Speaker I Date I Venue. Anthropogenic forest threats Trends and ways of preventing. Dr. Annemarie Bastrup-Birk

Transcription

1 Speaker I Date I Venue Anthropogenic forest threats Trends and ways of preventing Dr. Annemarie Bastrup-Birk

2 Outline Introduction (why is this important?) What is meant by anthropogenic forest threats? What the main forest threats across Europe? What are the trends? How can these trends be prevented? Summary and conclusions

3 The structure and functioning of ecosystems have changed more rapidly in the second half of the 20th century than ever before Human activities are fundamentally changing the diversity of life on Earth > loss of biodiversity Main reasons for these changes are dramatic growth in the demand for food, water, timber, fibre and fuel. This has helped to reduce the malnutrition and improve human health The costs have been degradation of ecosystem services; nonlinear changes in ecosystems; increased vulnerability;

4 We have to protect our forests, avoid overuse and ensure sustainable forest management % Million Ha 20% 0,8 0,7 0,6 0,5 10% 0,4 0,3 2% 1% 0,2 0, Source: Koch & Kristiansen

5 Forests are complex ecosystems 5

6 Europe s forests 161 mio ha (EU-28) 186 mio ha (EEA-39) > 40 % of land surface 70 % of forests in six countries (SE, FI, ES, FR, NO, TR)

7 Why are forests important?

8 Products and services from forests 8

9 Clean air and water, recreation... Healthy ecosystems Healthy people 9

10 Impacts of pressures/threats New diseases Altering ecosystem processes and biodiversity Disrupting landscapes Reduce the value of land and water for human activities Other socio-economic consequences

11 Anthropogenic threats/pressures on forest ecosystems

12 Definitions Drivers of change: Any natural or human-induced factor that directly or indirectly causes a change in an ecosystem (MA, 2005). Threats: anything that attempts to alter the balance of the ecosystem, its health and existence Pressures: mostly associated with human-induced factors

13 Anthropogenic threats/pressures Direct pressures: unequivocally influences ecosystem processes and can therefore be identified and measured to differing degrees of accuracy. Immediate and clear causal links to the negative impact of forest degradation or loss Examples: plant nutrient use, land-use management and change, diseases and invasive species Indirect pressures: operates diffusely, by altering one or more direct threat Examples: air pollution or climate change

14 Main pressures reflect main policy areas Land cover changes are addressed by territorial cohesion policies; Climate change is linked to climate change mitigation and adaptation policies Land-use and nutrient enrichment are part of agricultural and forestry-related policies but also affect nature protection and air-pollution mitigation.

15 Collection of data and information

16 Complex interlinkages between pressures and condition

17 Pressures in MAES ecosystem assesments and drivers in MA (big 5)

18 Pressures

19 Habitat loss Land use change, increasing demand for agriculture, urban expansion, transport infrastructure, climate change, pollution 19

20 Predicted forest harvest intensity (Levers et al., 2014)

21 Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Non native species whose introduction and spread outside their natural past and present ecological range accidently or deliberately with serious negative consequences for their new environment and the economy >12,000 alien species in Europe (10-15 % invasive) Invasive alien species Species count Definition used in DAISIE: an alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity (COP 6, decision VI/23)

22 Forests pests, diseases, invasive alien species Ash disease Wide spread over the whole of Europe 22

23 Examples 23

24 Current situation for forests: 80 Share of introduced species from country forest area (Forest Europe, UNECE and FAO, 2011) Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla) Australian eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.). Introduced species are important for European forestry (~8,5 mio. ha) ~13 % considered as IAS

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26 Pollutants and excessive nutrient loads Deposition of N, S eutrophication and soil acidification Ozone Exceeding the capacity of the ecosystem to maintain its natural balance and, particularly, the effects of inputs of nutrients, pesticides, microbes, industrial chemicals, metals and pharmaceutical products, which ultimately end up in the soil, or in ground water and surface water (MA, 2005; EEA, 2010b). Pollution and nutrient enrichment change the characteristics of soils, thereby changing the biodiversity, i.e. habitats and species, causing biodiversity loss and ecosystem dysfunction, altered plant and animal communities

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28 Climate change Pressure on natural disturbances rate, frequency, severity and timing expected to increase Positive and negative impact on forest composition, structure and function Alteration of habitat suitability Likely to have increased vulnerabilty, more fires, diseases, etc

29 Climate change Is Norway spruce on its way out of Europe? DMU, Aarhus Universitet - Afd. for Vildtbiologi og Biodiversitet - NERI, University of Aarhus - Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity 29

30 Higher incidence of forest fires?

31 Climate change and IAS The number and impact from IAS expected to increase in particular in northern Europe. Establishment of IAS tree and forest species establishing in forest edges Of the problematic species about 40 are present in European forest ecosystems or are dependent on trees Introduction of pests and diseases on imported wood and other forest products may pose an increased threat to European forests Asian longhorn beetle Pine wood nematode

32 Impact and trends on forest ecosystems in Europe Table 3.1 The impacts of the major drivers and their trends with regard to biodiversity in Europe in recent decades Pressure Habitat change Climate change Land-use changes and management Invasive species Nutrient enrichment and pollution Forest ecosystems Note: Projected future trends in pressure Decreasing Continuing Increasing Very rapid increase Observed impact on biodiversity to date Low Moderate High Very high Source: Modified from EEA (2016).

33 Changing pressures over time No single pressure Cumulative impacts Important to analyse time-series of observed changes in pressures Trends provides a first insight into the expected changes in the near future. Decreasing observed trends improvement of ecosystem conditions and vice versa Information on trends important for decision-making about measures to mitigate and adapt to positive or negative effects.

34 Growing demands on ecosystems Growing global population growing consumption patterns for food, mobility and energy are exerting ever-increasing pressure on the Earth's ecosystems and their lifesupporting services. Current trends also challenge existing meat-heavy consumption patterns and strategies for bioenergy production. Exacerbated by climate change and continued pollution, rates of global habitat destruction and biodiversity loss are predicted to increase, including in Europe.

35 Increasing severe consequences of climate change Climate change is expected to increasingly threaten natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, slow economic growth, erode global food security, threaten human health and increase inequality. The risk of pervasive and irreversible impacts is expected to increase. They could, however, be reduced by emissions abatement and adaptation measures, both in Europe and internationally. Key risks for Europe include flood events, droughts and other weather extremes, threatening human well-being and infrastructure as well as ecosystems and biodiversity.

36 Increasing environmental pollution load Globally, levels of air pollution and releases of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater remain high, causing soil acidification, eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems and losses in agricultural yield. In the coming decades, overall pollution levels are projected to increase strongly, particularly in Asia. Historical trend in global agricultural demand for industrial nitrogen fertiliser, ; and drivers of the projected changes in demand in Although the release of pollution may continue to improve in Europe, its ecosystems are likely to be affected by developments beyond the region s borders. Despite a fall in emissions, for example, there have not been equivalent reductions in air pollution partly as a result of the transboundary transport of pollutants. Source: Winiwarter et al

37 Environmental challenges in a global context EU.it matters how and where we use natural capital and ecosystem Global megatrends bring additional risks and uncertainties - many outside Europe s control

38 Prevention Improving the knowledge through research, development of databases (e.g. DAISIE database) Early detection and rapid response (early warning system needed) Monitoring of forest condition national and European level Mitigation of impacts Improving forest management management under risk National legislation Forest Act European legislation

39 DAISIE: Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe Create and structure an inventory of IAS direct access to national knowledge bases across the European continent (79 countries/regions) Assess and summarise the ecological, economic and health risks and impacts of the IAS, including the 100 worst ones Framework for early warning indicators All ecosystems

40 Forest related policies in the EU Forest protection Industry Biodiversity Agricultural and Rural Development Civil Protection Climate change Energy Water European Union forest relevant policy Plant and Health Protection Trade Environment Research and Technology Developmen t cooperation

41 EU policies considerable success: short term gains and growing systemic risk SOER documented progress: Set of modern environmental standards SoE improved in many parts of the EU: emissions Delivered benefits to human health (decreased differences in access to good drinking water, treatment of waste water.) Environmental polices made some progress towards Green economy and offered opportunities to ie. clean technologies sectors Set some long term goals Concern Local trends (lack of implementation): air pollution, noise Depletion of natural capital Risk and uncertainty of biodiversity loss, climate change, chemical burden (complex drivers and feedback

42 SOER : there has been progress, but not enough It appears that [ ] progress in reducing pressures on the state of the environment has remained largely insufficient in spite of positive trends in some areas SOER 1999 Over the past 30 years, much has been done to improve Europe's environment. But major challenges remain for the future. SOER 2005 Environmental policy has delivered substantial improvements [ ] however, major environmental challenges remain which will have significant consequences [ ] if left unaddressed. SOER

43 Thank you for your attention 43