PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Climate change is expected to have major impacts on the dynamics and future functioning of Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Scenarios indicate an acceleration in the increase of temperature and slight to moderate reductions in precipitation, leading to an overall increase in aridity. Similarly, a higher frequency of extreme events (both high temperatures and low precipitation) is expected, leading to more frequent and severe drought events. Increased water stress associated with longer and more intense droughts can cause changes in mortality and regeneration of plant species, affecting the current range of species and leading to the disappearance and replacement of certain species by others. In addition, certain natural disturbances, such as major forest fires and pest and disease events, are expected to increase in frequency and severity, which may result in major changes in the distribution and composition of forest habitats on a regional scale.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this project is to develop new tools aimed at adapting Iberian Aleppo pine forests to climate change and demonstrate their application through forest management actions.
The specific objectives are to:
- Develop a habitat suitability map and implement a tool to detect decay processes by remote sensing;
- Implement and monitor assisted migration actions to enhance the forest ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate-driven aridification;
- Implement and monitor silvicultural treatments aimed at improving vitality and reducing the effects of reduced water availability;
- Implement and monitor silvicultural treatments to enhance structural and floristic heterogeneity in Aleppo pine forests and increase the diversity of responses to disturbances;
- Implement and monitor adaptive management actions to improve the resilience and adaptive capacity of Aleppo pine forests post fire regeneration;
- Develop management tools and transfer them to the forest administration, to promote the integration of climate change adaptation into national and regional forest management regulations;
- Evaluate the success and impact of the project; and
- Transfer the techniques and tools developed to the main local and other interested actors involved in the European Aleppo pine distribution area (i.e. Balearic, French and Italian actors). The goal is to improve management and long-term conservation of Aleppo pine habitat in southern Europe.
LIFE ADAPT-ALEPPO will both work on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and will thus contribute to these priority areas in the LIFE climate sub-programme. The project’s management tools will enable the identification of forest decline processes and therefore potential losses of wooded forest stands. This will help reduce losses of the forest carbon sink and hence reduce emissions in the LULUCF (land use, land-use change and forestry) sector. These areas of action are in line with the EU's green strategy, the European Green Deal, which aims to neutralise greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and emphasizes the role of forest areas for this purpose.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Evaluation of habitat vulnerability through the development of suitability maps and the diagnosis of forest decline processes;
- Technical guides on adaptive management of Aleppo pine forests in the face of climate change, namely:
- A guide for restoration of Aleppo pine forest habitat using assisted migration management practices;
- A guide on ecohydrological silviculture adapted to the variety of sites and bioclimatic conditions of Aleppo pine forests in the Iberian Peninsula;
- A guide for the structural and floristic diversification of Iberian Aleppo pine forests; and
- A guide for adaptive management of post-fire regeneration; and
- Implementation and monitoring of 42 demonstration plots (almost 110 ha) and at least another 20 previously implemented actions in forests distributed in 3 bioclimatic regions.
