Sweden: Forestry network to tackle climate change and poverty

Forestry experts from Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Gothenburg, Linköping University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have been granted SEK 4.2 million (about €390,000) by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency  to form a network that will provide expert knowledge on how world forests can improve climate and reduce poverty.

The Swedish network aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge between research, industry, government and agencies to identify the means through which world forests can help in tackling climate change and poverty.

The proposed project will address three main areas; the follow-up and analysis of how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and benefit poor people; the establishment of criteria for long-term and sustainable forest development; and the review and analysis of existing global instruments for carbon storage in forest ecosystems.

Gunnar Köhlin, chairman of the expert network’s management group, said: “The discussion on how to include more forestry provisions has raised difficult methodological issues as well as justified concern that incorrectly designed new regulations would be to the detriment of poor people who depend on forest products.”