Future suitability of sweet chestnut limited by susceptibility to drought

A recent publication titled "Future suitability of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is limited by susceptibility to drought" in Dendrochronologia provides key insights into the climate sensitivity of sweet chestnut. The research, which originates from the manuscript-based M.Sc. thesis of Konstantin Weise, underscores the species' vulnerability to summer drought while highlighting its adaptability in well-watered environments. Utilizing tree-ring data, the study indicates that while sweet chestnut can recover and show resilience after drought events, growth responses depend heavily on adequate water availability. This finding positions the species as a viable forestry option on well-watered sites amid climate change. For more details on the study and its forest management implications, the full paper is available here.