Cool Forests at risk? The Critical Role of Boreal and Mountain Ecosystems for People, Bioeconomy, and Climate

Selected Articles from the IBFRA18 Conference, hosted by the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX), and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), 17-20 September 2018, in Laxenburg, Austria.

Dear Colleagues,

Forests developed in regions of cold climate over thousands of years. These “Cool Forests”, located in boreal and mountain areas, make up more than one third of the global forest extent. They are found from the circumpolar belt in the northern hemisphere to high-elevation zones in temperate, mid-latitude and tropical zones. Cool Forests show many similarities throughout the boreal and high mountain ecozones - especially with respect to species composition, growth patterns, and response to climate exposure. They are tremendously important for carbon storage, together forming the single largest carbon pool of all terrestrial ecosystems. Cool Forests are partially underlined by permafrost soils and deliver much of the world’s harvested wood products including timber, pulp, and paper. Furthermore, they are home to unique landscapes and biological diversity, providing ecosystems that are crucial for the livelihoods of millions of people.

Yet, the impacts of current social, economic, environmental, and technological changes on Cool Forests remain uncertain. As climate is changing and temperatures rise, the permafrost is thawing, resulting in significant release of greenhouse gases which further accelerate climate change. Permafrost thawing in mountain and boreal ecozones has already caused soil collapses, landslides, rock falls, and mudflows (e.g. in densely populated areas of the Alps and in the Third Pole region). In addition, rising temperatures are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disturbances such as wildfire, insect outbreaks, and wind storms and thus present a growing threat to people and nature, the bioeconomy and the climate.

This special issue aims at collecting the insights gained at the 2018 International Boreal Forest Research Association Conference “Cool Forests at Risk?” (https://ibfra18.org), where over 200 experts from science, policy, and the civil society from around 30 countries and all continents came together to pool knowledge and expertise to examine the critical ecosystem services of Cool Forests, identify their risks and vulnerability, and propose options to maintain and sustainably manage them. Furthermore, the conference aimed at identifying future pathways for policy, industry, and civil society, and – vice-versa – to inform the scientific community on how to develop transdisciplinary strategies through improved collaboration and communication. Ultimately, the goal was to raise awareness of the critical role of boreal and mountain forest ecosystems for people, bioeconomy, and climate through the Cool Forest Ambassador Initiative to support further research on Cool Forests.

Failing to maintain and sustainably manage Cool Forests could put millions of livelihoods and indispensable ecosystems at risk and simultaneously, render the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and likewise the aims of the Paris Agreement unattainable.

Considering the above risks and goals, we invite transdisciplinary articles targeting new insights into a broad array of topics including: Cool Forests and climate change; Risk resilient and sustainable management of Cool Forests to contribute to the SDGs — also bridging to the Food–Water–Energy Nexus; innovative products contributing to a healthy bioeconomy; the generation of relevant new information through monitoring and citizen science; ecosystem services and their protection including forest restoration; forest-based negative emission technologies including afforestation and BECCS; marketing and social aspects; as well as new forest-related strategies and policies, their implementation and impacts.

The issue is also open to receiving regular submissions that discuss a relevant topic.

Dr. Florian Kraxner
Prof. Dr. Jaana Bäck
Prof. Dr. Hélène Genet
Dr. Liudmila Mukhortova
Mr. Aapo Rautiainen
Dr. Anni Reissell
Dr. Vincent Roy
Prof. Dr. Dmitry Schepaschenko
Guest Editors

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