The ongoing climate change affects the conditions for both domestic and non-native species. Douglas fir is a tree species that can be considered to grow well in a changed climate and could become a complement to e.g. Norway spruce, to a larger extent than today. A factor that inhibits an increased establishment of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) is the knowledge of and access to suitable provenances. Södra skog and SkogForsk collected Douglas fir seeds from seven provenances in British Columbia, Canada in 2007. Four of these were coastal, latitude 48–52°N, and the other three originated from the interior area, latitude 50°N. A large experiment was conducted in 2009 and 2010, in which seedlings from the seven provenances were included, on 12 sites. Inventories have been carried out after one, three and six growing seasons. On five of those sites hybrid larch (Larix × marschlinsii Coaz) was planted in every other row and on two of the sites Norway spruce gran (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was planted in the same way. A provenance trial with the same provenances was established in 2010 in the Tönnersjöheden Experimental Forest, with the same kind of inventories as for the large experiment. During spring 2013, many seedlings were damaged by winter desiccation and a special inventory were therefore conducted both in the large experiment and the provenance trial in order to evaluate the damages. There was no significant difference in the survival rates between the different provenances in the large experiment, after one and three growing seasons. The interior provenances Larch Hills and Three Valley had significantly higher survival rates (76 and 71 %) than the coastal provenances Caycuse River and Bowser Heaman (50 and 48 %), after sex growing seasons. Bowser Heaman seedlings were significantly taller (2,09 m) than Three Valley seedlings (1,67 m), after six growing seasons. The mean height of the 10 highest trees tended to be slightly positively correlated to higher temperature sums for coastal provenances only, but not for the interior provenances. There seems to be a potential risk of low seedling survival rates in most parts of southern Sweden, if you do not use hardy enough provenances for the climate in the area. Therefore, interior provenances are likely to be preferred. Exceptions to this are favorable climate zones, mainly in the very south of Sweden and in some coastal areas. Coastal provenances of Douglas fir were more severely damaged than those from the interior area in spring 2013, when many seedlings suffered from winter desiccation. The reason may be later development of freezing tolerance for seedlings originating from the coastal area, which could lead to damage in the autumn. The seedlings would in that case already have been weakened when they were affected by winter desiccation in April. This gives further reason for consideration to recommend the use of interior provenances with earlier winter hardening in large parts of southern Sweden.

Introduction of non-native species, such as Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), can be a means of mitigating the effects of climate change by meeting the growing demand for biomass and high quality wood. The aim of this study was to investigate early growth, survival and damage from late-spring frost and winter desiccation. A provenance trial with four coastal and three interior provenances of Douglas-fir originating from British Columbia, Canada, was established in Southwest Sweden (56°43′N, 13°08′E). Seedling height, length of the leading shoot, and occurrence of frost damage, were measured after one, three, and six growing seasons. Timing of bud break in spring was also observed. The interior Douglas-fir were more frequently damaged by late-spring frost compared to the coastal Douglas-fir. The interior Douglas-fir still had a higher survival after six growing seasons compared to the coastal variety. All provenances were damaged by winter desiccation, but the provenances originating from the coastal area were more severely damaged. Choice of variety may reduce the risk for either late-spring frost or winter desiccation.

The need for species that will grow well through ongoing climate change has increased the interest in Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] in Sweden. One of the most common problems seen in plantations of Douglas fir seedlings is damage caused by late spring frost, known to be highly correlated with the timing of bud burst. The objective of this study was to investigate spring-related bud development under Nordic conditions of seven Douglas fir provenances and to compare data with a local provenance of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). Results from a field trial and a greenhouse-based study were compared. The interior Douglas fir provenances exhibited an earlier bud burst than coastal provenances, both in the greenhouse and in the field trial. When comparing differences within the groups of interior and coastal Douglas fir provenances, no differences could be found. The local Norway spruce, only grown in the greenhouse, showed an intermediate bud development profile similar to the interior Douglas fir provenance Three Valley. We therefore suggest that Three Valley could be planted at the same locations as the investigated local provenance of Norway spruce in mid-Sweden. To avoid spring frost damage the Douglas fir seedlings need to be frozen stored and planted late in spring. Planting under shelterwood can also help protect the seedlings from spring frost damages. As similar results for bud development patterns of Douglas fir and Norway spruce provenances were obtained from the greenhouse and field trials, greenhouse tests could facilitate selection of provenances.

The non-native Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) has been grown to a limited extent in the southern part of Sweden since the early 1900s. A more extensive use has probably been curtailed by its known susceptibility to damage by frost, pine weevil and other pests. Limited access to vital seedlings of suitable provenances has also restricted its more widespread growth. The need for valuable species that will grow well through ongoing climate change has increased the interest for Douglas fir in Sweden.

This thesis addresses a number of important questions relating to the planting of Douglas fir in Sweden: seedling storability, freezing tolerance, timing of bud burst, frost damage and seedling response to site preparation. Seven Douglas fir provenances originating from British Columbia, Canada were used in the experiments and where applicable, compared with a local provenance of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The early bud burst of interior Douglas fir provenances, observed both in greenhouse tests and in the field, results in a high risk of damage by late spring frost. This type of damage does not seem, however, to be fatal and does not obviously retard the early growth of seedlings. The difference in growth between coastal and interior provenances was insignificant, but survival was greater for interior than for coastal provenances. All the provenances of Douglas fir studied showed a later development of freezing tolerance of shoots and roots in the autumn than Norway spruce, with the coastal provenances developing such tolerance even later than interior provenances. This could be a contributory cause for the severe damage by winter desiccation observed on seedlings of coastal origin. A thorough site preparation proved to be an effective way to increase survival and root growth. Interior provenances of Douglas fir became ready for storage earlier in autumn than coastal provenances. When freezing tolerance of shoots had increased sufficiently, Douglas fir seedlings could safely be kept in frozen storage using the same procedures used for Norway spruce. The results emphasise the need to gain further knowledge about how the remaining obstacles to establishment of Douglas fir could be reduced with different silviculture methods.

Climate change provides new challenges to Nordic forestry. Use of non-native species, such as Douglas fir, can be a means of mitigating the effects of climate change and meeting the growing demand for biomass. When Douglas fir is grown in Sweden, it is several degrees of latitude north of its normal range, which can affect timing of growth cessation, hardening of seedlings, and seedling storability. The objective of this study was to investigate tolerance to freezing and sub-zero storability of seven Douglas fir provenances and make comparisons with the native Norway spruce. Freezing tolerance and storability were evaluated by measuring the electrolytic leakage of shoots and roots after freezing, complemented with a three-week cultivation test after storage. All provenances of Douglas fir used in this study were able to tolerate frozen storage at −4°C for about four months. Norway spruce and the interior Douglas fir provenance, Three Valley, could be stored earlier in the autumn than the southern coastal Douglas fir provenances. Consequently, it should be possible to store Douglas fir seedlings with the same routines as for Norway spruce.

The aim of this study was to gain a deeper knowledge of the effects of mechanical site preparation on the survival and growth of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings in southern Sweden. The experiment was conducted on a fresh clearcut at the Asa experimental forest (57° 10′ N). The effects of five different site preparation treatments were investigated: control, patch, mound, invert and mix. In each treatment, 40 seedlings of Norway spruce and 40 of Douglas fir were planted in each of four blocks. Site preparation had little or no effect on the survival and growth of Norway spruce: only a few seedlings died during the first 2 years. For Douglas fir, however, all site preparation treatments increased survival compared with the control, where mortality was high. The most intensive soil preparation treatment, mix, significantly increased root growth and total biomass. Pine weevils caused more severe damage to Douglas fir seedlings than to Norway spruce and targeted different locations in the two species, causing comparatively more damage to the leading shoots of Douglas fir seedlings.

Since the start in 2001, approximately 3,000 students have attended courses in Sustainable Smallscale Forestry at the Linnaeus University in Sweden. The majority of students are private forest owners. The courses in Sustainable Small-scale Forestry have been successful in recruiting and educating both men and women, unlike many other Swedish forestry educations. The number of students correspond to the relation between female (38 %) and male (62 %) forest owners. Sociocultural perspectives on learning promotes the importance of social contexts and the idea of sharing thoughts and experiences with other people in order to motivate and confirm knowledge. Therefore cooperation and student focused learning with peer reviews and reflection is often a given element when planning a course. But how do educators work with their own internal course development? What kind of reflection and peer review can be helpful in improving your own course? At the Linnaeus University, a systematic course reflection was introduced to the teachers in the Forestry Department in 2009. The purpose was to help the teaching staff perceive shortcomings and possibilities of amelioration, as well as to systemize and make improvement efforts to courses more efficient. The process was a spin-off from the participation in the National Strategy for Equality within the Forestry Sector that was initiated by the Swedish government in 2009. The Strategy focused on three actions, where Education was one of them. Linnaeus University played an active part in the progress to create and realize the National Strategy for Equality that was introduced in April 2010. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospect of course reflection to improve university courses and to pay attention to a specific issue. The benefit of course reflection in the improvement work was assessed by having members of the teaching staff reflect over their own use of course reflection (meta-reflection). The study includes twelve persons from the teaching staff, two from each of seven different courses in Sustainable Small-scale Forestry. The education is internet-based distance courses with a blended learning approach. The teachers took notes during and after the course and put the thoughts down in a standardized form. In addition to the general course related issues, they were asked to focus on how equality (between women and men, ethnical background, age etc) has been promoted in the course. The evaluation of the study is in progress. Preliminary results will be presented in the summer of 2012.