Background and Research Approach

Due to large-scale extreme events in recent years, forests were severely damaged. As a result, a large area of forest land has to be reforested, which gives the opportunity to establish resilient forests. Nevertheless, reforestation can result in high costs. In order to reduce costs for the reforestation and to minimize liquidity problems, an alternative to planting is reforestation via natural regeneration. In Germany, however, little consideration is given to the reforestation with natural regeneration of early-successional tree species like birch or rowan.
Therefore, we evaluated the economic consequences that arise from accepting emerging natural regeneration of early-successional tree species into reforestation. This was done by programming a bio-economic simulation model that includes risk of disturbances and market fluctuations.
In addition to this stand level analysis, an analysis at landscape (forest enterprise) level is missing. To this end, the existing bio-economic simulation model is to be expanded. By doing so, we optimize the stand type allocation of a model forest enterprise under economic objectives and different constraints, e.g. liquidity restrictions. In particular, we are interested in how this affects the integration of early-successional tree species.

Role of the Short-Term Scientific Mission

The Short-Term Scientific Mission gave the opportunity to discuss the ecology and management of birch in Finland. As birch is one of the main wood species in Finnland, they have extensive experience with it. This helped to improve the understanding and integration of birch as an early-successional tree species into the reforestation scenarios of my bio-economic simulation model. During the stay I started to extend the model from the stand level to the enterprise level. During one-on-one meetings, I could discuss different methodological approaches and their suitability for the research question with LUKE’s experts on environmental economy. This helped to accelerate my learning process and to find the right approach.

Scientific Exchange and Integration

During my stay, I had the opportunity to meet two research groups of the Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE). Both groups warmly welcomed me, and I was fully integrated into the everyday research life. This gave me the opportunity to attend internal meetings where the LUKE researchers presented and discussed their current work, which gave me a good overview of their research topics and potential synergies with my work. I was also given the opportunity to present my own research results to get valuable feedback. In several one-on-one meetings we discussed my own research approach in more detail. The exchange allowed me to discuss topics on forest economics and ecology and to extend my personal network.

Organization, Framework Conditions and Outlook

The Short-Term Scientific Mission was well organized by the Competence Center Landscape Resilience, which ensured that everything ran smoothly. This made the application process straightforward. After the acceptance of the application, the Competence Center Landscape Resilience ensured that all administrative issues regarding the STSM were clarified. They were always available to answer further upcoming questions.
The STSM made it possible to work closely with LUKE’s experts. This intensive exchange would not have been possible in purely online meetings. The outcomes of the exchange will result in a joint research paper.

• It was very inspiring to get to know a new work environment and culture.
• I had the opportunity to meet many new researchers and discuss forest topics with them.
• The STSM was the starting point for a new paper, as I could discuss potential methods with LUKE’s experts.