Development of Harmonized Indicators and Estimation Procedures for Forests with Protective Functions against Natural Hazards in the Alpine Space

The present study was developed in the context of Regulation (EC) 2152/2003 on the monitoring of forest and environmental interactions, the so-called "Forest Focus" Regulation. The specific objective of this study was to explore the possible contribution of the national forest inventories (NFIs) to assess protective functions of for-ests in the alpine space. Key components of protective functions could be determined with the help of on-going national and international studies and processes. In order to grant consistency, definitions of forest area, dam-age potential and hazard potential had to be harmonised. Based on those, a strategy for monitoring and report-ing aspects of protective functions of mountain forests in the alpine space was proposed. Estimation procedures based on existing NFI data and field assessments and their integration in different remote sensing techniques were tested for harmonised monitoring. Final results are presented in this report.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard