Current status and predicted impact of climate change on forest production and biogeochemistry in the temperate oceanic European zone: review and prospects for Belgium as a case study

• DOI: 10.1007/s10310-011-0255-8
• Publication Date: 2011-02-14T06:13:10Z
• Authors: Matteo Campioli; Caroline Vincke; Mathieu Jonard; Vincent Kint; Gaston Demarée; Quentin Ponette
• Keywords: Biogeochemistry; Temperate rainforest

Reviews of the current statuses forests and impacts climate change on exist at (sub)continental scale, but rarely country regional levels, meaning that information causal factors, their impacts, specific properties is often inconsistent lacking in depth. Here, we present status forest production biogeochemistry expected them for Belgium. This work represents a case study temperate oceanic zone, most important bioclimatic zone northwestern Europe. Results show Belgian are mainly young, very productive, have high C-sequestration capacity. Major negative anomalies tree vitality were observed 1990s and—as result disturbances—in last decade sensitive species as poplars European beech. The severe disturbances caused by extreme climatic events, directly (e.g. storms) or indirectly insect outbreaks after mild autumn with an early/severe frost). Because atmospheric deposition soil fertilization (due to previous use land), nutrient stocks likely sustain future enhancement productivity which follow increase CO2 concentration will occur years come. However, long term, such (enhanced) be limited deficiencies poor sites drought beech (particularly) Norway spruce. Drought conditions future, adverse effects relatively number species. potential windstorms, insects fungi should carefully investigated, whereas fires less concern.