Private forest owners’ climate adaptation measures and the motivations behind them in a south Swedish county

This study was conducted to explore measures taken by private forest owners in a region of southern Sweden to adapt forestry to climate change and the motivations behind these measures. Additionally, measures undertaken were compared with policy goals of the Swedish Forest Agency. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and interviews. The most common measure, mentioned by 72% (64) of respondents, is the choice of tree species, usually involving the replacement of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) or deciduous tree species. Other significant measures are creating mixed forests and shortened rotation periods for Norway spruce. While forest owners have adopted several policy-aligned measures, they have not yet prioritized measures pertaining to forest roads, or specific social and environmental concerns such as avoiding clear-cutting in erosion-prone areas or creating dying trees. The most common motive for adapting forestry is to reduce the risk of damage. Communication activities of authorities and forestry advisors that start from forest owners' multifunctional views and multiple motives for taking action could promote the development of climate-adapted forests. Highlighting the additional environmental and social values that are served by climate adaptation measures may further motivate forest owners.