Managing Forest Disturbances in a Changing Climate

In this RESONATE policy brief, you will learn about the escalating risks that climate-driven disturbances pose to Europe’s forests. As investigated by researchers from all over Europe in the 4-years Horizon2020 project, extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. This challenges the resilience of forests, with disturbances like fires, bark beetles, and droughts increasing in intensity. The brief underscores the need for adaptive management strategies to address novel disturbance regimes and ensure long-term forest resilience.

Key findings include that the frequency of natural disturbances and their interactions is growing, which can intensify the impacts on forests. For example, bark beetle outbreaks often follow droughts, and wildfires can exacerbate the damage from previous storms. With disturbances predicted to increase up to threefold by the end of the century, proactive forest management is crucial. Strategies such as increasing tree species diversity, fostering mixed forest stands, and mimicking natural disturbances through prescribed burns can enhance forest resilience and biodiversity.

The brief also emphasizes the importance of supporting forest owners through policy tools like financial assistance and improved regulations, as well as providing guidance on adaptive forest management. By integrating climate change adaptation into forest planning, Europe should work towards safeguarding its forests against the escalating threats of disturbance, ensuring their stability and productivity in the future.

Citation

Lindner, M., Seidl, R., Grünig, M., Bauhus, J., Willig, J., Hlásny,T.,  Nabuurs, G-J., Patacca, M., Peltoniemi, M.,  Espelta, J-M.,  Picos, J., Hoeben, A., Cantarello,  E., Schifferdecker, G. 2025.  Managing Forest Disturbances in a Changing Climate. https://doi.org/10.36333/rs9