Tree rings of a beech.
\u00a9: Edurne Martinez del Castillo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat has this study revealed regarding Europe\u2019s beech forests?<\/h3>\n
Beech forests in Europe are severely threatened by climate change, particularly in Southern European countries, but also in central Europe. Models project severe beech growth declines over the next 70 years \u2013 ranging from 20% to perhaps more than 50%, depending on the climate change scenario and the region under examination.<\/p>\n
“We expect high productivity declines due to increased drought severity, especially at the southern limits of the beech’s distribution range,” explained Dr Edurne Martinez del Castillo from JGU.<\/p>\n
Researchers have stressed that this will seriously impact the environment as well as the forestry, and states that imminent measures are required to adapt Europe\u2019s beech forests.<\/p>\n
The results reveal marked geographical differences between the two study periods of 1955 to 1985 and 1986 to 2016. For example, the model tree growth rate over the past six decades was two to three times higher in low-lying areas of North-Western and central Europe \u2013 such as coastal regions in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the British Isles \u2013 than towards the Southern distribution limits.<\/p>\n
By comparing the two 31-year periods, a remarkable decline in beech tree growth was revealed, in almost all distribution regions. The models portrayed a strong contrast between Northern Europe with Sweden and Norway, where growth has risen by 20%, and Southern Europe, where growth has declined by as much as 20%.<\/p>\n
What does this reveal regarding future forecasts?<\/h3>\n
Based on two widely accepted climate research scenarios from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), Edurne Martinez del Castillo has projected the developments likely to occur over the next 70 years through to 2090.<\/p>\n
“Even assuming a relatively optimistic climate change scenario, we will see sharp growth reductions of up to 30% in southern Europe between 2020 and 2050 compared to the 1986 to 2016 period,” observed Castillo.<\/p>\n
The optimistic climate model assumes a temperature increase of 1\u00b0C by 2090, while the pessimistic scenario predicts a warming of 5\u00b0C. The latter would have dramatic consequences. Beech productivity would decline sharply in much of Europe, by as much as 20% to 30% in most central European forests.<\/p>\n
“In southern Europe, losses could even exceed 50%,” concluded Castillo, noting that increased aridity would affect the pattern. In contrast, in the North and in mountainous regions, the growth trend would be positive. Overall, however, the gains will not be as severe as the losses, neither geographically nor in terms of absolute numbers.<\/p>\n
In light of these forecasts, the authors of the study believe that forest adaptation measures are urgently required to mitigate serious environmental and economic consequences. This is because beech forests act as carbon dioxide sinks, and the reduction in tree growth is expected to lead to further forest dieback, reducing this impact.<\/p>\n
This study was funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and has now been published in\u00a0Communications Biology<\/em>.<\/p>\nTo keep up to date with our content,\u00a0subscribe for updates<\/a>\u00a0on our digital publication and newsletter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A research team from, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), has discovered a drastic growth decline in Europe\u2019s beech forests over recent decades. What are the benefits of beech forests? Beech forests are crucial stores of carbon dioxide. The models developed by scientists are based on tree ring analyses from all over Europe, utilising well-established climate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":19451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433,785],"tags":[745,689],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Europe\u2019s beech forests threatened by climate change<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n