This comprehensive textbook explores the boreal forests of Northern Europe, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Students will gain an overview of the forest ecosystem and the services it provides for modern society. From the production of timber, to the supply of food products or their use as a recreational space for human wellbeing ¿ our forests serve many needs. Accordingly, the respective chapters cover various types of ecosystem service, e.g. supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services.The book¿s main focus is on the management of boreal forests for the production of these ecosystem services. Addressing modern challenges, e.g. managing vulnerable boreal forests for adaptation to climate change, is an important aspect throughout the volume. Traditional forest management has to adapt and evolve in order to meet the increasing risk of abiotic and biotic damages to our forest biomass. Future forestry graduates will have to face more and more of these challenges; consequently, the book provides them with a wealth of scientific knowhow and possible counter-strategies.Forestry students in the Northern Hemisphere, be it in Europe, North America or Asia, will find this book an excellent reference guide. To make the content more accessible, it has been enriched with a clear structure, numerous illustrations and learning objectives.

Excellent textbook for forestry students in Europe, North America and Asia

Preface.- Chapter 1. Background - management of forest for varying ecosystem services.- PART I: Forest environment of boreal north and forestry.- Chapter 2. Environmental conditions, site types, and climate change.- PART II: Structure and functioning of selected boreal trees.- Chapter 3. Selected tree species of importance in boreal north.- Chapter 4. Structure of selected trees.- Chapter 5. Regeneration biology of selected trees.- Chapter 6. Physiology, growth and acclimatizing of boreal trees to climate.- PART III: Long-term dynamics of boreal forest ecosystem.- Chapter 7. Successional dynamics of boreal forest ecosystem.- Chapter 8. Management vs ecosystem dynamics.- PART IV: Management strategies, regimes, and operations.- Chapter 9. Preparation of site for natural regeneration and planting in reforestation.- Chapter 10. Natural regeneration in management for regrowth.- Chapter 11. Planting in management for regrowth.- Chapter 12. Management of spacing in pre-commercialphase.- Chapter 13. Management of spacing and thinning in commercial phase.- Chapter 14. Fertilization in management of site fertility.- Chapter 15. Pruning of branches and management of timber quality.- PART V: Management of forest ecosystem for varying services.- Chapter 16. Management strategies for producing different goods and services.- Chapter 17. Dynamics of forest ecosystem vs ecosystem services.- Chapter 18. Risks for forestry under current and warming climate.- Chapter 19. Forest ecosystem services and management under climate change.- Chapter 20. Adaptive management - outlines of theories and practices.- Index.- Appendix: Units and conversions.