CREAF is taking part on an international project to plant a tree for every inhabitant of Europe following scientific methodologies and knowledge. The goal: to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the planet's environmental health.
Japan is among the countries that are best prepared for natural disasters, those with the most hospital beds, the highest levels of education, prevention plans, adapted urban designs and so forth. Why, then, is it also one of the countries whose inhabitants are most at risk from such disasters?
A research group made up of researchers from CREAF, CTFC, InBIO/CIBIO, University of Santiago de Compostela and CSIC warns that the massive reforestation proposed by the Green Deal could increase the risk of fire if it isn't carried out according to good planning and scientific criteria.
Wind dynamics need to be factored into studies that measure the impact of climate change on the rhythms of nature. A study published in PNAS and co-authored by CREAF-based CSIC researcher Josep Peñuelas concludes that a decline in winds is currently benefiting plant productivity.
On the occasion of the International Day of Forests we present an in-depth report on mature forests. What are they and why can they function as vaccines against climate and global change? Do they require management? Which one?
CREAF scientists have found that, contrary to what was previously thought, wood mice make decisions individually.
An extensive review of studies and databases reveals that drought and an increase in temperature are already causing species substitutions, greater aridity, higher forest fire risk, lower soil fertility, and lower water availability, among other negative impacts.
A study with the participation of researchers from CREAF and the UAB warns that increasing droughts could affect forests’ species composition and structure, making them more vulnerable.
The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, showed that forests growing in fertile soils with ample nutrients are able to sequester about 30% of the carbon that they take up during photosynthesis. In contrast, forests growing in nutrient-poor soils may retain only 6% of that carbon. The rest is returned to the atmosphere as respiration.
