbon pools on a global scale, and also a source of renewable raw materials. Moreover, the European Union (EU) aims to tackle climate change and reach climate neutrality; therefore, forest regulations are designed to promote sustainable forest management practices and ensure the long-term health and productivity of forests. It is important to balance regulatory requirements with the economic, social, and environmental needs of forest stakeholders. This study analyses four theoretical scenarios (business as usual, green deal, intensive forestry, and intensive forestry with afforestation) and prognoses the management impact on standing volume and carbon stock in living trees and harvested wood products (HWPs). Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate different theoretical forest management scenarios to predict changes in standing volume and carbon stock in living tree biomass and HWPs for the 100 next years. The results suggest that intensive targeted forestry practices may enhance carbon sequestration and were found to be the most suitable strategy for Latvia’s hemiboreal zone, as they balance economic benefits with carbon sequestration and ecosystem services. The obtained results can be valuable for policymakers and forest managers to promote sustainability and balance the diverse needs of society and forest stakeholders.