Seventy-seven years of natural disturbances in a mountain forest area — the influence of storm, snow, and insect damage analysed with a long-term time series

Abstract

We investigated the effects of site properties, forest structure, and time on snow breakage, insect outbreaks, windthrow, and total damage for predominantly planted forests. A time series of forest damage in southwestern Germany spanning 77 years, from 1925 to 2001, was available along with a database on site properties and forest structure. The statistical modeling procedure successively addressed (i) probability of damage occurrence, (ii) timber loss in damaging events, and (iii) interaction among damage agents over time. Logistic and linear regressions were combined with multivariate autoregressive techniques. Natural disturbances were responsible for a total timber loss of 3.0 m3· ha–1· year–1. The distribution of the timber loss values over the years and over sites and stands with different properties was modeled with a standard error of 6.7 m3· ha–1· year–1. Disturbances are more likely to occur in previously damaged stands. Storm events typically provoke subsequent insect outbreaks between 2 and 6 years later. Large windthrow and snow breakage events tend to occur periodically, once every 10th, 11th, or 15th year. Analysis of disturbances as a time series significantly enhances understanding of forest risk processes.