Disturbing mountain forests reduces their protective effect against natural hazards
Human settlements exist in many mountainous areas of the world, and related
infrastructure is highly exposed to natural hazards such as debris flow and
flooding. Mountain forests play a central role in balancing the environment and
minimising the risk of such hazards, but this protection is being threatened as
canopies are increasingly disturbed (by events both natural, such as beetle
outbreaks and trees being uprooted by wind, and anthropogenic, such as forest
management). This study sought to quantify the effects of forest cover and
disturbance on torrential hazards in the Eastern Alps.
Human settlements exist in many mountainous areas of the world, and related infrastructure is highly exposed to natural hazards such as debris flow and flooding. Mountain forests play a central role in balancing the environment and minimising the risk of such hazards, but this protection is being threatened as canopies are increasingly disturbed (by events both natural, such as beetle outbreaks and trees being uprooted by wind, and anthropogenic, such as forest management). This study sought to quantify the effects of forest cover and disturbance on torrential hazards in the Eastern Alps.
Disturbing mountain forests reduces their protective effect against natural hazards (1,0 Mb)
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