Deadwood: the underrated legacy of natural disturbances

<p>Disturbances are increasing in frequency and severity in many regions of the world, affecting the dynamics and provision of ecosystem services of entire forest ecosystems. Higher tree mortality is often observed following such events, generating large amounts of deadwood. The latter is commonly salvaged logged to reduce economic losses, facilitate forest recovery and lower the susceptibility to secondary disturbance agents. However, the long-term and indirect effects of deadwood on forest dynamics and future ecosystem services are still debated. Here, we examined the role of deadwood in natural hazard processes and forest dynamics following disturbance. We focused primarily on the protective function against gravitational natural hazards (snow avalanches and rockfall) and the stand dynamics in mountain forests in central Europe. In the first years following disturbance and in different environmental contexts deadwood offered protection against snow avalanches, as no avalanche release was recorded within several observed windthrown areas. Additionally, deadwood acted as efficient barrier against rockfall, reducing both run-out distance and the number of rocks surpassing the deadwood section. In the longer term, deadwood often served as an important seedbed for tree regeneration, thus, promoting uneven-aged forest structures, forest resilience and the overall provision of ecosystem services. A more comprehensive understanding of the role that deadwood can play in disturbed forests in various environmental contexts will allow us to better identify situations where deadwood can be an asset when left on site and, thus, support the management of disturbed forests.</p>