Forest Boundary Research Articles

Forest Fragmentation and Warmer Climate Increase Tick-Borne Disease Infection.

Anthropogenic disturbances degrade ecosystems, elevating the risk of emerging infectious diseases from wildlife. However, the key environmental factors for preventing tick-borne disease infection in relation to host species, landscape components, and climate conditions remain unknown. This study focuses on identifying crucial environmental factors contributing to the outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne disease, in Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. We collected data on SFTS case numbers, annual temperature and precipitation, species richness of large- and middle-sized mammals, forest perimeter length (indicating the amount of forest boundaries), percentage of agricultural land, human population, and sightseeing place numbers for each 25 km2 grid cell encompassing Miyazaki Prefecture. Through the construction of a model incorporating these factors, we found that longer forest perimeter and higher temperature led to a higher number of SFTS cases. Precipitation, mammal species richness, percentage of agricultural land, human population, and sightseeing point numbers had no effect on SFTS case numbers. In conclusion, climate condition and forest fragmentation, which increase the opportunity for human infection, played a pivotal role in SFTS outbreak.

Assessing the Economic and Ecological Costs of Human–Wildlife Conflict in Nuwara Eliya

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is a growing concern in the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This study investigates the nature and distribution of HWC, with particular focus on agricultural damage, livestock losses, infrastructure destruction, and human injuries. Data were collected through field surveys, expert opinions, satellite imagery, and census data, including interviews with 720 farmers (conducted between 2021 and 2022) and 25 online questionnaires, which provided expert insights on HWC. Animals such as wild boars, bandicoots, barking deer, toque macaques, porcupines, buffaloes, sambar, and leopards were found to be key to HWC, contributing to crop raiding, livestock predation, and infrastructure damage, and through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the wild boar was determined to have the greatest impact. Spatial analysis revealed conflict hotspots near forest and tea plantation boundaries, emphasizing the influence of land use and proximity to wildlife habitats. Mitigation strategies were explored; most farmers utilize multiple conflict reduction strategies, with varying efficacy. These findings underline the importance of developing region-specific strategies for HWC management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and fostering coexistence between wildlife and local communities.

STRATEGI PENYELESAIAN KONFLIK PENGUASAAN LAHAN DALAM KAWASAN HUTAN DI DESA SOLAN KECAMATAN JARO PADA WILAYAH KPH TABALONG

The Permanent Production Forest (HP) area in the Tabalong Regency area has an area of ± 44,759 ha which is a forest area in the Tabalong KPH management area. The administrative designation of this Forest Area is in Solan Village, Jaro District. In this area there are problems related to conflicts over land use and claims in locations whose status is still production forest areas. The Solan Village area which is within the Permanent Production Forest (HP) area covers an area of 4,161.2731 ha. In some areas, the Solan Village community uses the area for housing, public facilities and plantations. The area of Solan Village which is outside the forest area is 87,377 ha. The results of the questionnaire showed that 50% of respondents were not aware of the government's determination of forest area status and the boundaries of forest areas in their area. The community considers that the land belongs to them because it has been owned for generations. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out mapping regarding area control conflicts and re-arrangement of forest area boundaries in the Tabalong KPH area which aims to inventory land control problems and community rights to forest areas as well as safeguard and protect designated forest areas. Socialization and the presence of officers are important components to bring awareness and understanding to the community about forests and forest areas, so that conflicts over control of forest areas can be eliminated.

Landslide Hazard Mapping and Inventory of the Hoosier National Forest Using LiDAR Data

Indiana's landslide hazard inventory previously relied on records from the Indiana Department of Transportation, which focus on slope failures only near highway infrastructure. This study addresses the gap in documentation for landslides on naturally graded slopes and landforms within the Hoosier National Forest. Using slope maps derived from light-compliant detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation data and orthoimagery, 295 landslide areas were identified and mapped as polygon features. Field verification of 28 sites (approximately 10 % of the total) validated mapping accuracy, linking abstract data to the physical landscape. Landslide features were photographed, cataloged, and integrated into Indiana Geological and Water Survey Digital Collections, creating a visual archive of the region’s geomorphological activity. The resulting data set delineates areas of slope instability within Hoosier National Forest boundaries. This study enhances the understanding of landslide distributions in Indiana's natural landscapes, offering valuable data for forest management, conservation, and hazard mitigation planning.

The Problem of Cross-Dating Siberian Pine and Siberian Larch on the Upper Forest Boundary in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion

The Problem of Cross-Dating Siberian Pine and Siberian Larch on the Upper Forest Boundary in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion

Study of using GIS technologies in forestry cadastre and monitoring for environmental sustainability

Abstract The integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies in the forestry cadastre and monitoring practices in Uzbekistan represents a significant advancement in sustainable forest management. This study explores the application of GIS in enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and comprehensiveness of forestry cadastre, which is crucial for the effective management, conservation, and restoration of forest resources in Uzbekistan. Through spatial analysis, remote sensing, and data integration, GIS technologies offer detailed insights into forest cover, land use changes, and biodiversity, providing a robust framework for decision-making and policy formulation. The research highlights how GIS tools facilitate the precise mapping of forest boundaries, monitoring of illegal logging activities, and assessment of reforestation efforts. Furthermore, the study examines the challenges and opportunities in implementing GIS in Uzbekistan’s forestry sector, considering the country’s unique geographical and ecological context. The findings suggest that adopting GIS technologies can significantly contribute to achieving Uzbekistan’s environmental sustainability goals and improving the management of its forestry resources.

LEGAL PROTECTION OF OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY RIGHTS CERTIFICATES IN FORESTRY CULTIVATION AREAS

The background of this study examines the overlapping authority in determining forest areas and its implications for the legal protection of ownership of Land Ownership Certificates (SHM). This study found that overlapping authority occurred due to the absence of confirmation of forest area boundaries and systematic spatial planning, thus triggering conflict between communities that own SHM and forestry policies. The state has an obligation to protect community rights, including land rights as evidenced by SHM. The purpose of the study is to answer two things, first, to find out clarity about the factors that cause overlapping in determining forest areas in the Forestry Law, by analyzing the problems that arise from existing provisions. Second, the study looks at the form of legal protection provided by the state to the community in dealing with the problem of overlapping determination of forest areas in Kutai Kartanegara Regency. The type of this research is sociological legal research or Sociolegal studies. The research was conducted in the East Kalimantan Province, (East Kalimantan Province Environmental and Forestry Service, and the East Kalimantan Province Agrarian Spatial Planning Office/National Land Agency). The focus of this research was conducted in Sepati Village, Anggana District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. This research will use selected respondents (purposive sampling) within the Kutai Kartanegara Regency in the area around the forestry cultivation area, namely Village Heads and Community Leaders. Specifically for respondents, researchers will conduct an interview process (deep-interview) including the use of snow-ball techniques with respondents who have a structured information network. The results of this study conclude that resolving overlapping authorities requires a comprehensive approach involving all related parties. The steps taken are comprehensive spatial planning, land dispute resolution, confirmation of forest area boundaries, strict law enforcement, strengthening institutions and non-litigation resolution.

The influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the productivity of forest stands in the ecotone of the northern treeline on the Yamal peninsula

On 12 sample plots established in the ecotone of the northern forest boundary in the Khadyta-Yakha River valley on the Yamal Peninsula, time of emergence and death, as well as productivity of about 1000 Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) trees were analyzed. Over the last 140 years, there has been a sharp increase in the stocks and annual growth of stem phytomass of woody plants within the studied ecotone. Since the 1970s, the average annual growth of phytomass has been increased by 1.2–39 times, which was facilitated by a 0.9оC increase in average June–July air temperature. However, this effect is insignificant in areas of mixed open forests subjected to periodic logging.

Climate and topography control variation in the tropical dry forest-rainforest ecotone.

Ecotones are the transition zones between ecosystems and can exhibit steep gradients in ecosystem properties controlling flows of energy and organisms between them. Ecotones are understood to be sensitive to climate and environmental changes, but the potential for spatiotemporal dynamics of ecotones to act as indicators of such changes is limited by methodological and logistical constraints. Here, we use a novel combination of satellite remote sensing and analyses of spatial synchrony to identify the tropical dry forest-rainforest ecotone in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We further examine how climate and topography influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of the ecotone, showing that ecotone is most prevalent at mid-elevations where the topography leads to moisture accumulation and that climatic moisture availability influences up and downslope interannual variation in ecotone location. We found some evidence for long-term (22 year) trends toward upslope or downslope ecotone shifts, but stronger evidence that regional climate mediates topographic controls on ecotone properties. Our findings suggest the ecotone boundary on the dry forest side may be less resilient to future precipitation reductions and that if drought frequency increases, ecotone reductions are more likely to occur along the dry forest boundary.

KLASIFIKASI ULANG KAWASAN HUTAN LINDUNG DAN ARAHAN FUNGSI KAWASAN HUTAN LINDUNG DI KECAMATAN BAJUIN KABUPATEN TANAH LAUT PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN

The conservation of protected forest areas is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functionality. To safeguard the sustainability of these forests, it is imperative to reevaluate and redefine their boundaries to enhance management and protection. This study's main objective is to analyze the outcomes of evaluating the protected forest area boundaries in Bajuin District. The analysis utilizes digital data and spatial data techniques, employing the overlay method to generate a new map. The new map is then subjected to the scoring method, yielding a comprehensive map displaying forest area functionalities. The comparison between the protected forest maps from the South Kalimantan RTRWP 2015-2035 and the scoring results revealed a significant difference of 5,485.48 ha in the protected forest area. According to the South Kalimantan RTRWP 2015-2035, the protected forest area covers 4,000.20 ha, whereas the scoring results' map extends the protected area to 9,485.48 ha based on the latest database. It is essential to retain the protected forest area of 1,578.47 ha, which includes regions with a slope of >45%, as it meets the criteria for conservation. To ensure the sustainable preservation of these critical ecosystems, local authorities must take into account the findings of this evaluation. By redefining and accurately delineating the protected forest boundaries, appropriate measures can be implemented to mitigate threats from population growth, encroachment, and resource exploitation. Adequate protection and management strategies will safeguard biodiversity and promote the continued ecological functioning of these vital natural resources in Bajuin District, South Kalimantan Province.

A potential model of national forest co-management: History of aspen management on the Leech Lake Reservation and Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota

Aspen exists as the most abundant and industrially important forest type in contemporary Minnesota. Historically, the species was seen as economically undesirable yet saw prolific increases in abundance due to pine harvest and fire. The Leech Lake Reservation exists as a unique case study of tribal-U.S. Forest Service co-management, with 90 % of reservation land within Chippewa National Forest boundaries. This large geographical intersection was created by a series of American Indian law policies and makes the relationship between the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe unique within the USDA National Forest System. Comparison of pre-reservation and more modern forest/land cover types within the modern-day boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation were conducted alongside investigation of historical management authority documentation of Chippewa National Forest and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe cooperation and broader historical management of aspen in Minnesota. Results suggest historical power dynamics between the Chippewa National Forest and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe influenced decreasing pine and increasing aspen on the Leech Lake Reservation. However, the modern relationship between the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe shows the potential for successful co-management within the shared goals of aspen management.

Past and Future Land Use and Land Cover Trends across the Mara Landscape and the Wider Mau River Basin, Kenya

The Maasai Mara and the wider Mau River Basin in East Africa provide fundamental ecosystem services that support people, wildlife, livestock and agriculture. The historical indigenous land use of the Mara and wider Mau basin was wildlife conservation and pastoralism with highland agriculture. However, land policy changes, the rise of community conservancies and the increase in human populations have mediated unprecedented land use shifts over time. We analyze land use and land cover change (LULCC) trends from 1990 to 2040 in the Mara and the wider Mau River Basin landscape. The study examines land use and land cover change trends, establishes factors driving the trends, and assesses the implications of these trends on biodiversity. Multi-temporal satellite images, together with physical and social economic data, were collated to generate future scenarios for transitions for forest, shrubland, grassland, cropland, wetlands and built-up areas between 1990 and 2040. Agricultural expansion is the chief driver of LULCC in the Mara and the wider Mau River Basin, particularly since 2015. There was insignificant change to the forest cover after 2015, which was in part due to government intervention on forest encroachment and boundaries. The anthropogenic choice of tilling the land in the basin caused a decline in grasslands, forests and expanded shrublands, particularly where there was clear tree cutting in the Mau forest. Land use and land cover trends have generated undesirable impacts on ecosystem services that support wildlife conservation.

Human-De Brazza’s monkey conflict in Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Kafa Zone South West, Ethiopia

BackgroundHuman-wildlife conflict (HWC) is any interaction between humans and wildlife that arises when wildlife necessities encroach on those of the human population. It affects all areas where animal and peoples cohabit regardless of geography or climatic circumstances; but the burden is great in developing nations. De Brazza’s monkey (DM) (Cercopithecus neglectus) is one of the most unusual species in the group of Old-World monkeys commonly known as guenons. The De Brazza’s monkey is distributed in different parts of African forests from Guinea to Ethiopia. This study was conducted in Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Kafa Zone, South West Ethiopia, to assess the causes of human wildlife conflict in the area. The methods used were, household questionnaire, focus group discussion and direct field observation from June 2022 to May 2023.ResultsThe study revealed that the major causes of human De Brazza’s monkey conflicts were; habitat destruction 52.9%, (n = 72), human proximity to natural forest, 25.7%, (n = 35) and increasing of its population size 8.1 %, (n = 11). These monkeys’ raids crop usually early in the morning 42.6%, (n = 58), and late evening 29.4%, (n = 40). Maize was the most damaged crop by De Brazza’s monkey followed by coffee. The study also confirmed that guarding was the most common method used to protect crops from crop raiding wildlife in the area. Majority 66.2%, (n= 90) of the informants had negative attitude but 22.1%, (n = 30) had positive attitude towards De Brazza’s monkey conservation.ConclusionThe study discovered that, in contrast to olive baboons and grivet monkeys in the area, De Brazza's monkeys were not previously identified as crop raiders; however, they are currently causing damage to crops, especially maize and coffee crops. This could be due to habitat destruction and human proximity to the forest boundary. Thus, the conflict between humans and De Brazza's monkeys is escalating. As such, we recommended more research on the population status of the monkeys and strategies for coexist in the area.

Leveraging GANs data augmentation for imbalanced medical image classification

Machine learning algorithms have been widely applied and researched in the field of medical image classification. Most of the current algorithms are designed based on the assumption of data balance. However, in practical applications, medical data often face the problem of imbalanced data. The traditional data augmentation approaches can balance the original data, but they are unable to generate more effective features. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can effectively perform sample augmentation. However, GAN often encounter issues such as intra-class mode collapse and generating noisy samples when faced with imbalanced data. This study proposes a GAN model called IBGAN that focuses on generating intra-class sparse samples and class boundary samples. Specifically, IBGAN addresses the issue of imbalanced data through two stages. In the first stage, the Isolation Forest (iForest) algorithm and boundary sample detection algorithm are designed to identify sparse region samples and boundary samples within the intra-class data. This enables the GAN model to effectively focus on generating such samples during training. The second stage involves the refinement process of the samples. We propose a sample evaluation method based on Support Vector Data Description (SVDD) to filter out noisy data in the generated samples, ensuring the quality of the generated data. We conducted extensive and in-depth experiments on five real-world datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that IBGAN can generate high-quality and diverse augmented samples, which contribute to the improvement of classifier performance. We compared our proposed method with seven baseline methods, including traditional approaches and classic GAN models. The experimental results, including the visualization of the generated data and the evaluation of classification performance, consistently show that our proposed method achieves more competitive results.

Effects of disturbances on the spatiotemporal patterns and dynamics of coastal wetland vegetation

The coastal wetlands represented by mangroves are vulnerable to disturbances. To clarify the effects of disturbances quantitatively on mangroves, spatiotemporal changes in land use and land cover (LULC) were compared between the inside and outside of mangroves during 1988 and 2020 in Bangladesh by remote sensing. The mangrove region, which had diverse surface greenness due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, were surveyed. Changes in greenness were estimated by five vegetation indices (VIs). To increase in the accuracy of land use classification, the five VIs were combined under a random forest (RF) classifier. The five VIs were: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green NDVI (GNDVI), soil-adjusted VI (SAVI), green–red VI (GRVI) and enhanced VI (EVI), using data obtained from Landsat TM (30 m resolution) and Sentinel-2A (10 m) via Google Earth Engine. A Moran’s I analysis showed a random pattern of training samples of LULC classes for integrated RF classification. The classification accuracy was evaluated using the reference point data with multiple comparisons of VIs and κ coefficient. The area was classified into eight LULC classes. Although the respective VIs depicted unique characteristics, the accuracies of them were less than 89 %. The integrated classifier improved the accuracy of 96–97 % with κ of 0.96 in 1988 and 0.97 in 2020. The VI-integrated RF was the most effective classifier for LULC, particularly for separating mangroves from homestead vegetation. The changes for 32 years showed that the dense mangrove occupied 42 % of surveyed area in 1988 but declined ca 622 km2 in 2020, whereas sparse mangrove and aquaculture increased by 487 km2 and 464 km2, respectively, out of the total area of 8,360 km2. The changes in LULC classes were mostly from dense mangroves to sparse mangroves, sparse mangroves to dense mangroves and from cropland to bare land and aquaculture. Inaccessible mangrove degradation should result from natural disturbances, i.e., tropical cyclones, while areas near forest boundaries were distorted by anthropogenic disturbances such as aquaculture development. The restoration of habitat quality, mangrove afforestation and sustainable aquaculture practices were effective indicators for improving the mangrove ecosystems. Since natural and anthropogenic disturbances induce substantial loss of mangrove vegetation, the VI-integrated RF classifier should be applied for monitoring LULC and for developing the sustainable management strategies.

Waterline distance effects in the recovery of forest structure and soil organic matter 12 years after restoration

Efforts to restore tropical forests can result in large unpredictability in their trajectories, mainly due to spatial variation in abiotic conditions and plant resource availability. With the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant, a 70-ha forest restoration was conducted in 2008 within the boundaries of seasonal semideciduous forest in southeastern Brazil. This study described the spatial variation of the restored ecosystem after 12 years by simultaneously evaluating the direct influences of distance from the water body (waterline distance) and soil moisture, and the indirect influence of these factors mediated by the forest structure on accumulated litter and soil organic matter (SOM). These effects were estimated in the area under restoration and in forest remnants (considered as reference sites) (Model A), or in the area under restoration alone (Model B). Data on forest structure included density of individuals, total basal area, tree average diameter, average trunk volume index and stratification. Tree density decreased with increasing waterline distance both in the restoration area and in the forest remnants. Consequently, the sites closest to the reservoir formed denser and more stratified forests. Waterline distance and soil moisture content were correlated with each other, but each variable had independent effects of on the amount of litter and SOM. Wetter sites with denser and more stratified forest had greater amounts of accumulated litter and soil organic matter, but only in Model A, which included both the restored area and the forest remnants. In addition, higher basal area values contributed weakly to greater amounts of accumulated litter. Thus, our study suggests that the trajectory and speed of recovery of some ecosystem processes were determined by the waterline distance and soil moisture. Furthermore, the restoration implementation in the period of just 12 years was sufficient to detect the effect of these actions on the litter accumulation and a substantial increase in the amount of soil organic matter.

Estimating the effectiveness of forest protection using regression discontinuity

This article uses satellite data to estimate the effectiveness of government protection on forested land across the globe over 2000–2022. Since deforestation can have significant negative externalities, measuring the effectiveness of protected areas is important for the future of conservation. It uses a regression discontinuity design at the boundaries of protected forest to counter the fact that protection is not randomly assigned. It estimates that protected areas are 30% effective on average, with significant heterogeneity between countries. Many countries with significant forest have extremely ineffective protection, such as Indonesia, the DRC, and Bolivia, suggesting that improvements to the quality of protection are just as important as the quantity of protected areas to conserve biodiversity.

Land tenure conflicts in forest areas: obstacles to rejuvenation of small-scale oil palm plantations in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to investigate the problems small-scale oil palm plantations in Indonesia’s forest areas face and the government policies addressing them. Design/methodology/approach Survey and data collection were used to determine the socioeconomic, environmental, legal and governance problems related to the development of smallholder plantations. Information was obtained from the respondents via a rapid rural appraisal approach. Findings The potential land for potential participants in the community oil palm rejuvenation programme is a forest area of 1,628,749.60 ha. Owing to its legal dimensions and unsustainable land management, the rejuvenation regulatory programme has not reached independent farmers. Research limitations/implications The use of plantation space beyond its designation hinders the government’s goal of accelerating the rejuvenation programme. The problems regarding the accumulation of forest area result in low achievement of the annual rejuvenation target in Riau Province (21%–25%). The authors present solutions to resolve land ownership conflicts and implement strategic policies to ensure the sustainable development of such plantations. Originality/value The authors introduce a conflict–resolution model for small-scale smallholder oil palm plantations to resolve the problems of forest area claims unaddressed in the Indonesian Job Creation Law. Land conflict resolution is categorised into five typologies: oil palm plantations with business permits; those without a forestry permit and subject to administrative sanctions; business activities in forest areas without forestry permits; resolving non-conformities in the progress of land or management controlled and used in forest areas prior to their designation by removing land parcels through modifying the forest area boundaries; and the settlement for farmers without cultivation registration certificates but have established plantations and whose land tenure can be proven.

Identifying human elephant conflict hotspots through satellite remote sensing and GIS to support conflict mitigation

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a significant issue in Sri Lanka and many parts of the world where elephants and humans coexist. To address HEC, this study integrates remote sensing and GIS analysis, focusing on monitoring changes in greenery. The study prepared the latest land cover and land use (LCLU) maps with Sentinel-2 satellite data, correlating them with reported HEC incidents reported in 2021 and 2022 to identify HEC hotspots in two forest-dominated regions of Southeast Sri Lanka. High-resolution sentinel-2 satellite imagery were used to detect areas of human activities and elephant habitats in proximity to each other. Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification methods were used for LCLU classification. The overall accuracy of the classification was 97.31 and 94.62, and kappa was 0.95 and 0.90 for RF and SVM, respectively. Multi-temporal normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis provided insights into vegetation health and coverage, offering a clear picture of greenery changes. Monthly changes in vegetation cover readings were quantified using NDVI values derived from MODIS data, identifying suitable regions for elephants to forage frequently. Furthermore, Kernel density estimation identified high-density areas for reported incidents of human and elephant deaths. This process involved assigning weight to conflict incidents within a 5 km radius, considering the proximity to the forest, and evaluating greenery changes using NDVI values, revealing varying levels of HEC risk, ranging from very high to low. The LCLU map, created using the RF classifier, indicates that all potential HEC hotspots for very high and high HEC risks are closely aligned with forest boundaries. The findings support HEC mitigation strategies through community awareness, HEC hotspots mapping and restoration practices to ensure a sustainable human-elephant coexistence. This method will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to identify high risk HEC zones to support HEC mitigation. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of integrating remote sensing and GIS techniques in demarcating HEC hotspots in Sri Lanka to support conflict mitigation efforts.

Managing European Alpine forests with close-to-nature forestry to improve climate change mitigation and multifunctionality

Close-to-nature forestry (CNF) has a long tradition in European Alpine forest management, playing a crucial role in ensuring the continuous provision of biodiversity and forest ecosystem services, including protection against natural hazards. However, climate change is causing huge uncertainties about the future applicability of CNF in the Alpine region. The question arises as to whether current CNF practices are still suitable for adapting forests to climate change impacts while also meeting the increasing societal demands regarding Alpine forests, including their potential contribution to climate change mitigation. To answer this question, we simulated forest development using the ForClim forest model at two Alpine study sites, together representing a large biogeographic gradient from high-elevation inner Alpine forests (Switzerland) to lower-elevation south-eastern Alpine forests (Slovenia). The simulations considered three climate scenarios (historical climate, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and six alternative management strategies, including both current CNF management practices and climate-adapted versions. Using an indicator based multi-criteria decision analysis framework, we assessed the joint impacts of climate and management on biodiversity and key ecosystem services of the investigated regions, including carbon sequestration (CS) inside and outside the forest ecosystem boundary. The joint effects of climate change and CNF varied, both among and within the study sites along the biogeographical gradient. While CS was more resistant to climate change under current CNF at the south-eastern Alpine site, it was more sensitive at the inner Alpine site, where CS potentials decreased at lower elevations. This adverse effect could be partly mitigated by fostering the use of climate-adapted tree species. However, current CNF and adaptations of it did not meet multiple management objectives equally well: while protection from gravitation hazards and timber production also benefited from this silvicultural practice, biodiversity benefited from CNF variants with low-intensity or no management. In conclusion, CNF has a high potential to continue fulfilling its crucial role in European Alpine forests. A differentiated approach will be needed in the future, however, to identify forest stands where adaptive measures are required, especially at sites particularly vulnerable to climate change. In combination with less intensively managed or unmanaged areas, CNF provides a management portfolio that will help European Alpine forests to meet the demands of future society.