Projects
Adaptation to climate change: the importance of tree diversity for the resilience of forest ecosystems KU Leuven
Resilience is increasingly becoming a guiding principle for forest management, commonly used to describe the ability of a forest to maintain its fundamental structure and functioning despite altered by disturbances. Biotic and abiotic disturbances are an intrinsic element of forest ecosystems. However, climate change is creating substantial new challenges. Forest resilience is closely tied to tree species diversity, anchored in the notion ...
A decision support tool to manage climate change risks to forest ecosystems (EcoRisk). University of Antwerp
Biodiversity for the functioning of forest ecosystems Ghent University
Nitrogen retention in contrasting temperate forest ecosystems in a region of high nitrogen deposition Ghent University
This study examines the difference between a deciduous and coniferous forest stand exposed to elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition with respect to the organic and mineral soil horizons and the aboveground and belowground biomass. Furthermore, the rate of nitrogen transformation processes is compared, after addition of isotopes.
\tLIFE PROGNOSES- LIFE PRotection of Old Growth Forests in Europe: Natural heritage, Outline, Synthesis and Ecosystem Services \t(Strengthening primary and old growth forest protection in Europe by capitalising on World Heritage sites) Research Institute for Nature and Forest
1. a clear definition and mapping of old growth forests in Europe
2. quantifying the characteristics of old growth forests in comparison with the regularly managed European forest:
- influence on the forest microclimate of forest management versus inaction
...
Modelling the effects of extreme droughts on forest ecosystem functioning - Towards climate smart forestry KU Leuven
Recent rapid changes in natural disturbance regimes are documented in many forest ecosystems across the world, with climate change being a prominent driver of this trend. Especially extreme drought events push forests beyond their limits. Since climate change will make droughts more frequent, more intense and longer in the future, it is of great importance to gain a better understanding of the effects of extreme droughts on forests. This ...
Forest ecosystem services and resilience of the social ecological system in a protected forest of the central highland of Ethiopia KU Leuven
Human activities play a major role in many of the changes in the biosphere, including landscape modification and biodiversity loss. In order to maintain the remaining biodiversity and ecological systems, setting aside of park boundaries has been practiced for the last several decades. However the outcome does not produce sufficient result as in most cases, it rarely considers the involvement of the social component of the environment. ...
Treescape: From forest ecosystem services to spatial forest configurations for an urbanized territory KU Leuven
Little by little, awareness is growing that forests are incredibly important for people and the planet: for biodiversity, the climate, but also for people's health. These are, in other words, the 'services' that forests provide to us. For some time now, scientists refer to this as 'ecosystem services'. Flanders urgently needs more trees and larger forest areas. In our fragmented open space, it is difficult to plant large new forests. Smaller ...
Treescape: From forest ecosystem services to spatial forest configurations for an urbanized territory KU Leuven
Little by little, awareness is growing that forests are incredibly important for people and the planet: for biodiversity, the climate, but also for people's health. These are, in other words, the 'services' that forests provide to us. For some time now, scientists refer to this as 'ecosystem services'. Flanders urgently needs more trees and larger forest areas. In our fragmented open space, it is difficult to plant large new forests. Smaller ...