Significant increase in natural disturbance impacts on European forests since 1950

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 1359 - 1376

Published: Dec. 12, 2022

Abstract Over the last decades, natural disturbance is increasingly putting pressure on European forests. Shifts in regimes may compromise forest functioning and continuous provisioning of ecosystem services to society, including their climate change mitigation potential. Although forests are central many policies, we lack long‐term empirical data needed for thoroughly understanding dynamics, modeling them, developing adaptive management strategies. Here, present a unique database >170,000 records ground‐based observations from 1950 2019. Reported confirm significant increase 34 countries, causing an average 43.8 million m 3 disturbed timber volume per year over 70‐year study period. This value likely conservative estimate due under‐reporting, especially small‐scale disturbances. We used machine learning techniques assessing magnitude unreported disturbances, which estimated be between 8.6 18.3 /year. In 20 years, disturbances accounted 16% mean annual harvest Europe. Wind was most important agent period (46% total damage), followed by fire (24%) bark beetles (17%). Bark beetle doubled its share damage years. Forest can profoundly impact (e.g., mitigation), affect regional resource consequently disrupt planning objectives markets. conclude that adaptation changing must placed at core policy debate. Furthermore, coherent homogeneous monitoring system urgently Europe, better observe respond ongoing changes regimes.

Language: Английский

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Tree crown defoliation in forest monitoring: concepts, findings, and new perspectives for a physiological approach in the face of climate change

Forestry An International Journal of Forest Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 194 - 212

Published: Jan. 5, 2024

Abstract Recurrent climate-driven disturbances impact on the health of European forests that reacted with increased tree dieback and mortality over course last four decades. There is therefore large interest in predicting understanding fate survival under climate change. Forest conditions are monitored within pan-European ICP Forests programme (UN-ECE International Co-operative Programme Assessment Monitoring Air Pollution Effects Forests) since 1980s, crown defoliation being most widely used parameter. Defoliation not a cause-specific indicator vitality, there need to connect levels physiological functioning trees. The responses connected species-specific concern, among others, water relations, photosynthesis carbon metabolism, growth, mineral nutrients leaves. indicators measure variables forest monitoring programs must be easy apply field current state-of-the-art technologies, replicable, inexpensive, time efficient regulated by ad hoc protocols. ultimate purpose provide data feed process-based models predict threats due This study reviews problems perspectives realization systematic assessment proposes set suitable for future application programs.

Language: Английский

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Recent increase in tree damage and mortality and their spatial dependence on drought intensity in Mediterranean forests

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(3)

Published: Feb. 16, 2024

Abstract Context Global change is leading to more frequent and intense tree damage mortality events. Drought-induced occurring worldwide broad-scale events, but the spatial patterns of mortality, their underlying drivers variation over time largely unknown. Objectives We investigated across Mediterranean forests Iberian Peninsula, effects stand structure climate, how relationships with changed time. Methods used Spanish Forest Inventory analyse autocorrelation in forest types, hurdle-gamma models quantify effect climate on cross-correlograms assess dependence its Results observed a greater magnitude stronger than positive aggregation up 20 kms. There was between drivers, increasing water availability, drought intensity structure. The increased time, particularly for intensity. Conclusions Our results suggest that combined competition could favour extensive die-off providing key information identifying vulnerable areas planning adaptation measures.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem services at risk from disturbance in Europe's forests

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Global change impacts on disturbances can strongly compromise the capacity of forests to provide ecosystem services society. In addition, many in Europe are simultaneously provided by forests, emphasizing importance multifunctionality forest assessments. To address policies and management, spatially explicit risk analyses that consider multiple needed. However, we do not yet know which most at from Europe, where respective hotspots are, nor main disturbance agents detrimental provisioning Europe's forests. Here, quantify losing important (timber supply, carbon storage, soil erosion control outdoor recreation) (windthrows, bark beetle outbreaks wildfires) a continental scale. We find up 12% service supply is current disturbances. Soil highest risk, windthrow agent posing risk. Disturbances challenge threatening 19.8 Mha (9.7%) Our results highlight priority areas for management aiming safeguard sustainable services.

Language: Английский

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Epigenetic stress memory in gymnosperms

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 195(2), P. 1117 - 1133

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Abstract Gymnosperms are long-lived, cone-bearing seed plants that include some of the most ancient extant plant species. These relict land have evolved to survive in habitats marked by chronic or episodic stress. Their ability thrive these environments is partly due their phenotypic flexibility, and epigenetic regulation likely plays a crucial part this plasticity. We review current knowledge on abiotic biotic stress memory gymnosperms possible mechanisms underlying long-term adaptations. also discuss recent technological improvements new experimental possibilities will advance our understanding hard-to-study plants.

Language: Английский

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Future wood demands and ecosystem services trade-offs: A policy analysis in Norway

Forest Policy and Economics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 147, P. 102899 - 102899

Published: Dec. 31, 2022

To mitigate climate change, several European countries have launched policies to promote the development of a renewable resource-based bioeconomy. These bioeconomy strategies plan use biological resources, which will increase timber and biomass demands potentially conflict with multiple other ecosystem services provided by forests. In addition, these forest (FES) are also influenced other, different, policy strategies, causing potential mismatch in proposed management solutions for achieving different goals. We evaluated how Norwegian forests can meet projected wood from international market mitigation targets at same time nationally determined FES. Using data national inventory (NFI) we simulated under regimes defined scenarios, according most relevant Norway: (NFS), biodiversity (BIOS), (BIES). Finally, through multi-objective optimization, identified combination matching best each scenario. The results all scenarios indicated that Norway be able satisfy up 17 million m3 2093. However, objectives FES scenario caused substantial differences terms selected. observed BIES NFS resulted very similar programs Norway, dominance extensive regimes. BIOS there was an set aside areas continuous cover forestry, made it more compatible indicators. found synergies trade-offs between FES, likely definition scale.

Language: Английский

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Latest Trends in Modelling Forest Ecosystems: New Approaches or Just New Methods?

Current Forestry Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(4), P. 219 - 229

Published: June 15, 2023

Abstract Purpose of Review Forest models are becoming essential tools in forest research, management, and policymaking but currently under deep transformation. In this review the most recent literature (2018–2022), we aim to provide an updated general view main topics attracting efforts modelers, trends already place, some current future challenges that field will face. Recent Findings Four major on modelling efforts: data acquisition, productivity estimation, ecological pattern predictions, management related ecosystem services. Although may seem different, they all converging towards integrated approaches by pressure climate change as coalescent force, pushing research into mechanistic, cross-scale simulations functioning structure. Summary We conclude is experiencing exciting challenging time, due combination new methods easily acquire massive amounts data, techniques statistically process such refinements mechanistic incorporating higher levels complexity breaking traditional barriers spatial temporal scales. However, available also creating challenges. any case, increasingly acknowledged a community interdisciplinary effort. As such, ways deliver simplified versions or easy entry points should be encouraged integrate non-modelers stakeholders since its inception. This considered particularly academic modelers increasing mathematical models.

Language: Английский

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Early warning signals indicate climate change-induced stress in Norway spruce in the Eastern Carpathians

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 912, P. 169167 - 169167

Published: Dec. 8, 2023

Language: Английский

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Monitoring Forest Cover Dynamics Using Orthophotos and Satellite Imagery

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(12), P. 3168 - 3168

Published: June 18, 2023

The assessment of changes in forest coverage is crucial for managing protected areas, particularly the face climate change. This study monitored cover dynamics a 6535 ha mountain area located north-west Romania as part Apuseni Natural Park from 2003 to 2019. Two approaches were used: vectorization orthophotos and Google Earth images (in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019) satellite imagery (Landsat 5 TM, 7 ETM, 8 OLI) pre-processed Surface Reflectance (SR) format same years. We employed four standard classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), three combined methods: Linear Unmixing (LSU) with Breaks (NB), Otsu Method (OM) SVM, extract classify areas. Our had two objectives: 1) accurately assess over 17-year period 2) determine most efficient methods extracting classifying validated results using performance metrics that quantify both thematic spatial accuracy. indicate 9% loss area, representing 577 an average decrease ratio 33.9 ha/year−1. Of all used, SVM produced best (with score 88% Overall Quality (OQ)), followed by RF mean value 86% OQ).

Language: Английский

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Evaluating wind damage vulnerability in the Alps: A new wind risk model parametrisation

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 341, P. 109660 - 109660

Published: Aug. 17, 2023

Language: Английский

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