Assessing long-term resilience of Scottish Sitka spruce forests to climate change and novel pests: A bark-beetle case study

Project Lead: Adam Kleczkowski
Host Institution: University of Strathclyde, Forest Research, Forestry and Land Scotland
Project Date: 1 February 2023 to 31 December 2023
Reference Number:
PHC2022/04
Ips typographis - Bjørn Økland, Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org
This project seeks clarity on how Scottish Sitka spruce forests might respond to further increases in pressure from climate change and existing or new pests and their potential synergistic effects.

Building on an existing decision support tool developed as part of a previous PHC funded project (PHC2018/14), the project will produce an updated modelling framework with key processes and parametrisations for D. micans (present in Scotland) and an initial assessment for I. typographus (invasive) risks under changing climate.

Initial economic analysis of the impact of different scenarios will also be produced, as well as pathways for incorporating future research results. The project was jointly developed with Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland who will be involved throughout the process, particularly in developing the policy advice and bringing in industry views, including during workshops that will assess the modelling framework, with recommendations being incorporated into the final version.

This project was selected for funding from the Project Call: “Enhancing preparedness against pests and diseases: plugging evidence gaps for Scotland”.
Publication Type (field_publication_type)
Position:
Mathematics and Statistics
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Position:
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Position:
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Position:
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Tree Health Policy Advisor
Institution: Scottish Forestry
Position:
Tree Health Policy Officer
Institution: Scottish Forestry
Position:
Adaptation and resilience manager
Institution: Forestry and Land Scotland