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

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Yao

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Petra Sieber

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Mathias Hauser

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Jonas Schwaab

    (Leibniz Universität Hannover)

  • Felix Jäger

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Fulden Batibeniz

    (ETH Zurich
    University of Bern
    University of Bern)

  • Meri Räty

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU))

  • Julia Pongratz

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
    Max Planck Institute for Meteorology)

  • Martin Wild

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Andrey Lessa Derci Augustynczik

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Steven J. Hertog

    (Ghent University)

  • Verena C. Griess

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Michael G. Windisch

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Jun Ge

    (Nanjing University)

  • Alessio Collalti

    (Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean-National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISAFOM))

  • Fulvio Fulvio

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Petr Havlík

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Sonia I. Seneviratne

    (ETH Zurich)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Yao & Petra Sieber & Mathias Hauser & Jonas Schwaab & Felix Jäger & Fulden Batibeniz & Meri Räty & Julia Pongratz & Martin Wild & Andrey Lessa Derci Augustynczik & Steven J. Hertog & Verena C. Grie, 2025. "Conversion from coniferous to broadleaved trees can make European forests more climate-effective," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64580-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64580-y
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