Does fragmentation contribute to the forest crisis in Germany?

  • Intact forests contribute to the ecosystem functionality of landscapes by storing and sequestering carbon, buffering and cooling the microclimate, and providing a range of related ecosystem functions. Forest fragmentation not only poses a threat to many organisms but also reduces the resistance and resilience of the ecosystem, which is especially relevant to the ongoing climate crisis. The effects of recent extreme heat years on forests in Germany have not been studied in detail for the influence of fragmentation. We investigate the relation of forest fragmentation with temperature and vitality in Germany per ecoregion at the canopy level using satellite imagery at 1-km and 30-m resolution. We compiled and correlated forest maps for connectivity based on Thiessen polygons, canopy temperatures on the hottest days based on land surface temperature, and forest vitality based on the maximum normalized difference vegetation index per growing season. We differentiated between ecoregions and main forest types. In 2022, larger intactIntact forests contribute to the ecosystem functionality of landscapes by storing and sequestering carbon, buffering and cooling the microclimate, and providing a range of related ecosystem functions. Forest fragmentation not only poses a threat to many organisms but also reduces the resistance and resilience of the ecosystem, which is especially relevant to the ongoing climate crisis. The effects of recent extreme heat years on forests in Germany have not been studied in detail for the influence of fragmentation. We investigate the relation of forest fragmentation with temperature and vitality in Germany per ecoregion at the canopy level using satellite imagery at 1-km and 30-m resolution. We compiled and correlated forest maps for connectivity based on Thiessen polygons, canopy temperatures on the hottest days based on land surface temperature, and forest vitality based on the maximum normalized difference vegetation index per growing season. We differentiated between ecoregions and main forest types. In 2022, larger intact tree-covered areas that are less fragmented have relatively low temperatures on hot days and higher overall vitality. Nearly 98% of the almost 1.95 million forest fragments at 30-m resolution in Germany are smaller than 1 km2, which cover nearly 30% of the total forest area. To counteract the forest crisis, forest and landscape management should aim to reduce fragmentation and maintain tree biomass and forest cover in the landscape. Increasing the size of continuous forest fragments contributes to ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Deepika Mann, Charlotte GohrORCiD, Jeanette Silvin BlumröderORCiDGND, Pierre L. IbischORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3909
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1099460
ISSN:2624-893X
Parent Title (English):Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
Publisher:Frontiers Media S.A.
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2023
Date of first Publication:2023/01/20
Publishing Institution:Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
Release Date:2023/05/30
Tag:Thiessen connectivity; forest cover; forest fragmentation; land surface temperature (LST); normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)
Volume:6
Page Number:12
Institutions / Departments:Fachbereich Wald und Umwelt / Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management
Wissenschaftliche Einrichtungen HNEE / Biosphere Reserves Institute
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
University Bibliography:University Bibliography
Zweitveröffentlichung
Peer-Review / Referiert
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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