Forest Damage Risks Caused by Climate Change and Preparedness in Pirkanmaa

The METURI project provides training on forest damages and preparedness measures for forest owners and forestry professionals in the Pirkanmaa region.

The project compiles the latest essential information on forest damages and makes it available on the project website. The training activities include expert webinars, field-based training sessions, several longer study trips within Finland, and one study trip to Sweden.

Climate change is transforming Finland’s forests. A warming climate is increasing the frequency of drought periods, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events, which in turn raises the risk of forest damage.

Drought can cause direct tree mortality and indirectly increase the risk of insect infestations. Soil drying during heatwaves reduces the growth of Norway spruce, particularly on sites with highly permeable soils. Heatwaves also increase the risk of large-scale forest fires. Heavy rainfall can lead to wind damage, increased sediment and nutrient loading in water bodies, and reduced soil bearing capacity, making forest operations more challenging.

The effects of climate change are reflected in warmer winters, drier summers, and stronger winds. Current discussions focus on topics such as forest carbon sinks, maintaining timber production capacity, enhancing biodiversity, and improving forest resilience to damage. Particular risks in forestry include storm damage, insect outbreaks, and drought in single-species stands.

According to current recommendations for sustainable forest management, coniferous forests should retain sufficient amounts of deciduous trees and deadwood, while increasing the proportion of mixed-species stands. In the Pirkanmaa region, insect and storm damage in spruce-dominated forests has continued to increase.

The main objective of the METURI project is to educate forest owners on maintaining and improving the health of Pirkanmaa’s forests, both now and in the future. Healthy, diverse, and productive forests help sustain and strengthen the region’s forest carbon sinks and carbon stocks. This ensures that forest owners can achieve the best possible returns from their forests, the forest industry can secure the raw materials it needs, and opportunities for recreational forest use, as well as the conservation and enhancement of natural values, are improved.

A second objective of the project is to increase preparedness for forest damage events and to strengthen operational capacity in responding to them.

The project will organize a total of 17 training events, with a target of 480 participants. Most of these activities will be delivered as in-person training sessions, complemented by online events and study trips.

The objectives of the METURI project support not only the health of Pirkanmaa’s forests but also the diversity of rural livelihoods in the region, while improving employment opportunities and the overall vitality of rural areas. The project is aligned with the goals of the Pirkanmaa Rural Development Programme 2023–2027, contributing to the development of local services and businesses, supporting micro-enterprises and entrepreneurship, and promoting inclusion, equality, and equal opportunities.

Within the METURI project, training activities focus on the following key areas: Sustainable solutions in primary production, strong and innovative entrepreneurship and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

As a result of the project, the implementation of climate-resilient forest management practices in Pirkanmaa will increase. Improved knowledge and skills among forest owners and forestry professionals will enable forest damage to be identified, prevented, and controlled more effectively and at an earlier stage. Forest management measures carried out at the right time will strengthen the carbon sink capacity of Pirkanmaa’s forests and help them adapt to a changing climate and the associated risks of forest damage.

In the future, forest damage will have less impact on the built environment, and stakeholders will be better prepared to respond efficiently and safely to damage events in accordance with land-use planning regulations and legislation. The project’s activities will also increase demand for forest-related services in the region. Healthy, growing forests will ensure the long-term availability of timber resources and provide a strong foundation for future investments in the region.

Maaseuturahasto (Suomen CAP-suunnitelma 2023-2027)