Sustainable use and management of non native trees in the alpine region (ALPTREES)

Climate change and human activities represent major threats to the ecosystems in the Alpine Space. Therefore, adaptation efforts are required to respond to the negative effects on the Alpine environment, economy and society. Non-native tree species can support the adaptation of European forests and urban areas to climate change, but simultaneously entail risks for biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

The objective of the project is to provide a transnational strategy for a Decision Support System on responsible use and management of non-native tree species in the Alpine Space. The project fits within the context of national and regional site-derived policy aiming to protect and enhance biodiversity to ensure ecological connectivity and cultural resources while maintaining a high level of resilience and ecosystem services across the Alpine space.

Implementations include:

• developing a comprehensive database on non-native tree species;
• predicting the current and potential distribution of non-native tree species in Alpine Space under climate change scenarios;
• determining their invasive potential;
• analysing the different Ecosystem services provided by non-native tree species to assess the tradeoffs between risks and benefits;
• formulating management recommendations for non-native tree species under different climate and economic scenarios.

ALPTREES will help to strengthen the sustainable use of natural resources under climate change scenarios by solving conflicts between the forestry and environmental sectors. Outputs for site-specific evaluation of  non-native tree species risk/benefit trade-offs will improve the risk management; the results will provide solutions for protecting against natural and man-made disasters and improving climate change management. ALPTREES also targets the ecological connectivity of urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

Final aim of the project is to develop a comprehensive database on non -native tree species, predicting the current and potential distribution of non-native trees in the Alpine space under climate change scenarios.

The results of the project will increase the level of sustainable valorisation of cultural and natural heritage in the Alpine Space by 1-3 % by providing tools allowing stakeholders in the sectors forestry, nature conservation, timber industry, and rural and urban planning to distinguish between negative and positive impacts of non-native tree species on ecosystem services and functional needs in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.