Forest management for improved natural carbon sequestration
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet - Dept of Ecology |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 6 499 698 |
| Project duration | November 2019 - December 2024 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovations for a sustainable society |
| Call | Innovations for a climate-neutral future |
Important results from the project
The objectives have been largely met, but not entirely. The project has clarified effects of using more intensive fertilization methods compared to conventional ones. Results show potential for climate impact and are most significant before harvesting, but not without effects on e.g. soil fungal communities. Our results on conventional fertilization partially confirm earlier experimental findings, but also show that the effectiveness of fertilization cannot be guaranteed across all forests.
Expected long term effects
Forest fertilization can have a positive climate impact. More intensive methods than those currently used could enhance carbon sequestration, particularly in forestry without thinning. Life cycle analyses suggest that such management could help counteract global warming. But, the effects of fertilization vary across forest types, showing that the climate benefit depends on the land used. The limitations identified suggest that the potential climate benefits of fertilization are also constrained.
Approach and implementation
The project combined data from experiments and practical forest fertilization to estimate the effects of fertilization on tree growth, carbon storage, and biodiversity. The results clarified which forest types that are most effective for fertilization, how long the effects last, and, through dynamic lifecycle analysis, the global temperature impact that intensified forest fertilization may contribute to over different time periods.