In September 2025, stakeholders gathered in Fagerstrand, just outside Oslo, for a workshop focused on multifunctional forestry. The event brought together forest owners, researchers, and practitioners to examine how forests in and around densely populated areas can be managed to deliver multiple benefits.
The programme combined indoor presentations with a field visit to a nearby forest property, allowing participants to discuss management approaches directly in a real-world setting.
A central theme throughout the workshop was how forest management can be adapted to better support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and outdoor recreation, while maintaining productive forestry. In peri-urban areas, forests serve a wide range of user groups, requiring forest owners to balance timber production with public access, landscape considerations, and environmental values.
During the field visit, participants explored different stand conditions and exchanged views on alternative management strategies. Discussions focused on approaches such as selective harvesting, the retention of habitat features, and methods to promote more diverse and resilient forest structures.
Forest owners also shared their experiences of managing woodlands in areas with high recreational use and public visibility, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of multifunctional forestry in urban contexts.