Assessment of the cover changes and the soil loss potential in European forestland: First approach to derive indicators to capture the ecological impacts on soil-related forest ecosystems

Abstract

This study provides a first pan-European analysis that delineates the spatial patterns of forest cover changes in 36 countries. The first dynamic assessment of the soil loss potential in the EU-28 forests is reported.

The recently published High-resolution Global Forest Cover Loss map (2000-2012) was reprocessed and validated.

Keywords

• forest monitoring
• forest disturbances
• soil erosion risk
• environmental indicators
• landscape sensitivity
• policy making