Czech forestry, once considered a pillar of stability and national wealth, is now at a crossroads. Climate change, a devastating bark beetle calamity, overpopulated wildlife and a long-term reliance on spruce monocultures present enormous challenges to which traditional forest management methods will not provide an answer.
Current approaches to forest management are often considered to be impervious to dynamically changing climatic conditions. The spruce monocultures that dominate Czech forests are particularly vulnerable in the context of increasing drought and rising temperatures. This has effectively opened the door to the invasion of pests such as bark beetle, which is spreading rapidly and devastating entire areas.
Experts such as Ales Erber are calling for an accelerated paradigm shift that would include a move towards more species and age diverse forests. Erber advocates a vision in which forests are not just a storehouse of timber, but also a complex ecosystem that performs both ecological and economic functions. Diverse forests, as opposed to monocultures, would be better able to withstand environmental threats and provide stability in timber production for domestic industry.
A more diverse mix of tree species should also contribute to better adaptation of forests to a changing climate. A vision including not only spruce but also broadleaf and other species has the potential to increase the added value of the timber produced. This would not only improve economic profitability but also the ecological stability of forests. Deciduous wood, often overlooked, has considerable potential in sustainable production.
Erber's views and suggestions were recently presented at the launch of the book "Wood Buildings: a New Era of Sustainable Construction," where he spoke of the need to adapt forestry to the needs of modern times, both environmentally and economically.
Future forests are expected to be better able to cope with challenges such as extreme climate events. Yet, at the same time, the impacts of these changes on recreational and traditional activities such as mushroom picking, which may be more difficult in more diverse and dense forests, are being considered.
The paradigm shift in forestry thus promises not only to make forests more resilient to pests and climate change, but also to contribute to a more sustainable timber industry. At a time when environmental issues are increasingly important, it seems that a return to diversity and naturalness could be the key to long-term sustainable development.
