Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-59-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-59-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Standard article
| 
07 Apr 2025
Standard article |
| 07 Apr 2025
| 07 Apr 2025
Forested Natura 2000 sites under climate change: effects of tree species distribution shifts
Department of Remote Sensing, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, RSC4Earth, Leipzig, Germany
Ingolf Kühn
Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
Andreas Schmidt
Department of Remote Sensing, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, RSC4Earth, Leipzig, Germany
Daniel Doktor
Department of Remote Sensing, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, RSC4Earth, Leipzig, Germany
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Ingolf Kühn, Christian Hecht, Ulrike Herzschuh, and Dirk Scherler
Web Ecol., 25, 157–168, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-157-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-25-157-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Since 1850, glaciers have retreated in the Alps, providing ground for vegetation succession. Such systems were studied intensively in other parts of the Alps, but excluding the Northern Limestone Alps. Hence, we initiated a long-term research programme, which we introduce here. Initial findings show an increase in plant species richness and cover with age since deglaciation. This is, however, by far slower than observed elsewhere in the Alps, likely due to the specific geology and geomorphology.
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Short summary
We quantify the extent to which forested Natura 2000 sites are affected by tree species distribution shifts in a changing climate. As ecosystems of any type are highly dynamic, climate change can lead to additional severe pressure on statically defined conservation goals and management activities associated with this. We utilised 26 bio-climatic variables and analysed the climate-induced change of tree species distribution at Natura 2000 sites, the largest conservation area network worldwide.
We quantify the extent to which forested Natura 2000 sites are affected by tree species...
