Ecosystem services at risk from disturbance in Europe's forests

• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17242
• Publication Date: 2024-03-18T10:30:03Z
• Authors: Judit Lecina‐Diaz; Cornelius Senf; Marc Grünig; Rupert Seidl
• Keywords: Ecosystem Management; Ecoforestry

Abstract Global change impacts on disturbances can strongly compromise the capacity of forests to provide ecosystem services society. In addition, many in Europe are simultaneously provided by forests, emphasizing importance multifunctionality forest assessments. To address policies and management, spatially explicit risk analyses that consider multiple needed. However, we do not yet know which most at from Europe, where respective hotspots are, nor main disturbance agents detrimental provisioning Europe's forests. Here, quantify losing important (timber supply, carbon storage, soil erosion control outdoor recreation) (windthrows, bark beetle outbreaks wildfires) a continental scale. We find up 12% service supply is current disturbances. Soil highest risk, windthrow agent posing risk. Disturbances challenge threatening 19.8 Mha (9.7%) Our results highlight priority areas for management aiming safeguard sustainable services.