Project information
Project manager
Johanna Witzell
Other project members
Liina Jürisoo
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, Skogforsk, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Stora Enso
Financier
The Swedish Research Council FORMAS (The Future and Development of Forests and the Forestry Sector in a Global Context)
Timetable
September 2025 - August 2029
Subject
Forest Management (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology)
Knowledge Environment
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Green Sustainable Development
More about the project
Peri-urban areas, located between cities and the countryside, are expanding rapidly due to urbanization. They are attractive places for housing and recreation, yet they are rarely used for active forestry, despite holding significant potential to contribute to climate goals, biodiversity, and sustainable land use. Many of these areas are degraded or even polluted due to intensive human activities, which makes ecological restoration essential. At the same time, society faces major challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the growing demand for sustainable biomaterials—making it urgent to explore how peri-urban lands can support carbon sequestration, ecosystem services, and climate adaptation.
The aim of this project is to increase knowledge about the role of peri-urban forests in climate action by establishing “Living Labs”—test environments where fast-growing tree species are planted and studied in relation to ecological functions, soil conditions, and local residents’ perceptions. Researchers investigate how different tree species, soil amendments such as wood ash, and nature-based solutions can transform nutrient-poor and disturbed soils into productive, resilient, and biodiverse forests. In collaboration with landscape planners and local stakeholders, the project also examines whether peri-urban forests are perceived as valuable assets or as “green deserts.”
The project engages a wide range of stakeholders—including forestry, public administration, authorities, and local communities—through workshops and focus groups to jointly develop management models and policy recommendations.
The results will provide new scientific knowledge on soil ecology, microbial diversity, and forest establishment, while also offering guidance on how peri-urban forests can deliver climate benefits, biodiversity, recreation, and biomaterial production. In doing so, the project is expected to lay the foundation for sustainable, productive, and socially accepted forests that strengthen both the environment and society.
The project is part of the research in the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment Green Sustainable Development.
