NordBorN: a research and educational platform to understand borealization in the Nordic region

Climate and land use changes are driving biome boundary shifts worldwide, with higher latitudes experiencing an expansion of boreal forest species into the tundra—a process known as borealization. This phenomenon includes treeline advancement, shrub expansion, changes in ecosystem structure and function, and the spread of non-native species. These shifts have significant implications for the functioning of Nordic terrestrial ecosystems and their capacity to deliver ecosystem services. The Nordic Borealization Network (NordBorN) is a five-year NordForsk-funded project that aims to address these challenges by fostering collaboration among six Nordic universities and three associated partners. NordBorN seeks to advance research excellence in terrestrial ecology by investigating the processes, drivers, and consequences of borealization, while also establishing a training hub for the next generation of Nordic researchers. By facilitating mobility, co-supervision of graduate students, and collaborative research initiatives, NordBorN will provide critical insights and capacity building to understand and manage the ecological and societal impacts of borealization in Nordic ecosystems.