Comparing net primary productivity between continuous cover and rotation forestry management in Sweden

Sueco. Forests are important ecosystems worldwide and in Sweden, where over half of the land is forested. Forestry management strategies significantly impact ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration. This study focuses on comparing two prevalent forestry management strategies: Rotation Forestry (RF), which uses clearcutting as the prevalent timber extraction method, and Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), which extracts timber by individual tree selection, thus, always maintaining the tree cover. While RF is favoured for its economic benefits, CCF performs better at preserving ecosystem services and biodiversity. The aim of this thesis is to assess the difference in Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and their trends over the years 2001 to 2023 between RF and CCF across Sweden. Using satellite-based NPP observations, data from 49 pairwise forest sites managed under RF and CCF were analysed. Statistical tests revealed no significant difference in average NPP between the two strategies, as well as no difference in NPP trends over the study period. These findings contradict the hypothesis that CCF would exhibit higher NPP and a more statistically significant trend than RF due to carbon sequestration declines under RF management. However, limitations of this study exist, including uncertainties in the satellite-based dataset used, the relatively short study period to display any impacts of the management strategies, and absence of clearcutting phase in RF management study sites. Nonetheless, this study emphasizes the importance of further research to maximize the economic benefits and ecosystem services of forestry in Sweden and abroad.