12 million SEK for unique research project: Can relocated trees save the forests of the future?
Swedish forests face major challenges as the climate changes. To prepare for the future, Formas has now awarded 12 million SEK over four years for a research project on assisted migration of tree species.
The project is led by Per Ola Hedwall, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology at the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SLU, in collaboration with Uppsala University, Södertörn University and Stockholm University.
“The climate is changing at a rapid pace, and we really should have started adapting our ecosystems long ago. Many plant species cannot spread fast enough to keep up with the changing climate,” says Hedwall.
Moving Tree Species North
Assisted migration involves actively relocating tree species to areas where they are expected to thrive under future climatic conditions. This can include moving Swedish species that already grow in southern Sweden further north, or introducing species from Central Europe, such as sycamore maple, walnut, service tree, and silver fir.
“We want to test establishing these species already now, often under existing trees that can protect them from frost and other climate-related risks,” explains Hedwall.
The researchers have selected eight deciduous tree species that are considered ecologically important, contribute valuable ecosystem services, and produce high-quality timber. These species are sycamore maple, beech, wild cherry, oak, linden, Norway maple, walnut, and service tree.
Risks and Opportunities
Relocating species is not without risks. Trees may be poorly adapted to current conditions, could spread too aggressively, or bring diseases with them.
“At the same time, the potential benefits are significant. We could create more resilient forests that continue to provide ecosystem services and reduce the risk of climate-related problems we already see, such as storm damage and pest outbreaks in southern Sweden’s spruce forests,” says Hedwall.
What makes this project unique is its holistic approach: it will analyze not only the ecological effects of assisted migration, but also the legal frameworks and the social perceptions and barriers that may influence whether such strategies can be implemented in practice.
Towards Future Forest Management
For Hedwall, the project is also a personal motivation.
“Today, we often talk about small-scale climate adaptations at the margins, but the changes ahead are not small. We need to think bigger. This project is just the beginning, and we will need even more research going forward,” he says.
If successful, the project could transform how forest management is approached in Sweden – moving from cautious adjustments to proactive, long-term strategies for resilient forests in a warming climate.