FORest management strategies to enhance the MITigation potential of European forests

Forest management can lead to continous carbon sequestration, while timber as a renewable energy source can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel, thus multiplying this mitigation effect. FORMIT aims to develop forest management scenarios for carbon sequestration in Europe, including mitigation maeasures and management strategies for different regions, and accounting for trade-offs with other forest functions. FORMIT will bring new insights into options for carbon storage in forests accounting for historical management practices, regional differences, and management scenarios and modes of operation. This includes ioptions for biofuel use, links between biodiversity conservation and management strategies, and economics of timber production. Mitigation encompasses carbon storage in forests, carbon in forest products, and substitution of fossil fuel. Stand and forest type estimates will be scaled up to a European-wide assessment using available forest inventory data. Forest management options aimed at mitigation will be proposed, accounting for trade-offs between forest functions, and including selection of tree species and mixtures, rotation and silviculture techniques. Based on current knowledge, the expectet impact of climate change on tree growth and forest functioning will be assessed, accounting for site differences and regional climate change. In quantifying and analysing the trade-offs between carbon mitigation strategies and other forest functions, we will involve a user panel with representatives of major forest management agencies and associations in Europe. the panel will also provide input for a multicriteria analysis to identify consistnt and flexible scenarios for forest management. The project will deliver management options and implementation strategies for European forests, focusing of mitigation while safeguarding other forest functions, and accounting for regional differences in environmental and socio-economic conditions.