Germany
Germany has adopted a cross-sectoral climate change adaptation strategy developed within the Forest Strategy 2010 and specific strategies for the German federal states [1]. The action plan for the strategy was adopted in 2011, and some activities, such as forest monitoring and research, improvement of forest resilience through native tree species, appropriate provenances, and deer population control, are directly enforced by legislation [1] [2]. The measures are supported institutionally and financially, with sufficient informational means [1]. Germany prefers measures based on close-to-nature forestry rather than radical changes in management systems and abandonment of native tree species [2]. Some of the applied measures include conversion of even-aged forest stands with poor resilience to more resilient stands of native tree species, which is not legally binding, but its implementation is monitored through measurable targets [1] [6]. Assisted migration at the level of provenance is also considered, but there are still some legal barriers [1].
Germany's adaptation strategy is a systematic, cross-sectoral analysis and assessment of the effects of climate change, based on the analysis of climate impact chains and ISO 14091 [2]. The German Adaptation Strategy's monitoring system ensures that, in all the DAS fields of action, the impacts of climate change and adaptations to it are kept under continuous review [3]. The progress and monitoring reports of 2015 included an update of Germany's adaptation strategy [3]. Climate adaptation takes time, and many high climate risks require an adaptation period of several decades, some even more than 50 years [2]. To prepare Germany for severe climate change, early action is necessary [2].
Access to information should be complemented with the development of technical and institutional capacity to manage climate-related risks [4]. Tools for mainstreaming adaptation in critical policy areas and encouraging investments in resilient infrastructure include spatial planning frameworks to redirect development away from high-risk areas, infrastructure project and policy appraisals, including Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment [4]. Climate impacts are projected to lead to increases in investment required for infrastructure, particularly water storage, flood defences, and water supply and sanitation in some regions [4]. The use of tools for decision-making under uncertainty can reduce the need for costly retrofitting while reducing upfront costs [4]. Nature-based, flexible, or innovative approaches to climate-resilient infrastructure may even be cheaper than traditional approaches [4].
In summary, Germany has adopted a comprehensive cross-sectoral climate change adaptation strategy that includes measures to improve forest resilience through native tree species, appropriate provenances, and deer population control. The measures are supported institutionally and financially, with sufficient informational means. Germany prefers measures based on close-to-nature forestry rather than radical changes in management systems and abandonment of native tree species. The implementation of the measures is monitored through measurable targets. Germany's adaptation strategy is a systematic, cross-sectoral analysis and assessment of the effects of climate change, based on the analysis of climate impact chains and ISO 14091. The strategy's monitoring system ensures that the impacts of climate change and adaptations to it are kept under continuous review [1] [2] [3] [4] [6].