Detecting the impact of climate change on alpine mass movements in observational records from the European Alps

Earth-Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 258, P. 104886 - 104886

Published: Aug. 14, 2024

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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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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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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Building virtual forest landscapes to support forest management: the challenge of parameterization

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

Simulation models are important tools to study the impacts of climate change and natural disturbances on forest ecosystems. Being able track tree demographic processes in a spatially explicit manner, process-based landscape considered most suitable provide robust projections that can aid decision-making management. However, challenging parameterize setting up new areas for application studies largely depends data availability. The aim this is demonstrate parameterization process, including model testing evaluation, area Italian Alps using available data. We processed soil, climate, carbon pools, vegetation, management data, ran iterative spin-up simulations generate virtual best resembling current conditions. Our results demonstrated feasibility initializing with typically from plans national inventories, as well openly mapping products. Evaluation tests proved ability capture environmental constraints driving regeneration dynamics inter-specific competition forests Alps, simulate dynamics. subsequently be applied investigate development under suite future scenarios recommendations adapting decisions.

Language: Английский

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Growth data of outlying plantations allows benchmarking the tolerance to climate extremes and drought stress in the European larch

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: May 31, 2024

Introduction Plantations located outside the species distribution area represent natural experiments to assess tree tolerance climate variability. Climate change amplifies warming-related drought stress but also leads more extremes. Methods We studied plantations of European larch (Larix decidua), a conifer native central and eastern Europe, in northern Spain. used climate, tree-ring data from four including wet (Valgañón, site V; Santurde, S), intermediate (Ribavellosa, R) dry (Santa Marina, M) sites. aimed benchmark by analysing relationships between radial growth increment (hereafter growth), (temperature, precipitation, radiation) index. Results Basal (BAI) was lowest driest M (5.2 cm2 yr-1; period 1988–2022), followed R (7.5 yr-1), with youngest oldest trees being planted (35 years) (150 BAI peaked wettest sites (V; 10.4 S, 10.8 yr-1). detected sharp reduction (30% regional mean) 2001 when springto-summer conditions were very dry. In V S sites, positively responded current March June-July radiation, negatively precipitation. site, high April precipitation enhanced growth. warm late prior winter spring improved growth, warm-sunny July dry-sunny August reduced it. Larch spring-summer considering short (1-6 months) long (9-24 time scales (site wet-intermediate (sites respectively. Discussion is vulnerable slow-growing plantations, extreme wet-cloudy events dry-hot fast-growing plantations.

Language: Английский

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Management recommendations for Alpine protection forests: the importance of regeneration quality and initial stand composition

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 28, 2024

Abstract The protection of infrastructure against gravitational natural hazards is one the most important ecosystem services (ES) mountain forests in Alpine countries. For a continuous provision this ES, need to have high protective effect, e.g., canopy cover and/or stem numbers, while being resistant and resilient after disturbances by well-structured stable, having species composition adapted local site conditions sufficient regeneration, all on relatively small spatial scale. While “natural” may fulfill these prerequisites without human intervention, management history levels ungulate browsing produced unsustainable stand structures many that be improved management. general principles forest are well established, but there no quantitative, science-based recommendations for regimes, i.e., specific sequences interventions, ensure quality. Our goal was derive such different types across three elevational zones, from mixed upper montane spruce subalpine zone. We used an updated version model ProForM simulate development under browsing, testing large number regimes vary aggregation tree removal, intensity interval interventions. investigated influence pressure quality using Boosted Regression Trees Beta regression. High had strong negative effect it could not through This underlines maintaining densities at allow successful regeneration key species. In stands influenced less can cases, with differing mostly depending initial and, lesser extent, Well-structured provide interventions during least century zones. young mature stands, we generally recommend long return intervals 30 40 years low intervention intensities 10 20% basal area removal.

Language: Английский

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Policies of European Countries to Combat the Climate Crisis

Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 301 - 328

Published: Oct. 24, 2024

The climate crisis is profoundly impacting Europe, one of the most vulnerable regions to change globally. Increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and rising sea levels are intensifying, threatening human life, economies, ecosystems across continent. European nations actively implementing diverse policies initiatives, such as Paris Agreement Green Deal, leading in renewable energy adoption sustainable transportation. In this study, geography which includes industrially advanced countries, has been examined within context Union's policies.

Language: Английский

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