Predicting mixed forests responses to climate change and drought stress with a plant hydraulics model

Project description

Understanding mixed forests' response to drought can help predict impacts of climate change

Droughts are expected to become more frequent and intense in many parts of the world. When trees die during droughts, less carbon is stored in forests, thus worsening climate change. Therefore, for scientists to be able to predict the socioeconomic and ecological impacts of climate change and inform conservation strategies, forest responses need to be modelled to droughts. However, current models are ineffective for mixed forests due to their diverse species and functional traits. To address this problem, the EU-funded FORECAST project aims to develop a model for mixed forests based on known biophysical constraints, plant functional traits and optimisation theory. The model will also be used to guide the conservation of the mixed Mediterranean forest Hayedo de Montejo, a World Heritage Site.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › atmospheric sciences › climatology › climatic changes
• social sciences › sociology › demography › mortality

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

• MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID

Address

Calle Ramiro De Maeztu 7 Edificio Rectorado
28040 Madrid
Spain

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 172 932,48