Communicating climate change research – experiences from Swedish forestry

Knowledge of climate-related risks is essential for decisions about forest management and reforestation. In Mistra-SWECIA’s first phase, an interdisciplinary research methodology was developed with science-based stakeholder dialogues with forest owners and other professionals in the forestry sector. The methodology combines social science-based research on adaptation with scientific research on climate change and the expected impacts on Swedish forestry. Climate-related risks are presented in scenario-based projections and modelling of ecosystem services and changes in vegetation.

The interdisciplinary research methodology increases the integration of perspectives from different disciplines and contributes to as complete a picture as possible of expected climate change, its effects on forests, and consequences in terms of adaptation needs and actions. One central aim of this approach is to – with a scientifically informed participatory process – draw lessons from scientific knowledge and determine how and to whom this knowledge needs to be communicated. The approach is expected to contribute to effective planning and decision support for Swedish forest stakeholders. In the longer term, this experience can contribute to better ways to communicate research in order to improve climate change preparedness in forest management.

This chapter is part of the Mistra-SWECIA Annual Report 2013.

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Swedish Foundation for Environmental Research (Mistra) through the Swedish Research Programme on Climate, Impacts and Adaptation (Mistra-SWECIA) Programme.