Mountain protective forests under threat? an in-depth review of global change impacts on their protective effect against natural hazards

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Sept. 22, 2023

Forests in mountain areas provide an indispensable ecosystem service by protecting people and infrastructure against natural hazards. As forests are increasingly affected global change, including climate more frequent severe disturbances, shifts land use, open questions remain regarding the long-term sustainable provision of this crucial protective service. To improve our understanding various effects change on forests, we summarized current knowledge based a systematic review. Focusing changes forests’ effect snow avalanches, landslides, rockfall, torrential floods debris flow, assessed 72 peer-reviewed, English publications. Overall, climate-induced expected to increase at higher elevations but reduce it lower mainly due increased drought. Natural disturbances usually decrease their impact is often further exacerbated salvage logging. Different forest management strategies studied using simulation models, impacts strongly depend local context interactions with change. While clearcuts consistently effect, other interventions such as thinning can have either positive or negative effects. Most reviewed studies were case process-based hazard models (but rarely combining two), while empirical evidence was scarce. Forests’ (diverse) indicators structure, evaluations resulting risks less common. More consistent modeling approaches linking structure risk, well across different studies, needed for better they under

Language: Английский

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A scoping review of human health co-benefits of forest-based climate change mitigation in Europe

Environment International, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 186, P. 108593 - 108593

Published: March 22, 2024

Climate change is a pressing global challenge with profound implications for human health. Forest-based climate mitigation strategies, such as afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management, offer promising solutions to mitigate simultaneously yield substantial co-benefits The objective of this scoping review was examine research trends related the interdisciplinary nexus between forests carbon sinks health co-benefits. We developed conceptual framework model, supporting inclusion exposure pathways, recreational opportunities or aesthetic experiences, in co-benefit context. used methodology identify proportion European on forest-based strategies that acknowledge interconnection impacts. also aimed assess whether synergies trade-offs sink capacity has been analysed quantified. From initial 4,062 records retrieved, 349 reports management principles factors capacity. Of those, 97 studies acknowledged 13 quantified impacts pathways were included full review. Our analysis demonstrates there potential optimising together co-benefits, but currently lack holistic approaches assessing these interrelationships. suggest enhanced efforts, using example multideterminant modelling approaches, advance evidence understanding context mitigation.

Language: Английский

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Managing European Alpine forests with close-to-nature forestry to improve climate change mitigation and multifunctionality

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 165, P. 112154 - 112154

Published: May 31, 2024

Close-to-nature forestry (CNF) has a long tradition in European Alpine forest management, playing crucial role ensuring the continuous provision of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including protection against natural hazards. However, climate change is causing huge uncertainties about future applicability CNF region. The question arises as to whether current practices are still suitable for adapting forests impacts while also meeting increasing societal demands regarding forests, their potential contribution mitigation. To answer this question, we simulated development using ForClim model at two study sites, together representing large biogeographic gradient from high-elevation inner (Switzerland) lower-elevation south-eastern (Slovenia). simulations considered three scenarios (historical climate, SSP2-4.5 SSP5-8.5) six alternative management strategies, both climate-adapted versions. Using an indicator based multi-criteria decision analysis framework, assessed joint on key services investigated regions, carbon sequestration (CS) inside outside boundary. effects varied, among within sites along biogeographical gradient. While CS was more resistant under site, it sensitive where potentials decreased lower elevations. This adverse effect could be partly mitigated by fostering use tree species. adaptations did not meet multiple objectives equally well: gravitation hazards timber production benefited silvicultural practice, variants with low-intensity or no management. In conclusion, high continue fulfilling its forests. A differentiated approach will needed future, however, identify stands adaptive measures required, especially particularly vulnerable change. combination less intensively managed unmanaged areas, provides portfolio that help society.

Language: Английский

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Beetles, wind, and fire: Effects of climate change and close-to-nature forestry on disturbance predisposition and ecosystem service trade-offs

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 586, P. 122690 - 122690

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem service multifunctionality of mixed conifer-broad-leaved forests under climate change and forest management based on matrix growth modelling

Forest Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11, P. 100231 - 100231

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Climate change and forest management are recognized as pivotal factors influencing ecosystem services thus multifunctionality. However, the magnitude relative importance of climate effects on multifunctionality remain unclear, especially for natural mixed forests. In this study, our objective is to address gap by utilizing simulations climate-sensitive transition matrix growth models based national inventory plot data. We evaluated seven scenarios (combinations various cutting methods intensities) future provision in conifer-broad-leaved forests northeastern China, under four (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5, constant climate). Provisioning, regulating, cultural, supporting were described timber production, carbon storage, sequestration, tree species diversity, deadwood volume, number large living trees. Our findings indicated that production was significantly influenced scenarios, while trees impacted both separately. Carbon storage sequestration notably interaction management. These emphasized profound impact services, outweighing alone. found no single scenario maximized all six service indicators. The upper story thinning 5% intensity with 5-year interval (UST5) strategy emerged highest multifunctionality, surpassing lowest values more than 20% across scenarios. conclusion, results underlined potential a decision support tool provided recommendations long-term strategies multifunctional context. Ecosystem could be enhanced implementing appropriate measures amidst changing climate.

Language: Английский

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Maintaining Rockfall Protection in Mountain Forests Under Climate Change: Optimizing Management for Sustainable Stem Size Distributions

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Integrating fire predisposition assessment into decision support systems for mountain forest management

MethodsX, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14, P. 103332 - 103332

Published: April 25, 2025

Language: Английский

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Impacts of Recent Disturbances on Protection Forests in the Italian Alps

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Maintaining rockfall protection in mountain forests under climate change: optimizing management for sustainable stem size distributions

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 176, P. 113634 - 113634

Published: May 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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Elevation and local climate variation control changes in Aleppo pine growth responses to hydroclimate and drought in semi-arid Spain

Regional Environmental Change, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(2)

Published: May 24, 2024

Language: Английский

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