Across Europe, forests are experiencing intensifying disturbance from drought, bark beetle outbreaks and other biotic agents, with cascading impacts on ecosystems, carbon storage and bioeconomy goals. In this lecture, Tomáš Hlásny explores how national datasets and remote sensing uncover hidden patterns and shifting disturbance regimes, why Central Europe has become an epicenter of these changes, and how better harmonization of monitoring, data sharing and cross-border collaboration can close knowledge gaps.
Prof. Hlásny highlights both the threats—such as rising vulnerability to invasions—and the opportunities, as disturbances also accelerate forest adaptation and species turnover. Join to learn how science-based strategies can help build more resilient European landscapes.
Tomáš Hlásny is a professor of Forest Biology at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.
His work focuses on forest disturbance regimes, their changes driven by climate change, and adaptation strategies. He has made significant contributions to understanding the causes and impacts of recent bark beetle outbreaks across Europe and to developing innovative management and policy frameworks to address such disturbances.
Project HIVE 101187384. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
