Is climate-smart forestry affected by thinning intensity and tree species composition?

The research applies a composite Index of Climate-Smart Forestry (ICSF) to long-term experimental plots representing beech, spruce, and mixed forests in Bavaria. Using a hierarchical framework of nine structural and functional indicators, the study quantifies how forest type and thinning intensity shape adaptation, mitigation, and socio-economic outcomes. Statistical models were used to trace the temporal dynamics of “forest smartness” and identify key variables influencing each CSF pillar.

The findings show that mixed and broad-leaved forests perform slightly better than spruce monocultures, especially in adaptation. Strong thinning regimes enhance forest smartness by increasing structural diversity and reducing vulnerability to climate stress. Forest damage, growing stock, and slenderness coefficient emerged as the most influential indicators across the three pillars, while roundwood production was key for socio-economic performance. The study underscores the importance of long-term monitoring plots for tracking dynamic forest responses and integrating indicator-based tools into adaptive, climate-aligned forest management strategies.