In Bockeboda, just outside Kristianstad, the future of continuous-cover forestry is being explored through the project Adaptive Forestry. Five different organizations have been given responsibility for managing two hectares of forest each. The goal is to transition from traditional clear-cutting – where all trees are harvested at once – to continuous-cover forestry, where only some of the trees are removed at a time. Each organization is free to decide how to implement this approach.
“In our area, we have chosen to harvest a significant amount of spruce. We are preserving oak, beech, and pine, and our long-term aim is to create a more diverse forest with multiple tree species of varying ages,” says Cecilia Akselsson, Professor at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, and a member of Lund University’s project team.
For decades, research has focused extensively on clear-cutting, while very little attention has been given to continuous-cover methods.
Experience and Research Are Crucial
Currently, only about three percent of Sweden’s productive forest land is managed using continuous-cover methods. However, interest is growing, and the area is expanding every year, according to statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. A survey conducted by the forest owners’ association Södra shows that 49 percent of its members are interested in adopting continuous-cover practices.
Compared to clear-cutting, there is still limited scientific knowledge about how continuous-cover forestry should be implemented, what outcomes to expect, and what consequences it may result in.
“For decades, research has focused extensively on clear-cutting, while very little attention has been given to continuous-cover methods. Building this kind of knowledge takes time – especially in forests, where processes are inherently slow. In some countries, such as Germany, research on continuous-cover forestry has been ongoing for a longer period, but overall, the level of knowledge remains low,” says Cecilia Akselsson.
Protecting Young Trees
Continuous-cover methods present several practical challenges in forest operations. This is something Emil Svensson, the machine operator responsible for harvesting in the Bockeboda project area, has experienced firsthand:
“You need to make sure that the trees being felled don’t damage the smaller ones that are meant to keep growing. Then you have to extract the timber without harming the remaining trees. It’s more time-consuming and requires much more planning,” he explains.
Collaborative Learning in the Forest
The test sites in Bockeboda are part of the Adaptive Forestry project, led by Skogforsk. The five organizations experimenting with new methods are Lund University, the Swedish Forest Agency, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, BirdLife Sweden, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Project participants meet regularly in the forest to review the methods. Many discussions revolve around which trees have been harvested and which have been preserved. A central aspect of the project is precisely these shared conversations and the lessons learned together.
“We have different goals and methods, we think differently, and there are really no definitive answers. It becomes clear that there is no manual for how this should best be done,” says Cecilia Akselsson.
From 10 to 50 Percent Continuous-Cover Forestry
The land in Bockeboda belongs to the Otto Krook Foundation and is managed by the Skånska Landskap Foundation, which also carries out the maintenance of the various test areas. The Skånska Landskap Foundation manages about 11,000 hectares of forest and land on behalf of six different foundations and aims for half of its forests to be managed using continuous-cover methods by 2050.
“Currently, we use continuous-cover methods on about 10 percent of our forest. Since we now plan to increase that share to 50 percent, there are many questions about how to proceed. That’s why we want to test a variety of methods. The project gives us an opportunity to collaborate and engage in dialogue with stakeholders we haven’t worked with before,” says Emma Sandell Festin, Forest Manager at the Skånska Landskap Foundation.
Forestry in a Changing Climate
Continuous-cover methods have the potential to deliver multiple benefits. It can strengthen biodiversity and make forests more resilient in a warmer climate, where precipitation patterns are shifting toward drier summers and wetter winters.
“Creating forests with a mix of tree species and ages can be one way to address climate change. Root systems reach different depths, which improves water retention in the soil. In continuous-cover forests, the ground is more shaded, and we believe this can help maintain moisture at the soil level,” says Emma Sandell Festin.
Varied forests are also often perceived as more pleasant for recreation, even though even-aged spruce forests can offer high recreational value.
“Many people appreciate large spruces forming cathedral-like spaces with thick green moss underneath. However, clear-cuts and young, dense spruce forests are generally unpopular – yet they are both part of the same clear-cutting system with planted, even-aged forests,” explains Cecilia Akselsson.
Pests and Storms
Spruce is one of the most common species in Swedish forestry today, and many project participants have chosen to remove spruce in favor of other species.
“Spruce may struggle in a warmer and drier climate. There is a high risk of increased damage from pests such as bark beetles, which we are already seeing. Storms also pose a risk – for example, during Storm Gudrun, it was primarily even-aged spruce stands that were destroyed. Mixed forests cope better. Even-aged spruce forests are also unfavorable for biodiversity. We want to introduce more broadleaf species, preferably oak,” says Cecilia Akselsson.
Researchers from Lund University have collected data of birds and plants and collected soil samples to monitor developments in the Bockeboda forest. Several groups of students have already visited, and Cecilia Akselsson believes this site could become an important resource for teaching and thesis projects – work that may influence the future development of forestry methods.
Read more about the projekt Adaptivt skogsbruk - skogforsk.se
