Current versus alternative forest management practices in southern Sweden

Forest management in southern Sweden is facing numerous challenges spurring the need for change. Futures studies are instrumental for addressing such challenges. This thesis reports on futures studies investigating current practices and alternatives developed together with stakeholders. Current and alternative practices were investigated in projections under different climate change mitigation scenarios in Kronoberg County as a case. Reflecting the rivalling interests of stakeholders, the developed alternatives represent conflicting forest management pathways. The research shows that ambitious mitigation might push for further intensification to meet increasing demands. Together with the forest owner association Södra alternatives for increased production were investigated, such as exotic species, fertilization and spruce clones. At the same time, the biodiversity crisis calls for more diverse practices, and such alternatives (spruce-birch mixtures, oak and border zones) were explored in collaboration with the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen). The thesis also investigates drivers behind current practices as well as barriers and opportunities for change with help of qualitative research. The owner diversity is already today complicating advisors’ efforts with promoting the current production-orientated ideals and is a likely barrier to further intensification. The current lock-in to spruce dominated practices complicates diversification, which was manifested in the failure to promote diverse regenerations after the storm Gudrun. A substantial diversification towards other species will require a contextual setting that facilitates such a shift, including such factors as lesser browsing, better markets for alternative assortments and diverse advisory services