Publications (FIS)

Conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees can make European forests more climate-effective

Authored by

Yi Yao, Petra Sieber, Mathias Hauser, Jonas Schwaab, Felix Jäger, Fulden Batibeniz, Meri Räty, Julia Pongratz, Martin Wild, Andrey Lessa Derci Augustynczik, Steven J. De Hertog, Verena C. Griess, Michael G. Windisch, Jun Ge, Alessio Collalti, Fulvio Di Fulvio, Petr Havlík, Sonia I. Seneviratne

Abstract

The climate effectiveness of forestation in Europe is debated, as it may provide more warming via solar energy absorption than evaporative cooling. Since forests play an important role in European climate policy, it is necessary to explore potential solutions to this issue in a warmer world. Here, based on experiments conducted with a regional climate model under several forest change scenarios, we find that conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees in currently forested areas can provide cooling for summer hot extremes (e.g., reducing the monthly mean daily maximum temperature in July over Continental Europe by 0.6 °C). The conversion can also mitigate the undesired warming impacts of forestation with present-day forest composition in most of Europe, e.g., reversing effects on the monthly mean daily maximum temperature in July over Continental Europe from +0.3 °C to −0.7 °C. This study highlights the importance of considering tree species in European forest policy development and suggests that the Northern and Central regions should be prioritised for forestation over the Western and Southern parts.

Details

Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): ETH Zurich
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg
Ghent University
Nanjing University
Type: Article
Journal: Nature Communications
Volume: 16
ISSN: 2041-1723
Publication date: 29.10.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General Chemistry, General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology, General, General Physics and Astronomy
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 13 - Climate Action
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64580-y (Access: Open )

Cite

Conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees can make European forests more climate-effective. / Yao, Yi; Sieber, Petra; Hauser, Mathias et al.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 16, No. 1, 9536, 29.10.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review

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  title = "Conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees can make European forests more climate-effective",
  abstract = "The climate effectiveness of forestation in Europe is debated, as it may provide more warming via solar energy absorption than evaporative cooling. Since forests play an important role in European climate policy, it is necessary to explore potential solutions to this issue in a warmer world. Here, based on experiments conducted with a regional climate model under several forest change scenarios, we find that conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees in currently forested areas can provide cooling for summer hot extremes (e.g., reducing the monthly mean daily maximum temperature in July over Continental Europe by 0.6 °C). The conversion can also mitigate the undesired warming impacts of forestation with present-day forest composition in most of Europe, e.g., reversing effects on the monthly mean daily maximum temperature in July over Continental Europe from +0.3 °C to −0.7 °C. This study highlights the importance of considering tree species in European forest policy development and suggests that the Northern and Central regions should be prioritised for forestation over the Western and Southern parts.",
  author = "Yi Yao and Petra Sieber and Mathias Hauser and Jonas Schwaab and Felix J{\"a}ger and Fulden Batibeniz and Meri R{\"a}ty and Julia Pongratz and Martin Wild and Augustynczik, {Andrey Lessa Derci} and Hertog, {Steven J. De} and Griess, {Verena C.} and Windisch, {Michael G.} and Jun Ge and Alessio Collalti and Fulvio, {Fulvio Di} and Petr Havl{\'i}k and Seneviratne, {Sonia I.}",
  note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",
  year = "2025",
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  doi = "10.1038/s41467-025-64580-y",
  language = "English",
  volume = "16",
  journal = "Nature Communications",
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