here - Motive

Netherlands – Veluwe case study
Case study forest area: 8,246 ha
Ownership: 75% NGOs, 5% state,
20% private
Forest goods and services:
Main functions of the area nowadays are
recreation, nature and landscape protection.
Wood production is mostly a secondary goal, but
the actual mix of goals depends on the owner.
Special local conditions:
Cultural history: 22% heath land and some
open driftsands. Old broadleaved remnants.
High grazing pressure, affecting tree
regeneration. High recreational pressure.
Stakeholders
Forest owners/managers
Fire brigade
Recreational sector
Management and governance issues
Heath land, drift sand and old broadleaved forests are classified as Natura2000 core habitat areas
and need to be maintained.
Proportion of species of Veluwe
20%
Scots pine
Douglas fir
1%
43%
Other conifers
Birch
8%
Beech
Oak
6%
Other broadleaved
Heath
7%
8%
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7%
Climate change challenge
Case study area
Moderate changes in climate are not
expected to lead to major problems or
changes in the area. Drier and hotter
summers are expected to lead to a decline
in oak and beech forests and increased
dominance of coniferous species like Scots
pine and Douglas fir.
Mean Monthly Temperature
25
Temperature (C°)
20
15
Mean Temp 1961-1990
Mean Temp High 2070-2099
Mean Temp Medium 2070-2099
Mean Temp Low 2070-2099
10
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Mean Monthly Precipitation
120
Precipitation (mm)
100
80
Mean Ppt 1961-1990
Mean Ppt High 2070-2099
Mean Ppt Medium 2070-2099
Mean Ppt Low 2070-2099
60
40
20
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Photo: Mathijs Schuijn.
Increased future fire risk due
to more extreme fire weather
and more conifers under
climate change conditions?
Photo: Mart-Jan Schelhaas.
Regeneration is affected by the high grazing
pressure. Photo: Mart-Jan Schelhaas.
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Photo: Mart-Jan Schelhaas.
Current
management and
moderate climate
change will lead
to a more intimate
mixture of tree
species
Will these young beech trees survive under
drier and warmer climate?
Current management is already well adapted to the sites and climatic conditions, and already
takes into account natural developments. A mild climate change scenario can be easily dealt
with in the current management schedules. More severe climate change leads to a loss of
biodiversity due to replacement of oak and beech by more drought-tolerant species like Scots
pine and Douglas fir. These developments will probably become visible in the medium term
only. Adaptive management will not be sufficient to curb these developments.
Conclusion
Continuation of current management is the best option to maintain the current levels of service
provisioning. However, the development of forest and climate should be monitored closely to be
able to adapt the management if necessary. However, individual owners may decide differently for
their own properties, based on different preferences.
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