Official launch of the publication "The protective functions of forests in a changing climate"

Launched at the 33rd session of the Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds (WPMMW), this publication describes the role and importance of protective forests in over 12 European countries. The "green protective infrastructure" is not only an essential pillar of natural hazard management in Austria or in the Alps, protective forests also serve as a control against erosion as well as against numerous natural hazard processes in other mountainous countries.

The objective of this publication was to present the management approach of each member country in addition to the protective forest policy. Each country report covers following topics:

  • Definition of protective forests
  • Characteristics of each national framework
  • Challenges in management under consideration of climate change
  • Governance in protective forest issues
  • Monitoring and planning systems for protective forests

The expert publication shows that in many cases different mountain regions face similar challenges. Those diverse approaches can be used to learn from each other.

The publication is available at this link for download. LINK