Even high-altitude forests in Switzerland are now weakened by frequent droughts, making natural hazards more dangerous - Frontiers
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Researchers have shown that declining forest stands are an increasingly common phenomenon across all altitude belts in Switzerland. They concluded that even in the highest ‘subalpine’ belt, trees are no longer protected by the cooler temperatures from the damaging effects of summer droughts, worsened by global warming. The make-up of ‘protective’ forests, which shield against natural hazards, appears to have changed over the past four decades, as larger trees and more vulnerable trees to drought have died faster. Today’s stands may be hardier, but their tolerance and resilience in the face of droughts could be weakened by recurring droughts. The authors emphasized the need for adaptive forestry strategies in protective forests across Europe. Due to global warming, Swiss forests are now at a tipping point where the tolerance and resilience of trees against summer droughts are being overwhelmed, scientists have shown. That bodes ill for people in the valleys, because forests form their first line of defense against avalanches, rockfalls, landslides, and floods.
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