2.2 Choice of Tree Species and Seed Source
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Marta Nowack
“I need to create a new management plan for my forest area. I want to increase biodiversity and adapt my forest to climate change, whilst not changing much of our current way of doing things, and I would like to understand how to move forwards with this.”
In any forest restoration project, selecting the right tree species and seed source (provenance) is one of the most critical decisions, directly impacting the immediate as well as the long-term success of the restoration. Traditionally, practitioners assess the surrounding landscape and use species that have historically been successful as references for their selection (see also chapter 1.4). However, with climate change altering environmental conditions, these species may soon become maladapted as temperatures rise and precipitation patterns shift more quickly than species can adapt or naturally migrate across the continent. For this reason, species selection tools like Seed4Forest (Seed for Forest App) are increasingly valuable, offering a glimpse into the future climate suitability of various species.
Seed4Forest was created to support forest practitioners in making informed decisions on species and provenance selection in the face of climate uncertainty. The tool serves as a companion to local knowledge, helping them make decisions that align with both scientific projections and the unique conditions of the site. It projects climate suitability for 38 species, productivity for 25 species, and includes seed source recommendations for 24 species under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs - an overview on these pathways is provided e.g. in this scientific paper: The representative concentration pathways: an overview | Climatic Change). These features allow users to evaluate whether current or regenerating species are likely to remain viable over time. The tool also suggests alternative species or provenances that may be better adapted to future conditions—reducing the risk of maladaptation and regeneration failure.
Beyond individual species, Seed4Forest enables the evaluation of species mixtures. This is critical for enhancing forest diversity and reducing shared vulnerabilities. It allows users to explore combinations of species that exhibit stable suitability across both time and space, contributing to long-term ecological resilience.
Related resources
Seed4Forest
Seed4Forest is a decision-support tool that helps users select the most suitable tree species, species mixtures, and provenances for any location across Europe. It supports forest restoration through climate-smart forestry by combining up-to-date scientific knowledge with practical guidance for current and future climate challenges.
Billions of trees? The how, where and don’ts of tree planting
This SUPERB/IUFRO webinar “Billions of trees? The how, where and don’ts of tree planting" features Giorgio Vacchiano, Associate Professor at the University of Milan. He discusses trends in tree planting, forest restoration and the main criteria to ensure the right tree is planted in the right place and for the right purpose.