Investigations on the natural reforestation potential of storm-damaged areas using pioneer tree species with regard to changing site conditions under climate change (WISTUPIO)

In addition to the predicted changes in climatic conditions due to climate change, a further increase in extreme weather events can also be expected. Storm damage in particular has far-reaching negative ecological consequences for the forest ecosystem and society in addition to economic losses. Despite preventive silvicultural measures, major damage events in recent decades have made it clear that storms will inevitably cause damage to forests in the future.

Calamity-conscious silvicultural strategies therefore now rely on natural reforestation (self-regulation) by pioneer tree species. Due to their regular fruiting and high dispersal capacity, the ecologically valuable pioneer tree species are able to naturally reforest damaged areas in the year of the event and mitigate the negative effects within a very short period of time.

Against the background of climate change, however, it can be assumed that the rise in temperature and a decreasing water supply in the decisive phases of regeneration will lead to a further deterioration in the regeneration success of pioneer tree species, which will jeopardize succession-supported reforestation in the event of new damage disasters and will no longer be able to be realized completely without intervention.

The aim of the project is to investigate medium to long-term changes in the reforestation potential of pioneer tree species with regard to their seed longevity, germination behavior and establishment in the course of changing ecological framework conditions in the face of climate change. The influence of different variants of soil cover, radiation, precipitation and tillage measures on damaged areas in areas with different precipitation availability will be tested.