Tree line shifts in the Swiss Alps: Climate change or land abandonment?

Uppsala

2007

11 Abb., 2 Tab., 54 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

12599

200143892

A significant increase of forest cover was found between 1650 m and 2450 m. Above 1650 m, 10% of the new forest areas were identified as true upward shifts whereas 90% represented ingrowth, and we identified both land use and climate change as likely drivers. Most upward shift activities were found to occur within a band of 300 m below the potential regional tree line, indicating land use as the most likely driver. Only 4% of the upward shifts were identified to rise above the potential regional tree line, thus indicating climate change.