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Canopy mortality has doubled in Europe’s temperate forests over the last three decades

Author

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  • Cornelius Senf

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna)

  • Dirk Pflugmacher

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Yang Zhiqiang

    (Oregon State University)

  • Julius Sebald

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna)

  • Jan Knorn

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Mathias Neumann

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna)

  • Patrick Hostert

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Humboldt-Universität of Berlin)

  • Rupert Seidl

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna)

Abstract

Mortality is a key indicator of forest health, and increasing mortality can serve as bellwether for the impacts of global change on forest ecosystems. Here we analyze trends in forest canopy mortality between 1984 and 2016 over more than 30 Mill. ha of temperate forests in Europe, based on a unique dataset of 24,000 visually interpreted spectral trajectories from the Landsat archive. On average, 0.79% of the forest area was affected by natural or human-induced mortality annually. Canopy mortality increased by +2.40% year–1, doubling the forest area affected by mortality since 1984. Areas experiencing low-severity mortality increased more strongly than areas affected by stand-replacing mortality events. Changes in climate and land-use are likely causes of large-scale forest mortality increase. Our findings reveal profound changes in recent forest dynamics with important implications for carbon storage and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the importance of improved monitoring of forest mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelius Senf & Dirk Pflugmacher & Yang Zhiqiang & Julius Sebald & Jan Knorn & Mathias Neumann & Patrick Hostert & Rupert Seidl, 2018. "Canopy mortality has doubled in Europe’s temperate forests over the last three decades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07539-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07539-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Julia Noë & Karl-Heinz Erb & Sarah Matej & Andreas Magerl & Manan Bhan & Simone Gingrich, 2021. "Altered growth conditions more than reforestation counteracted forest biomass carbon emissions 1990–2020," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Zamora-Pereira, Juan Carlos & Hanewinkel, Marc & Yousefpour, Rasoul, 2023. "Robust management strategies promoting ecological resilience and economic efficiency of a mixed conifer-broadleaf forest in Southwest Germany under the risk of severe drought," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).

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