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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.
Lars Högbom; Dalia Abbas; Kęstutis Armolaitis; Endijs Baders; Martyn Futter; Aris Jansons; Kalev Jõgiste; Andis Lazdins; Diana Lukminė; Mika Mustonen; Knut Øistad; Anneli Poska; Pasi Rautio; Johan Svensson; Floor Vodde; Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė; Jan Weslien; Lars Wilhelmsson; Daiga Zute. Trilemma of Nordic–Baltic Forestry—How to Implement UN Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5643 .
AMA StyleLars Högbom, Dalia Abbas, Kęstutis Armolaitis, Endijs Baders, Martyn Futter, Aris Jansons, Kalev Jõgiste, Andis Lazdins, Diana Lukminė, Mika Mustonen, Knut Øistad, Anneli Poska, Pasi Rautio, Johan Svensson, Floor Vodde, Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė, Jan Weslien, Lars Wilhelmsson, Daiga Zute. Trilemma of Nordic–Baltic Forestry—How to Implement UN Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (10):5643.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLars Högbom; Dalia Abbas; Kęstutis Armolaitis; Endijs Baders; Martyn Futter; Aris Jansons; Kalev Jõgiste; Andis Lazdins; Diana Lukminė; Mika Mustonen; Knut Øistad; Anneli Poska; Pasi Rautio; Johan Svensson; Floor Vodde; Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė; Jan Weslien; Lars Wilhelmsson; Daiga Zute. 2021. "Trilemma of Nordic–Baltic Forestry—How to Implement UN Sustainable Development Goals." Sustainability 13, no. 10: 5643.
Aims Primary forests are critical for forest biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services. In Europe, these forests are particularly scarce and it is unclear whether they are sufficiently protected. Here we aim to: (a) understand whether extant primary forests are representative of the range of naturally occurring forest types, (b) identify forest types which host enough primary forest under strict protection to meet conservation targets and (c) highlight areas where restoration is needed and feasible. Location Europe. Methods We combined a unique geodatabase of primary forests with maps of forest cover, potential natural vegetation, biogeographic regions and protected areas to quantify the proportion of extant primary forest across Europe's forest types and to identify gaps in protection. Using spatial predictions of primary forest locations to account for underreporting of primary forests, we then highlighted areas where restoration could complement protection. Results We found a substantial bias in primary forest distribution across forest types. Of the 54 forest types we assessed, six had no primary forest at all, and in two‐thirds of forest types, less than 1% of forest was primary. Even if generally protected, only ten forest types had more than half of their primary forests strictly protected. Protecting all documented primary forests requires expanding the protected area networks by 1,132 km2 (19,194 km2 when including also predicted primary forests). Encouragingly, large areas of non‐primary forest existed inside protected areas for most types, thus presenting restoration opportunities. Main conclusion Europe's primary forests are in a perilous state, as also acknowledged by EU's “Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.” Yet, there are considerable opportunities for ensuring better protection and restoring primary forest structure, composition and functioning, at least partially. We advocate integrated policy reforms that explicitly account for the irreplaceable nature of primary forests and ramp up protection and restoration efforts alike.
Francesco M. Sabatini; William S. Keeton; Marcus Lindner; Miroslav Svoboda; Pieter J. Verkerk; Jürgen Bauhus; Helge Bruelheide; Sabina Burrascano; Nicolas Debaive; Inês Duarte; Matteo Garbarino; Nikolaos Grigoriadis; Fabio Lombardi; Martin Mikoláš; Peter Meyer; Renzo Motta; Gintautas Mozgeris; Leónia Nunes; Péter Ódor; Momchil Panayotov; Alejandro Ruete; Bojan Simovski; Jonas Stillhard; Johan Svensson; Jerzy Szwagrzyk; Olli‐Pekka Tikkanen; Kris Vandekerkhove; Roman Volosyanchuk; Tomas Vrska; Tzvetan Zlatanov; Tobias Kuemmerle. Protection gaps and restoration opportunities for primary forests in Europe. Diversity and Distributions 2020, 26, 1646 -1662.
AMA StyleFrancesco M. Sabatini, William S. Keeton, Marcus Lindner, Miroslav Svoboda, Pieter J. Verkerk, Jürgen Bauhus, Helge Bruelheide, Sabina Burrascano, Nicolas Debaive, Inês Duarte, Matteo Garbarino, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Fabio Lombardi, Martin Mikoláš, Peter Meyer, Renzo Motta, Gintautas Mozgeris, Leónia Nunes, Péter Ódor, Momchil Panayotov, Alejandro Ruete, Bojan Simovski, Jonas Stillhard, Johan Svensson, Jerzy Szwagrzyk, Olli‐Pekka Tikkanen, Kris Vandekerkhove, Roman Volosyanchuk, Tomas Vrska, Tzvetan Zlatanov, Tobias Kuemmerle. Protection gaps and restoration opportunities for primary forests in Europe. Diversity and Distributions. 2020; 26 (12):1646-1662.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco M. Sabatini; William S. Keeton; Marcus Lindner; Miroslav Svoboda; Pieter J. Verkerk; Jürgen Bauhus; Helge Bruelheide; Sabina Burrascano; Nicolas Debaive; Inês Duarte; Matteo Garbarino; Nikolaos Grigoriadis; Fabio Lombardi; Martin Mikoláš; Peter Meyer; Renzo Motta; Gintautas Mozgeris; Leónia Nunes; Péter Ódor; Momchil Panayotov; Alejandro Ruete; Bojan Simovski; Jonas Stillhard; Johan Svensson; Jerzy Szwagrzyk; Olli‐Pekka Tikkanen; Kris Vandekerkhove; Roman Volosyanchuk; Tomas Vrska; Tzvetan Zlatanov; Tobias Kuemmerle. 2020. "Protection gaps and restoration opportunities for primary forests in Europe." Diversity and Distributions 26, no. 12: 1646-1662.
Context As forest harvesting remains high, there is a crucial need to assess the remaining large, contiguous and intact forests, regionally, nationally and globally. Objectives Our objective was to analyze the spatial patterns and structural connectivity of intact and primary forests in northern Sweden with focus on the Scandinavian Mountain region; one of the few remaining large European intact forest landscapes. Methods Over 22 million ha with 14.5 million ha boreal and subalpine forest and with data consisting of a 60-70 year retrospective sequence, we analyzed distribution, density and connectivity of forests that have not been clear cut, using moving window and landscape analyzes derived from Circuitscape. Results We revealed a contiguous, connected and semi-connected intact forest landscape forming a distinct Green Belt south to north along the mountain range. Almost 60% of the forestland remains intact, including contiguous clusters 10,000 ha and larger. The connectivity is particularly high in protected areas with primary forests outside contributing substantially to overall connectivity. We found gaps in connectivity in the southern parts, and furthermore low or absent connectivity across the whole inland and coastal areas of northern Sweden. Conclusions Given its ecological values, the Scandinavian Mountains Green Belt is a key entity supporting ecological legacies, boreal biodiversity and ecosystem services, resilience and adaptive capacity, which needs to be safeguarded for the future. On the very large areas outside the mountain region, forestlands are severely fragmented, connectivity values are lost, and forest landscape restoration is needed for conservation and functional green infrastructure.
Johan Svensson; Jakub W. Bubnicki; Bengt Gunnar Jonsson; Jon Andersson; Grzegorz Mikusiński. Conservation significance of intact forest landscapes in the Scandinavian Mountains Green Belt. Landscape Ecology 2020, 35, 2113 -2131.
AMA StyleJohan Svensson, Jakub W. Bubnicki, Bengt Gunnar Jonsson, Jon Andersson, Grzegorz Mikusiński. Conservation significance of intact forest landscapes in the Scandinavian Mountains Green Belt. Landscape Ecology. 2020; 35 (9):2113-2131.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohan Svensson; Jakub W. Bubnicki; Bengt Gunnar Jonsson; Jon Andersson; Grzegorz Mikusiński. 2020. "Conservation significance of intact forest landscapes in the Scandinavian Mountains Green Belt." Landscape Ecology 35, no. 9: 2113-2131.
Strong land-use pressure challenges sustainable development and calls for landscape approaches that balance economic, ecological, and socio-cultural aspects and interests. In the boreal, sub-alpine, and alpine regions in Sweden, encompassing 32 million ha, many and different land-use interests overlap, which causes risks for conflict, but potentially also suggests integration and synergy opportunities. Based on geographic information system (GIS) analyses of geographically delineated national interests regulated in the Swedish Environmental Code, including, amongst others, Natura 2000, contiguous mountains, recreation, reindeer husbandry, and wind power, and based on forestry as a dominating land use, we found extensive overlap among similar but also between dissimilar types of interest. In some mountain municipalities, our results show that the designated national interest area is four times as large as the available terrestrial area. Moreover, the overlap is much higher in the alpine than in the boreal biome, and there is increasing designation for nature conservation and a decreasing designation for national interests for culture, recreation, and tourism from south to north. We interpret the results with reference to multiple-use needs and opportunities for landscape approaches to sustainable planning. Departing from biodiversity conservation values, we also discuss opportunities to focus planning strategies on assessing synergy, integration, and conflict based on nature-based and place-based land-use characteristics.
Johan Svensson; Wiebke Neumann; Therese Bjärstig; Anna Zachrisson; Camilla Thellbro. Landscape Approaches to Sustainability—Aspects of Conflict, Integration, and Synergy in National Public Land-Use Interests. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5113 .
AMA StyleJohan Svensson, Wiebke Neumann, Therese Bjärstig, Anna Zachrisson, Camilla Thellbro. Landscape Approaches to Sustainability—Aspects of Conflict, Integration, and Synergy in National Public Land-Use Interests. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (12):5113.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohan Svensson; Wiebke Neumann; Therese Bjärstig; Anna Zachrisson; Camilla Thellbro. 2020. "Landscape Approaches to Sustainability—Aspects of Conflict, Integration, and Synergy in National Public Land-Use Interests." Sustainability 12, no. 12: 5113.
Loss of forest naturalness challenges the maintenance of green infrastructure (GI) for biodiversity conservation and delivery of diverse ecosystem services. Using the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi target #11 with its quantitative and qualitative criteria as a normative model, we aim at supporting landscape planning through a pioneering assessment of the extent to which existing amounts and spatial distributions of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) meet these criteria. Highly forested and committed to both intensive wood production and evidence-based conservation targets of 17–20% protected areas, Sweden was chosen as a case study. Specifically, we estimated the amount, regional representation, and functional connectivity of HCVF patches using virtual bird species, validated the results using field surveys of focal bird species, and assessed conservation target fulfilment. Finally, we linked these results to the regional distribution of forest land ownership categories, and stress that these provide different opportunities for landscape planning. Even if 31% of forest land in Sweden is officially protected, voluntarily set-aside, or not used for wood production now and in the future, we show that applying the representation and connectivity criteria of Aichi target #11 reduces this figure to an effective GI of 12%. When disaggregating the five ecoregions the effective GI was 54% for the sub-alpine forest ecoregion, which hosts EU’s last intact forest landscapes, but only 3–8% in the other four ecoregions where wood production is predominant. This results in an increasing need for forest habitat and landscape restoration from north to south. The large regional variation in the opportunity for landscape planning stresses the need for a portfolio of different approaches. We stress the need to secure funding mechanisms for compensating land owners’ investments in GI, and to adapt both the approaches and spatial extents of landscape planning units to land ownership structure.
Per Angelstam; Michael Manton; Martin Green; Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Johan Svensson; Francesco Maria Sabatini. Sweden does not meet agreed national and international forest biodiversity targets: A call for adaptive landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning 2020, 202, 103838 .
AMA StylePer Angelstam, Michael Manton, Martin Green, Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Johan Svensson, Francesco Maria Sabatini. Sweden does not meet agreed national and international forest biodiversity targets: A call for adaptive landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2020; 202 ():103838.
Chicago/Turabian StylePer Angelstam; Michael Manton; Martin Green; Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Johan Svensson; Francesco Maria Sabatini. 2020. "Sweden does not meet agreed national and international forest biodiversity targets: A call for adaptive landscape planning." Landscape and Urban Planning 202, no. : 103838.
Biodiversity conservation often requires a landscape perspective. When establishing the Natura 2000 (N2k) network, the effectiveness of the sites and the influence of the surrounding landscapes for species of interest was often disregarded. We analyzed the effectiveness of N2k sites in Sweden for three forest bird species of conservation interest in the European boreal landscapes: lesser spotted woodpecker (LSW), Siberian jay (SJ) and hazel grouse (HG). Our objectives were to: 1) quantify effective suitable habitat area in N2k sites with and without consideration of the adjoining landscapes; 2) examine effective habitat area within N2k sites along the north-south vegetation gradient 3) analyze functionality of N2k sites and assess how forests outside the sites affect habitat suitability inside N2k. GIS-based habitat suitability index models were applied to calculate the amount of effective habitat within and outside N2k sites. N2k sites contributed with 10% (HG), 13% (SJ) and 51% (LSW) suitable habitat identified in Sweden. Functionality of forest environments as habitat was higher inside N2k sites for LSW within all vegetation zones, and for SJ in the Alpine and Middle Boreal zones; for HG habitat outside the sites was more functional in all zones accept Alpine and Middle Boreal. The majority of N2k sites were of quite small size (<500 ha) and the size influenced their functionality for LSW and HG, with larger N2k sites being more functional. For SJ, however, average functionality of N2k sites was not influenced by their size. The largest average habitat increase linked to considering the contribution of areas outside N2k sites for their functionality as habitat was for the N2k sites of smaller size (1-500 ha). Therefore, the presence and quality of forests outside of N2k sites are of a greater importance for smaller sites, and as such these should be carefully managed. To improve conservation efficiency of the N2k sites in Sweden, we call for incorporating them into the development and implementation of the regional Green Infrastructure plans.
Ewa H. Orlikowska; Johan Svensson; Jean-Michel Roberge; Malgorzata Blicharska; Grzegorz Mikusiński. Hit or miss? Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 for conservation of forest bird habitat in Sweden. Global Ecology and Conservation 2020, 22, e00939 .
AMA StyleEwa H. Orlikowska, Johan Svensson, Jean-Michel Roberge, Malgorzata Blicharska, Grzegorz Mikusiński. Hit or miss? Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 for conservation of forest bird habitat in Sweden. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2020; 22 ():e00939.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEwa H. Orlikowska; Johan Svensson; Jean-Michel Roberge; Malgorzata Blicharska; Grzegorz Mikusiński. 2020. "Hit or miss? Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 for conservation of forest bird habitat in Sweden." Global Ecology and Conservation 22, no. : e00939.
In the original published article, the sentence “Nevertheless, semi-natural forest remnants continue to be harvested and fragmented (Svensson et al. 2018; Jonsson et al. 2019), and over 2000 forest-associated species (of 15 000 assessed) are listed as threatened on Sweden’s red-list, largely represented by macro-fungi, beetles, lichens and butterflies (Sandström 2015).”under the section Introduction was incorrect. The correct version of the sentence is “Nevertheless, semi-natural forest remnants continue to be harvested and fragmented (Svensson et al. 2018; Jonsson et al. 2019), and approximately 2000 forest-associated species (of 15 000 assessed) are on Sweden’s red-list, largely represented by macro-fungi, beetles, lichens and butterflies (Sandström 2015).”
Adam Felton; Therese Löfroth; Per Angelstam; Lena Gustafsson; Joakim Hjältén; Annika M. Felton; Per Simonsson; Anders Dahlberg; Matts Lindbladh; Johan Svensson; Urban Nilsson; Isak Lodin; P. O. Hedwall; Anna Sténs; Tomas Lämås; Jörg Brunet; Christer Kalén; Bengt Kriström; Pelle Gemmel; Thomas Ranius. Correction to: Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix. Ambio 2019, 49, 1065 -1066.
AMA StyleAdam Felton, Therese Löfroth, Per Angelstam, Lena Gustafsson, Joakim Hjältén, Annika M. Felton, Per Simonsson, Anders Dahlberg, Matts Lindbladh, Johan Svensson, Urban Nilsson, Isak Lodin, P. O. Hedwall, Anna Sténs, Tomas Lämås, Jörg Brunet, Christer Kalén, Bengt Kriström, Pelle Gemmel, Thomas Ranius. Correction to: Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix. Ambio. 2019; 49 (5):1065-1066.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdam Felton; Therese Löfroth; Per Angelstam; Lena Gustafsson; Joakim Hjältén; Annika M. Felton; Per Simonsson; Anders Dahlberg; Matts Lindbladh; Johan Svensson; Urban Nilsson; Isak Lodin; P. O. Hedwall; Anna Sténs; Tomas Lämås; Jörg Brunet; Christer Kalén; Bengt Kriström; Pelle Gemmel; Thomas Ranius. 2019. "Correction to: Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix." Ambio 49, no. 5: 1065-1066.
The multi-scale approach to conserving forest biodiversity has been used in Sweden since the 1980s, a period defined by increased reserve area and conservation actions within production forests. However, two thousand forest-associated species remain on Sweden’s red-list, and Sweden’s 2020 goals for sustainable forests are not being met. We argue that ongoing changes in the production forest matrix require more consideration, and that multi-scale conservation must be adapted to, and integrated with, production forest development. To make this case, we summarize trends in habitat provision by Sweden’s protected and production forests, and the variety of ways silviculture can affect biodiversity. We discuss how different forestry trajectories affect the type and extent of conservation approaches needed to secure biodiversity, and suggest leverage points for aiding the adoption of diversified silviculture. Sweden’s long-term experience with multi-scale conservation and intensive forestry provides insights for other countries trying to conserve species within production landscapes.
Adam Felton; Therese Löfroth; Per Angelstam; Lena Gustafsson; Joakim Hjältén; Annika M. Felton; Per Simonsson; Anders Dahlberg; Matts Lindbladh; Johan Svensson; Urban Nilsson; Isak Lodin; P. O. Hedwall; Anna Sténs; Tomas Lämås; Jörg Brunet; Christer Kalén; Bengt Kriström; Pelle Gemmel; Thomas Ranius. Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix. Ambio 2019, 49, 1050 -1064.
AMA StyleAdam Felton, Therese Löfroth, Per Angelstam, Lena Gustafsson, Joakim Hjältén, Annika M. Felton, Per Simonsson, Anders Dahlberg, Matts Lindbladh, Johan Svensson, Urban Nilsson, Isak Lodin, P. O. Hedwall, Anna Sténs, Tomas Lämås, Jörg Brunet, Christer Kalén, Bengt Kriström, Pelle Gemmel, Thomas Ranius. Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix. Ambio. 2019; 49 (5):1050-1064.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdam Felton; Therese Löfroth; Per Angelstam; Lena Gustafsson; Joakim Hjältén; Annika M. Felton; Per Simonsson; Anders Dahlberg; Matts Lindbladh; Johan Svensson; Urban Nilsson; Isak Lodin; P. O. Hedwall; Anna Sténs; Tomas Lämås; Jörg Brunet; Christer Kalén; Bengt Kriström; Pelle Gemmel; Thomas Ranius. 2019. "Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix." Ambio 49, no. 5: 1050-1064.
Research Highlights: The European Union’s last large intact forest landscapes along the Scandinavian Mountain range in Sweden offer unique opportunities for conservation of biodiversity, ecological integrity and resilience. However, these forests are at a crossroad between intensified wood production aimed at bio-economy, and rural development based on multi-functional forest landscapes for future-oriented forest value chains. Background and Objectives: We (1) estimate the area of near-natural forests potentially remaining for forest harvesting and wood production, or as green infrastructure for biodiversity conservation and human well-being in rural areas, (2) review how forest and conservation policies have so far succeeded to reduce the loss of mountain forests, and (3) discuss what economic, socio-cultural and ecological values that are at stake, as well as different governance and management solutions. Materials and Methods: First, we estimated the remaining amount of intact mountain forests using (1) the Swedish National Forest Inventory, (2) protected area statistics, (3) forest harvest permit applications and actually harvested forests, (4) remote sensing wall-to-wall data on forests not subject to clear-felling since the mid-1950s, (5) mapping of productive and non-productive forestland, and (6) estimates of mean annual final felling rate. Second, we review policy documents related to the emergence of land use regulation in north Sweden, including the mountain forest border, and illustrate this with an actual case that has had significant policy implementation importance. Results: There is a clear difference between the proportions of formally protected productive forestland above the mountain forest border (52.5%) and north Sweden in general (6.3%). A total of 300,000 ha of previously not clear-felled mountain forest outside protected areas remain, which can support novel value chains that are not achievable elsewhere. Conclusions: The mountain forests in Sweden provide unique conservation values in the European Union. Since the beginning of the 1990s, policy regulations have been successful in limiting forest harvesting. Currently, however, mountain forests are a battle ground regarding intensification of forest use, including logging of forests that have never been subject to clear-felling systems vs. nature conservation and wilderness as a base for rural development. The ability of mountain municipalities to encourage sustainable rural forest landscapes must be strengthened.
Bengt Gunnar Jonsson; Johan Svensson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Michael Manton; Per Angelstam. European Union’s Last Intact Forest Landscapes are at A Value Chain Crossroad between Multiple Use and Intensified Wood Production. Forests 2019, 10, 564 .
AMA StyleBengt Gunnar Jonsson, Johan Svensson, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Michael Manton, Per Angelstam. European Union’s Last Intact Forest Landscapes are at A Value Chain Crossroad between Multiple Use and Intensified Wood Production. Forests. 2019; 10 (7):564.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBengt Gunnar Jonsson; Johan Svensson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Michael Manton; Per Angelstam. 2019. "European Union’s Last Intact Forest Landscapes are at A Value Chain Crossroad between Multiple Use and Intensified Wood Production." Forests 10, no. 7: 564.
Loss of natural forests has been identified as a critical conservation challenge worldwide. This loss impede the establishment of a functional green infrastructure as a spatiotemporally connected landscape‐scale network of habitats enhancing biodiversity, favorable conservation status and ecosystem services. In many regions this loss is caused by forest clearcutting. Through retrospective satellite images analysis we assessed a 50–60 year spatiotemporal clearcutting impact trajectory on natural and near‐natural boreal forests across a sizable and representative region from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Scandinavian Mountain Range in northern Fennoscandia. Our analysis broadly covers the whole forest clearcutting period and thus our study approach and results can be applied for comprehensive impact assessment of industrial forest management. Our results demonstrate profound disturbance on natural forest landscape configuration. The whole forest landscape is in a late phase in a transition from a natural or near‐natural to a land‐use modified state. Our results provide evidence of natural forest loss and spatial polarization at the regional scale, with a pre‐dominant share of valuable habitats left in the mountain area, whereas the inland area has been more severely impacted. We highlight the importance of interior forest areas as most valuable biodiversity hotspots and the central axis of green infrastructure. Superimposing the effects of edge disturbance on forest fragmentation, the loss of interior forest entities further aggravate the conservation premises. Our results also show a loss of large contiguous forest patches and indicate patch size homogenization. The current forest protection share is low in the region and with geographical imbalance as the absolute majority is located in remote and low productive sites in the mountain area. Our approach provides possibilities to identify forest areas for directed conservation actions in the form of new protection, restoration and nature conservation oriented forest management, for implementing a functional green infrastructure. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Johan Svensson; Jon Andersson; Per Sandström; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Bengt Gunnar Jonsson. Landscape trajectory of natural boreal forest loss as an impediment to green infrastructure. Conservation Biology 2018, 33, 152 -163.
AMA StyleJohan Svensson, Jon Andersson, Per Sandström, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Bengt Gunnar Jonsson. Landscape trajectory of natural boreal forest loss as an impediment to green infrastructure. Conservation Biology. 2018; 33 (1):152-163.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohan Svensson; Jon Andersson; Per Sandström; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Bengt Gunnar Jonsson. 2018. "Landscape trajectory of natural boreal forest loss as an impediment to green infrastructure." Conservation Biology 33, no. 1: 152-163.
Johan Svensson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson; Jon Andersson; Jakub Bubnicki. The remnant natural boreal forest green belt of the Scandinavian mountain range. Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleJohan Svensson, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson, Jon Andersson, Jakub Bubnicki. The remnant natural boreal forest green belt of the Scandinavian mountain range. Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology. 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohan Svensson; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Bengt-Gunnar Jonsson; Jon Andersson; Jakub Bubnicki. 2018. "The remnant natural boreal forest green belt of the Scandinavian mountain range." Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology , no. : 1.
Marcus Hedblom; Sven Adler; Malgorzata Blicharska; Henrik Hedenås; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Stefan Sandström; Per Sandström; Johan Svensson; David Wardle. Linking physical landscape properties to perceived landscape features: potentials in NILS monitoring program. Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleMarcus Hedblom, Sven Adler, Malgorzata Blicharska, Henrik Hedenås, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Stefan Sandström, Per Sandström, Johan Svensson, David Wardle. Linking physical landscape properties to perceived landscape features: potentials in NILS monitoring program. Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology. 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcus Hedblom; Sven Adler; Malgorzata Blicharska; Henrik Hedenås; Grzegorz Mikusiński; Stefan Sandström; Per Sandström; Johan Svensson; David Wardle. 2018. "Linking physical landscape properties to perceived landscape features: potentials in NILS monitoring program." Proceedings of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology , no. : 1.
Malgorzata Blicharska; Richard J. Smithers; Marcus Hedblom; Henrik Hedenås; Grzegorz Mikusinski; Eja Pedersen; Per Sandström; Johan Svensson. Shades of grey challenge practical application of the cultural ecosystem services concept. Ecosystem Services 2017, 23, 55 -70.
AMA StyleMalgorzata Blicharska, Richard J. Smithers, Marcus Hedblom, Henrik Hedenås, Grzegorz Mikusinski, Eja Pedersen, Per Sandström, Johan Svensson. Shades of grey challenge practical application of the cultural ecosystem services concept. Ecosystem Services. 2017; 23 ():55-70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMalgorzata Blicharska; Richard J. Smithers; Marcus Hedblom; Henrik Hedenås; Grzegorz Mikusinski; Eja Pedersen; Per Sandström; Johan Svensson. 2017. "Shades of grey challenge practical application of the cultural ecosystem services concept." Ecosystem Services 23, no. : 55-70.
QuestionsWhat factors control broad-scale variation in edge length and three-dimensional boundary structure for a large region extending across two biomes? What is the difference in structure between natural and anthropogenic edges?LocationTemperate and boreal forests across all of Sweden, spanning latitudes 55–69° N.MethodsWe sampled more than 2000 forest edges using line intersect sampling in a monitoring programme (National Inventory of Landscapes in Sweden). We compared edge length, ecosystem attributes (width of adjacent ecosystem, canopy cover, canopy height, patch contrast in canopy height, forest type) and boundary attributes (profile, abruptness, shape) of natural edges (lakeshore, wetland) with anthropogenic edges (clear-cut, agricultural, linear disturbance) in five regions.ResultsAnthropogenic edges were nearly twice as abundant as natural edges. Length of anthropogenic edges was largest in southern regions, while the abundance of natural edges increased towards the north. Edge types displayed unique spectrums of boundary structures, but abrupt edges dominated, constituting 72% of edge length. Anthropogenic edges were more abrupt than natural edges; wetland edges had the most gradual and sinuous boundaries. Canopy cover, canopy height, patch contrast and forest type depended on region, whereas overall boundary abruptness and shape showed no regional pattern. Patch contrast was related to temperature sum (degree days ≥ 5 °C), suggesting that regional variability can be predicted from climate-controlled forest productivity. Boundary abruptness was coupled with the underlying environmental gradient, land use and forest type, with higher variability in deciduous than in conifer forest.ConclusionsEdge origin, land use, climate and tree species are main drivers of broad-scale variability in forest edge structure. Our findings have important implications for developing ecological theory that can explain and predict how different factors affect forest edge structure, and help to understand how land use and climate change affect biodiversity at forest edges.
Per‐Anders Esseen; Anna Hedström Ringvall; Karen Amanda Harper; Pernilla Christensen; Johan Svensson. Factors driving structure of natural and anthropogenic forest edges from temperate to boreal ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science 2016, 27, 482 -492.
AMA StylePer‐Anders Esseen, Anna Hedström Ringvall, Karen Amanda Harper, Pernilla Christensen, Johan Svensson. Factors driving structure of natural and anthropogenic forest edges from temperate to boreal ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2016; 27 (3):482-492.
Chicago/Turabian StylePer‐Anders Esseen; Anna Hedström Ringvall; Karen Amanda Harper; Pernilla Christensen; Johan Svensson. 2016. "Factors driving structure of natural and anthropogenic forest edges from temperate to boreal ecosystems." Journal of Vegetation Science 27, no. 3: 482-492.
To improve communication between reindeer-herders and other land users, we developed and implemented a system to produce reindeer husbandry plans together with Sami reindeer-herding communities. A central component of our communications strategy was the introduction and use of a participatory GIS (pGIS). We evaluated the potential and limitations of pGIS as a tool for collaborative learning. We concluded that by merging traditional and scientific knowledge in a pGIS, the process of spatial communication has contributed to a more inclusive planning process, and to improved knowledge-sharing. Furthermore, the process has contributed to a more efficient long-term perspective where land use planning focuses on key areas but with solutions applied to the landscape. The Model Forest offered an appropriate platform to facilitate the process.
Per Sandström; Camilla Sandström; Johan Svensson; Leif Jougda; Karin Baer. Participatory GIS to mitigate conflicts between reindeer husbandry and forestry in Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden. The Forestry Chronicle 2012, 88, 254 -260.
AMA StylePer Sandström, Camilla Sandström, Johan Svensson, Leif Jougda, Karin Baer. Participatory GIS to mitigate conflicts between reindeer husbandry and forestry in Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden. The Forestry Chronicle. 2012; 88 (3):254-260.
Chicago/Turabian StylePer Sandström; Camilla Sandström; Johan Svensson; Leif Jougda; Karin Baer. 2012. "Participatory GIS to mitigate conflicts between reindeer husbandry and forestry in Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden." The Forestry Chronicle 88, no. 3: 254-260.
The aim of this paper is to outline current foundations for sustainable landscape management in the Vilhelmina Model Forest, northwest Sweden. A case study revealed that the remaining patches of undisturbed or less disturbed boreal forest ecosystems comprise multiple values and, thus, constitute the basis for landscape planning. By identifying these patches, it is also possible to construct a spatial planning infrastructure for implementing sustainable management and land use. A more comprehensive toolbox needs to be developed, however, including monitoring and inventory schemes for relevant biophysical and socio-economic data, better temporal resolution for cause and effect analyses, and functioning scale-flexible planning and governance instruments.
Johan Svensson; Per Sandström; Camilla Sandström; Leif Jougda; Karin Baer. Sustainable landscape management in the Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden. The Forestry Chronicle 2012, 88, 291 -297.
AMA StyleJohan Svensson, Per Sandström, Camilla Sandström, Leif Jougda, Karin Baer. Sustainable landscape management in the Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden. The Forestry Chronicle. 2012; 88 (3):291-297.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohan Svensson; Per Sandström; Camilla Sandström; Leif Jougda; Karin Baer. 2012. "Sustainable landscape management in the Vilhelmina Model Forest, Sweden." The Forestry Chronicle 88, no. 3: 291-297.