Environmental Studies and Forestry

Emergent vulnerability to climate-driven disturbances in European forests

G. Forzieri, M. Girardello, et al.

This research by Giovanni Forzieri and colleagues provides critical insights into the vulnerability of European forests to disturbances like fires, windthrows, and insect outbreaks. With an estimated 33.4 billion tonnes of biomass at risk, they reveal hotspots of vulnerability and highlight the alarming trends driven by climate change.

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Abstract

This study quantifies the vulnerability of European forests to fires, windthrows, and insect outbreaks (1979–2018) using machine learning, disturbance data, and satellite products. About 33.4 billion tonnes of forest biomass could be seriously affected, with higher relative losses from windthrows (40%) and fires (34%) than insect outbreaks (26%). Vulnerability hotspots are at climate envelope borders (southern and northern Europe). A warming-induced reduction in plant defenses against insect outbreaks, especially at high latitudes, drives an overall vulnerability trend.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Feb 23, 2021

Authors

Giovanni Forzieri, Marco Girardello, Guido Ceccherini, Jonathan Spinoni, Luc Feyen, Henrik Hartmann, Pieter S. A. Beck, Gustau Camps-Valls, Gherardo Chirici, Achille Mauri, Alessandro Cescatti

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