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Description
Forestry changes dramatically as European forests face devastating losses caused by global change and emerging pests and pathogens. These threats cause severe habitat loss, reductions in forest carbon sink strength and biodiversity, economic losses to the forestry sector, and subsequent socioeconomic impacts (including reductions of most types of ecosystems services). Forests cover about one-third of Europe''s total land area and provide various benefits to European citizens. However, the forestry sector with its products and associated businesses, ecosystem services, and social aspects are threatened by forecasted global climate changes. As such, forest health is a "hot topic" in society, and there are often opposing groups dominating the public debate, usually based on subjective assessments. However, we already have several recently developed instrumental techniques in modern forestry that give precise, objective measurements of different vital functions in trees. Our project aims to motivate and teach forestry students to take science-based decisions regarding the future of European forests by introducing them to direct, hands-on experience with the latest vitality monitoring equipment for forest trees. We will select experimental sites in the Czech Republic and Norway, install state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and measure essential tree vitality functions. Students will be involved in site selection, installation of equipment, measurements, data interpretation and communication of the results. By giving the students direct hands-on experience with the latest equipment, they will access objective data sets, develop their ability to interpret data, and learn how to communicate their findings to the public. Finally, the project will strengthen international cooperation on the vital topic of forest health.
Summary of project results
Forestry is changing dramatically as European forests face devastating losses caused by global change and emerging pests and pathogens. These threats cause severe habitat loss, reductions in forest carbon sink strength and biodiversity, economic losses to the forestry sector, and have subsequent socioeconomic impacts. As such, forest health is a “hot topic” in the society and opposing groups often dominate the public debate, usually based on their own subjective assessments. The aim of our project was to motivate and teach forestry students to take sciencebased decisions regarding the future of European forests by introducing them to direct, hands-on experience with the latest vitality monitoring equipment for forest trees.
The project’s main achievement was to establish experimental plots in the Czech Republic and Norway, which enable students to assess the influence of different climatic parameters on Norway spruce growth. Hence, these plots serve now as outdoor laboratories and learning arenas for students in several courses that have been innovated by the support of this project. Innovation of the practical courses was achieved by allowing the students to familiarize themselves with the newly developed instruments to measure and follow the vitality of trees. By giving the students direct hands-on experience with the latest equipment, they develop an ability to interpret data and communicate their findings to the public. In addition to student’s theses based on the obtained data, we provided students with a global overview of state-of-the-art methods to assess forest health. This will increase the students’ ability to make sound management decision
We assume that these course innovations will increase the student''s interest in the response of tree species to environmental change and will increase their awareness of the importance of practical solutions for growing sustainable forests under changed climatic conditions. The sharing of knowledge between forestry institutions in Norway and the Czech Republic will also expand the possibilities of finding solutions to adapt forest to a changing environment
Summary of bilateral results
Because the threats to forest health are similar all over Europe there is a need to transfer know-how between forestry institutions in the Czech Republic and Norway. Both countries need to innovate their forestry curriculum and teaching materials in ways that will help forestry students understand ongoing climatic change and formulate new forest management solutions. Therefore, cooperation between these institutions guarantees the transfer of unique knowledge and experience to students, which they can then use in forestry practice or to explain necessary forest interventions to the public.We will continue our collaboration in the future, as the growth of Norway spruce trees in the established experimental plots will be monitored for several years and we will share these data.