Recently, strong wind storms have caused large-scale damages in Alpine mountain forests, leaving the underlying infrastructure exposed. These forests often provide protection against gravitational natural hazard processes such as avalanches, rockfall and soil slides. To manage these disturbed forests efficiently and effectively, it is important to know 1) which forest areas serve a protective function to the underlying infrastructure, 2) what is the actual protective effect of these forests on the hazard process, and 3) how one could improve this effect.
