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Mapping the forest disturbance regimes of Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Cornelius Senf

    (Technical University of Munich
    University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU))

  • Rupert Seidl

    (Technical University of Munich
    University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)
    Berchtesgaden National Park)

Abstract

Changes in forest disturbances can have strong impacts on forests, yet we lack consistent data on Europe’s forest disturbance regimes and their changes over time. Here we used satellite data to map three decades of forest disturbances across continental Europe, and analysed the patterns and trends in disturbance size, frequency and severity. Between 1986 and 2016, 17% of Europe’s forest area was disturbed by anthropogenic and/or natural causes. We identified 36 million individual disturbance patches with a mean patch size of 1.09 ha, which equals an annual average of 0.52 disturbance patches per km2 of forest area. The majority of disturbances were stand replacing. While trends in disturbance size were highly variable, disturbance frequency consistently increased and disturbance severity decreased. Here we present a continental-scale characterization of Europe’s forest disturbance regimes and their changes over time, providing spatial information that is critical for understanding the ongoing changes in Europe’s forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelius Senf & Rupert Seidl, 2021. "Mapping the forest disturbance regimes of Europe," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 63-70, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41893-020-00609-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00609-y
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joachim Maes & Adrián G. Bruzón & José I. Barredo & Sara Vallecillo & Peter Vogt & Inés Marí Rivero & Fernando Santos-Martín, 2023. "Accounting for forest condition in Europe based on an international statistical standard," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Fuchs, Jasper M. & v. Bodelschwingh, Hilmar & Lange, Alexander & Paul, Carola & Husmann, Kai, 2022. "Quantifying the consequences of disturbances on wood revenues with Impulse Response Functions," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    3. Per Angelstam & Michael Manton, 2021. "Effects of Forestry Intensification and Conservation on Green Infrastructures: A Spatio-Temporal Evaluation in Sweden," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-29, May.
    4. Antonio Santoro & Martina Venturi & Francesco Piras & Beatrice Fiore & Federica Corrieri & Mauro Agnoletti, 2021. "Forest Area Changes in Cinque Terre National Park in the Last 80 Years. Consequences on Landslides and Forest Fire Risks," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Rupert Seidl & Cornelius Senf, 2024. "Changes in planned and unplanned canopy openings are linked in Europe’s forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, December.
    6. Zefeng Chen & Weiguang Wang & Giovanni Forzieri & Alessandro Cescatti, 2024. "Transition from positive to negative indirect CO2 effects on the vegetation carbon uptake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Sorin Avram & Irina Ontel & Carmen Gheorghe & Steliana Rodino & Sanda Roșca, 2021. "Applying a Complex Integrated Method for Mapping and Assessment of the Degraded Ecosystem Hotspots from Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-23, October.

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