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More broadleaves in Finland’s forests: OptFORESTS research presented at IBFRA conference

Simone Bianchi (LUKE) presenting at the IBFRA 2026 Conference in Quebec, Canada, showing that silver birch plantations are increasing in Finland. Photo: IBFRA 2026 Conference

At the IBFRA conference in Quebec, LUKE researcher Simone Bianchi showed how actively promoting broadleaves in Finland’s conifer-dominated forests can boost landscape diversity without sacrificing bioeconomy or ecosystem services.

What happens when forest management aims to increase the share of broadleaved trees in Finland’s almost purely coniferous landscape? Simone Bianchi, a researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) working in OptFORESTS Work Package 4: Forest management and genetic diversity, explored this question in a presentation at the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) conference, held in Quebec, Canada, in August 2026.

The study found that management scenarios promoting broadleaves during both regeneration and thinning increased diversity at landscape level while still providing bioeconomy benefits and ecosystem services comparable to business-as-usual management. By contrast, more intensive management aimed at maximising profitability did not succeed in bringing enough broadleaves into the landscape.

This study follows up on a topic we previously covered in Less needles, more leaves.

 

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