Case Study 2
Value from resilience – Spain

Value from Resilience

The focus of CS2 is improved forest management strategies that increase the value of wood on low-quality stands affected by drought and fires. Outputs will include a value-chain Decision Support System (DSS), as well as methods and guidelines for effectively managing low-quality Spanish forest stands affected by climate change resulting in high-value timber products.

To accomplish this the CS2 team will:

examine an optimization-based value chain decision support system (DSS) for increasing the value of wood on low quality stands affected by drought and bushfires in the Northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula;
focus on solutions and new engineered wood products in response to climate change that support cascading timber use;
develop a mechanical classification for sawn timber, test engineered wood products for structural timber, conduct LCA of the new products, and test and implement logistics for different types of feedstock;
work on Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) for identification of social impacts and socio-economic impacts (e.g. social risks, local employment, communality) related to forest value.

Contact

CS2 Leader: Cesefor (Spain)

Contact: Gonzalo Caballé | gonzalo.caballe@cesefor.com

Drought damage to trees - Value from resilience

Challenge

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), the most important species of structural timber in Spain, will be drastically affected by climate change, 8.5 million ha to 1.3 million ha (2050). Pinus pinaster could replace the Scots pine, but it would be necessary to increase its resilience (drought and fire) by improved forest management (WP2) and use of its timber (WP5).

Opportunity

This presents two major opportunities, that would result in an improved value chain as a result of OptiForValue work. Firstly, timber construction is booming and the replacement of Scots pine by Pinus pinaster will be crucial for the industry. Secondly, timber sorting to feed Engineered Wood Products’ (EWP) industries and new industries based on this raw material.