Scaling Forest Adaptation: Measures for Climate-Resilient Forests

Forest adaptation is a crucial step in preparing forests for the challenges of climate change. Monocultures, which were often established in the past for economic reasons, have proven to be particularly vulnerable to storms, droughts, pests, and diseases. Between 2018 and 2021 alone, over 500,000 hectares of forest in Germany were damaged as a result. Transforming these unstable forests into diverse mixed forests is essential to ensuring their resilience and ecological functionality in the long term.

Why is Forest Adaptation Necessary?

Climate change is altering the conditions for our forests:

• Drought and extreme weather events are severely impacting native tree species, such as spruce, which was once considered the backbone of the forestry industry.
• Biodiversity loss weakens the entire forest ecosystem, as essential interactions between plants and animals are lost.
• The protective functions of forests, such as water regulation, soil protection, and carbon sequestration, are at risk when forests collapse.

To prepare forests for the future, scalable solutions are needed. This includes planting or seeding tree species that are more resistant to drought, heat, and storms while simultaneously promoting the natural regeneration of forests. Only in this way can forests continue to function as crucial carbon sinks and contribute to climate protection in the long term.

Measures for Forest Adaptation

Forest adaptation is a long-term endeavor that involves various strategies to increase forest diversity. There are three main ways to introduce new tree species:

• Promoting natural rejuvenation: Forests have the natural ability to regenerate if conditions are favorable. In near-natural forests, rejuvenation can be accelerated by controlling light exposure, maintaining an appropriate wildlife density, and protecting young trees.
• Planting seedlings: Where natural regeneration is insufficient, such as in damaged monocultures or clear-cut areas, pre-grown seedlings can be used. This method allows for the targeted introduction of climate-resilient tree species, such as sweet chestnut, Douglas fir, or downy oak, which are better adapted to warmer and drier conditions.
• Direct seeding: This method involves spreading seeds directly onto forest areas instead of planting seedlings. Once sown, the seeds germinate on-site and are optimally adapted to the local microhabitat from the start. Their undisturbed root development makes them more resilient in the long term compared to planted trees. Additionally, this approach allows for covering larger areas with lower costs and less labor.

Technological innovations, such as seed pelletization or the use of drones, can enhance the efficiency and precision of these approaches. One example of technological innovation in forest conversion is the Berlin-based startup Skyseed, which enables large-scale direct seeding.

Skyseed: Technology and Ecology for Sustainable Forests

The Berlin-based startup Skyseed modernizes the traditional method of direct seeding. Using drones and ground-based seeding machines, specially coated seeds are distributed widely and precisely. The seeds are encased in protective pellets containing biostimulants and protective agents to improve germination rates and reduce susceptibility to environmental stress and predators.

Direct seeding offers three fundamental advantages:

• Scalability: Large areas can be reforested much faster and more cost-effectively compared to traditional planting. This enables a more efficient response to the immense challenges of forest adaptation.
• Greater species diversity: Through the targeted use of drones and ground-based seeding techniques, a variety of tree, shrub, and herbaceous species can be efficiently sown, increasing forest biodiversity.
• Healthier root systems: The pelletized seeds create optimal conditions for germination and support the development of strong, deep root systems. Healthy roots enhance soil anchoring and improve water and nutrient absorption, which is particularly crucial in times of drought.

Skyseed demonstrates how innovative approaches can complement traditional methods, making forest adaptation efforts more effective.

"With our pelletization process, we significantly improve the germination and survival rates of seeds in the field. Our goal is to counteract the rapid and large-scale damage to forests while developing solutions that remain as close to nature as possible." - Ole Seidenberg, Co-Founder at Skyseed

Project areas managed in collaboration with Skyseed combine near-natural forest adaptation methods with modern technologies that help scale and optimize these efforts. This approach contributes to better addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

‍Project Wendland: An Example of a Successful Combination of Measures

The Wendland forest adaptation project aims to gradually transform a pure pine stand of 165 hectares into structurally rich mixed forests. Through thinning of old stands, targeted planting and seeding of climate-resilient tree species, and protection of natural regeneration, new, structurally diverse tree layers are established under the shelter of an open pine canopy.

The newly introduced site-adapted tree species include red oak, silver birch, chestnut, pedunculate oak, linden, Douglas fir, and coastal fir. Some of these species are introduced via direct seeding with Skyseed. Find out more about the project in the video below:

Conclusion: Future-Proof Forests Through Diversity, Innovation, and Sustainable Financing

Creating stable, climate-resilient forests requires a combination of various measures. From natural regeneration and seedling planting to scalable methods like direct seeding – each approach has its place. The integration of modern technologies, such as those offered by Skyseed, demonstrates how forest conversion can be made both more cost-effective and sustainable.

Another key factor in the success of forest adaptation is financing. Here, carbon credits play a central role. These credits enable the monetization of the climate protection effect of forest adaptation projects in the form of tradable units. Companies and organizations can purchase these credits to meet their climate protection goals. This benefits all stakeholders:

• Forest projects receive funding to transform large areas and create climate-resilient mixed forests.
• Companies achieve their climate goals by actively contributing to climate protection through credit purchases.
• Society benefits in the long term, as forests not only sequester CO₂ but also protect water resources, promote biodiversity, and provide recreational spaces.

Partnerships play a crucial role in this process. Together with Skyseed, Pina Earth makes forest adaptation scalable.

Do you want to learn more about the partnership or our projects? Contact us!

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