ALTERFOR · Project

Decision Tools That Help Forest Owners Pick the Right Management Strategy

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Imagine you own a forest and need to decide how to manage it — but the climate is shifting, timber markets are unpredictable, and everyone wants something different from your trees: wood, carbon storage, biodiversity, recreation. ALTERFOR built a toolbox of alternative forest management models tested across 11 European countries, so forest managers can compare options side by side and pick strategies that actually hold up under future uncertainty. Think of it like a flight simulator for forests — you test different approaches before committing to one for the next 50 years. They even set up real demonstration sites where you can walk through forests managed under different models and see the results with your own eyes.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved

European countries covered

deliverables produced

industry partners in consortium

SMEs in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Forest owners and timber companies across Europe are stuck using traditional management approaches that were designed for stable climate and predictable markets — neither of which exist anymore. With tightening EU regulations on biodiversity and carbon, plus volatile timber and biomass markets, making a 50-year forest management decision based on yesterday's assumptions is a costly gamble.

The solution

What was built

ALTERFOR produced alternative forest management models validated across 11 European countries, landscape-level projection tools for comparing management strategies, and physical demonstration sites where different approaches are applied side by side. In total, 36 deliverables were produced covering modeling, case studies, and knowledge transfer materials.

Audience

Who needs this

Large private forest owners managing 1,000+ hectares across EuropeForestry consulting firms advising on long-term management plansBiomass and bioenergy companies dependent on sustainable wood supply chainsCarbon credit developers working on forest-based offset projectsNational forestry agencies updating management guidelines for climate adaptation

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Forestry & Timber

any

Target: Forest management companies and large private forest owners

If you are a forest management company struggling to balance timber production with climate resilience and biodiversity requirements — this project developed alternative forest management models tested across 11 countries that let you simulate long-term outcomes before committing. The landscape projection tools help you see how different management choices play out over decades, reducing the risk of locking into a strategy that fails under changing conditions.

Pulp, Paper & Biomass Energy

enterprise

Target: Biomass and bioenergy suppliers dependent on sustainable wood supply

If you are a bioenergy or pulp company worried about long-term wood supply security under tightening sustainability rules — ALTERFOR mapped how different forest management combinations affect the basket of ecosystem services across European landscapes. Their models can show you which regions and management approaches deliver reliable biomass supply without triggering regulatory pushback on biodiversity or carbon targets.

Environmental Consulting & Carbon Markets

SME

Target: Consultancies advising on forest carbon credits and ecosystem service valuation

If you are an environmental consultancy helping clients value forest ecosystem services or develop carbon offset projects — ALTERFOR produced validated models for projecting how different management approaches affect multiple ecosystem services simultaneously. With 20 consortium partners generating case study data across 11 countries, their tools give you a credible, science-backed basis for advising clients on forest investment strategies.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use ALTERFOR's forest management models?

The project was publicly funded EU research, so the models and findings are generally accessible. Costs would depend on whether you need consulting support to apply the models to your specific forest area. Contact the coordinator at Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (Sweden) to discuss licensing or collaboration terms.

Can these models work at industrial scale across large forest holdings?

Yes — the models were designed to work at multiple scales, from individual stands to full landscape level. They were tested across 11 European countries with diverse forest types and socio-economic conditions, which means they've been validated across a wide range of real-world scenarios.

What's the IP situation — can I use these tools commercially?

ALTERFOR was a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), meaning results are typically open-access. However, specific software tools or datasets may have usage conditions set by the 20 consortium partners. Contact Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet as the coordinating institution to clarify commercial use terms.

How does this handle regulatory requirements like EU forest biodiversity targets?

The project explicitly modeled how different forest management approaches affect ecosystem service baskets including biodiversity, carbon storage, and timber. This means the tools can help you test whether your management plan meets upcoming EU sustainability and biodiversity regulations before you implement it.

Is this ready to use today or still in research phase?

The project ran from 2016 to 2020 and produced 36 deliverables including demonstration sites where alternative management models were physically applied. The tools have been tested in real case study areas, though deploying them for your specific context would likely require some adaptation with expert support.

Can this integrate with existing forest inventory and GIS systems?

Based on available project data, the models use landscape-level projections and forest owner behavior inputs. Integration with your existing inventory systems would need to be discussed with the technical partners. The consortium includes 10 universities and 3 research organizations with relevant technical capacity.

Consortium

Who built it

The ALTERFOR consortium is heavily research-oriented: 10 universities and 3 research organizations make up the bulk of the 20 partners, with only 3 industry players and 2 SMEs (15% industry ratio). This tells you the outputs are scientifically rigorous but may need a commercial translation layer. The 11-country spread across Europe — from Sweden and Germany to Turkey and Portugal — means the models account for diverse forest types, climates, and market conditions. The coordinator, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), is one of Europe's leading forestry research institutions, which adds credibility but also signals this is primarily an academic-driven project rather than a market-ready product.

SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITETCoordinator · SE
TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA VO ZVOLENEparticipant · SK
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLINparticipant · IE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAT GOTTINGEN STIFTUNG OFFENTLICHEN RECHTSparticipant · DE
INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE AGRONOMIAparticipant · PT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVAparticipant · IT
KARADENIZ TEKNIK UNIVERSITESIparticipant · TR
SODRA SKOGSAGARNA EKONOMISK FORENINGparticipant · SE
INTERNATIONALES INSTITUT FUER ANGEWANDTE SYSTEMANALYSEparticipant · AT
VYTAUTO DIDZIOJO UNIVERSITETASparticipant · LT
WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITYparticipant · NL
ETIFOR SRL SOCIETA BENEFITparticipant · IT
JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSIONparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), Sweden — search for the ALTERFOR project lead in SLU's forestry faculty

Order a report on this consortium See SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if ALTERFOR's forest management models fit your operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the research team and help translate their tools into your business context.

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