Impacts on and damage to European forests from the 2018–2022 heat and drought events

Natural hazards and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1), P. 77 - 117

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract. Drought and heat events in Europe are becoming increasingly frequent due to human-induced climate change, impacting both human well-being ecosystem functioning. The intensity effects of these vary across the continent, making it crucial for decision-makers understand spatial variability drought impacts. Data on drought-related damage currently dispersed scientific publications, government reports, media outlets. This study consolidates data European forests from 2018 2022, using Europe-wide datasets including those related crown defoliation, insect damage, burnt forest areas, tree cover loss. data, covering 16 countries, were analysed four regions, northern, central, Alpine, southern, compared with a reference period 2010 2014. Findings reveal that all zones experienced reduced vitality elevated temperatures, varying severity. Central showed highest vulnerability, coniferous deciduous trees. southern zone, while affected by loss, demonstrated greater resilience, likely historical exposure. northern zone is experiencing emerging impacts less severely, possibly site-adapted boreal species, Alpine minimal impact, suggesting protective effect altitude. Key trends include (1) significant loss zones; (2) high levels despite 2021 being an average year, indicating lasting previous years; (3) notable challenges central Sweden bark beetle infestations; (4) no increase wildfire severity ongoing challenges. Based this assessment, we conclude (i) highly vulnerable heat, even resilient ecosystems at risk severe damage; (ii) tailored strategies essential mitigate change forests, incorporating regional differences resilience; (iii) effective management requires harmonised collection enhanced monitoring address future comprehensively.

Language: Английский

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Drought timing, intensity, and consecutiveness have more influence on Douglas fir growth response than site conditions and stand density in European temperate climate

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 569, P. 122177 - 122177

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Recent declines in radial growth and wood density characterize dieback in European beech and pedunculate oak

Dendrochronologia, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 90, P. 126300 - 126300

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

Language: Английский

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Early Warning Signs in Tree Crowns as a Response to the Impact of Drought

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 405 - 405

Published: Feb. 24, 2025

The interaction between trees’ water needs during drought and the signals that appear in their canopies is not fully understood. first visually detectable signs, which we describe as early warning tree canopies, are often noticeable at glance. When these signs become widely apparent, decline already underway. In this study, focus on identifying visible of stress crowns, such very small leaves, premature needle/leaf discolouration abscission, defoliation. We provide guidance recognising initial offer specific examples, comprehensively analyse each signal. Our crowns intense prolonged droughts, confirmed by calculating Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). findings based 20 years (2004–2024) continuous fieldwork data collection from permanent sample plots Serbia, was conducted part International Co-operative Programme Assessment Monitoring Air Pollution Effects Forests (ICP Forests). also a comprehensive review literature key related to address. This research further motivated observed summer 2024 due extreme climatic events, classify year one hottest recorded Serbia. However, still cannot conclusively determine trees will die back solely signals, some manage withstand severe conditions. Nonetheless, widespread appearance indicators clear significant ecosystem instability, potentially leading individual or larger groups.

Language: Английский

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The negative effects of competition on tree resilience weakened as drought severity intensified

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 368, P. 110544 - 110544

Published: April 9, 2025

Language: Английский

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Contrasting Future Growth of Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Forests Under Warming Climate

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Forests are essential to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, transpiration, and turnover. However, the quantification of impacts on forest growth is uncertain even contradictory in some regions, which result spatially constrained studies. Here, we use an unprecedented network 1.5 million tree records from 493 Picea abies Pinus sylvestris stands across Europe predict species‐specific variability 1950 2016 ( R 2 > 0.82) develop 21st‐century gridded projections considering different scenarios. The approach demonstrates overall positive effects warming temperatures leading 25% projected conifer increases under SPP370 scenario, but these additional gains inhomogeneous associated with geographic gradients. Maximum for pines Scandinavia, where trajectories indicate 50% by 2071–2100. Smaller significant reductions Mediterranean Europe, shrinks response warmer temperatures. Our results reveal potential mitigating via sequestration global stress importance effective management.

Language: Английский

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Adaptation of plantations to drought events in arid and semi-arid regions: Evidence from tree resilience

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 578, P. 122437 - 122437

Published: Dec. 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Pre-Drought Effects on Northern Temperate Trees and Vine Invasion in Forest Gaps Hindering Regeneration

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

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Language: Английский

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Drought Timing, Intensity, and Consecutiveness Have More Influence on Douglas Fir Growth Response than Site Conditions and Stand Density in European Temperate Climate

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Douglas fir is a largely introduced species in Europe and often presented as promising alternative to more drought-sensitive such Norway spruce. However, the observed predicted increase drought frequency intensity could undermine its ability cope with drought. This study aims investigate radial growth response of climatic optimum Europe, considering large diversity events (in terms timing, intensity, consecutive occurrence), site conditions (average water balance, maximal extractable soil water), stand densities. Using data from 360 trees sampled across 24 sites Wallonia (Belgium), we fitted linear mixed models influence drought, characteristics on three commonly used resilience indices, well an integrated index comparing theoretical full reference. On average, was reduced during droughts regardless conditions. Trees always recovered some extent, but not resilience. Drought had stronger than characteristics. Under most intense droughts, were less resistant resilient early late droughts. Higher occurrence increased drought's negative impact resistance Resistance slightly higher wetter average climates water. In contrast, non-consecutive drier climates. Finally, did detect any significant density response. The showed that has best chances be completely when are late, very intense, located limited sites. conclusion, may expected. It therefore advisable over-rely this species, forest stability by increasing diversity. context, future research avenues involve comparison other species.

Language: Английский

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Tree Growth in Relation to Climate Change: Understanding the Impact on Species Worldwide

Forests, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(9), P. 1601 - 1601

Published: Sept. 11, 2024

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues our time, which has profound effects on ecosystems all over world [...]

Language: Английский

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