Managing Boreal Birch Forests for Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

Boreal birch forests, dominated by Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, are significant components of Northern European and North American landscapes. These forests play a vital role in climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon and enhancing ecosystem resilience. This study aims to evaluate global scientific research trends concerning the management of boreal birch forests, with an emphasis on climate adaptation. We conducted a two-phase study: first, a bibliometric analysis of 287 peer-reviewed publications from 1978 to 2024 sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases; and second, a qualitative literature review based on refined selection criteria guided by the PRISMA framework. The analysis revealed that most research originates from Finland, Canada, Sweden, and the USA. Our findings were categorized into four thematic areas: management issues, abiotic and biotic drivers of forest dynamics, climate adaptation strategies, and current management practices. Furthermore, the results indicate an increasing research focus on climate-smart silviculture, biodiversity-oriented thinning, and mixed-species forestry. The review highlights significant management challenges and identifies knowledge gaps, particularly in genetic diversity, soil biota, and socio-economic dimensions. We conclude that adaptive, multifunctional management of boreal birch forests is essential for sustaining their ecological and economic roles in a changing climate.