IKEA allocates 16,000 hectares of forests for research to further improve responsible forest management

IKEA is taking an important step toward improving global standards in responsible forest management. Together with the European Forest Institute and Preferred by Nature, IKEA will start a research project that will explore, test and scale improved forestry practices, strengthening climate resilience and minimising negative impacts on biodiversity.

In this research project, Inter IKEA Group, Ingka Group (the largest IKEA retailer), the European Forest Institute (EFI), and Preferred by Nature together will explore opportunities for biodiversity and climate-smart forestry across various forest types in Europe, starting in forests owned by IKEA businesses in Latvia. Inter IKEA Group and Ingka Group are funding the research project, as well as allocating 16,000 hectares of forest land for testing the different models and alternative solutions.

The collaboration partners will apply science-based insights by adjusting existing forest management methods to selected forests where they identify opportunities for improvement. The aim is to improve the forest's resilience and biodiversity by combining existing scientific and practical knowledge with traditional and new forest management methods. Techniques that will be investigated and included in the pilot are: closer-to-nature forestry, continuous cover forestry, and other practices that incorporate climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and the provision of other ecosystem services.

“At IKEA, we recognise the vital role that forests and nature play in helping mitigate climate change. Climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation are closely connected. As a large user of wood, we want to contribute to protecting the valuable forests where we operate. In this project, together with our partners EFI and Preferred by Nature, we will investigate how forest management can adapt to changing climate conditions and contribute to climate change mitigation and increased biodiversity,” says Mikhail Tarasov, Inter IKEA Group Head of Forestry. “Our ultimate aim is to scale these successful solutions across the forests we own or source from, and to improve forest management standards going beyond the wood sourced for the IKEA business,” he explains.

“It is of paramount importance to adapt sustainable forest management practices to cope with disturbances and extreme events caused by climate change, and to safeguard biodiversity to ensure enhanced forest resilience”, says Marcus Lindner, Head of EFI’s Resilience Programme. “In collaboration with IKEA and Preferred by Nature, EFI will review the scientific evidence for climate and biodiversity smart forest management and develop the scientific basis to support the development of new adaptive management strategies.”

Preferred by Nature will provide expert advice and certifications, which will be imperative to the success of the project. Peter Feilberg, Executive Director of Preferred by Nature: “When we plant a tree today, we’re shaping the forest of the next century. In a changing climate, we can’t just repeat what worked in the past. We need to rethink forest genetics, species mixes and management models to build forests that are highly productive, climate-resilient, and rich in biodiversity and carbon. This partnership is a chance to combine science, innovation and practical fieldwork to help set a new direction for responsible forestry. And by feeding the learnings into forest certification systems and wider supply chains, the impact can go far beyond IKEA’s own forests," says Peter Feilberg.  

As a large consumer of wood, IKEA wants to use its size and scale to continue improving forest management practices and raising industry standards. By investing in continued learning and ongoing improvement of forest management practices, IKEA can continue to provide affordable home furnishing for the many, while ensuring responsible forestry practices and mitigating our climate and biodiversity impacts in line with our long-term sustainability goals.

IKEA, Preferred by Nature, and EFI will collaborate to incorporate recommendations from this project into established forest certification standards, such as FSC, to scale impact and drive change beyond the IKEA supply chain.