Climate Change Adaptation of Forests in the Brdy Highland

Introduction

The extremely dry years 2003 and 2015 resulted in a major weakening of spruce forest stands, a fact exhibited in a step increase in the population of the European spruce bark beetle. The year 2018 was marked by an anticipated progress in the bark beetle calamity throughout Central Europe, particularly in areas with a prevalent population of even-aged spruce monocultures.

Project Location

Located in Central Bohemia, the former military area of Brdy Highland features a high proportion of even-aged Norway spruce forest stands. On average, spruce is present on 74.3% of the territory targeted by the project (226 km²), making it fundamentally endangered by the impacts of current climate change.

Main Objective

The main objective of LIFE Adapt Brdy is to adapt forest stands in the territory of the Brdy Highland to climate change. This includes:

1. Increasing their ability to resist biotic and abiotic factors.
2. Replicating good practice in other sites in Central Europe.

Instruments for Achieving Objectives

There are two main instruments to achieve the objective of the project:

1. Rapidly reducing the amount of cloven-hoofed game.
2. Implementing close-to-nature forest management using selection management principles.

These instruments will be implemented particularly through introducing the Saxon model of close-to-nature and hunting management throughout the Brdy Highland.

Expected Outcomes

It is assumed that the project will reduce the vulnerability of forest stands to climate change in Brdy Highland. The project aims to:

• Increase the area of reported natural regeneration.
• Enhance the proportion of minority tree species, particularly beech and white fir.

Due to the reduction of the amount of cloven-hoofed game, damage caused by game will also be reduced.

Replication of Good Practices

An important objective is the replication of the good practices of LIFE Adapt Brdy in another area of 20,000 ha of VLS estates. This will be spread to Slovakia or Poland through a number of trainings for foresters.