Climate change and natural disturbances are transforming the forests of the High Tatras

Climate change is causing warmer winters, reduced snow cover and longer dry periods in the mountain forests of the High Tatras. In an ecosystem vulnerable to drought, storms and insect outbreaks, this perhaps could be considered detrimental to the region’s biodiversity. But, instead, rewilding initiatives are utilising natural disturbances to regenerate  the High Tatras as new natural processes contribute to the creation of diverse and resilient ecosystems. 

Recent fires, for example, have created open sunny habitats where flowering plants, shrubs and regenerating conifers can thrive. Increasing bark beetle populations have killed old spruce trees, supporting many species of birds, insects and fungi that depend on dead wood and triggering the growth of birch, rowan and willow trees by allowing light to reach the forest floor. 

What’s happening in the High Tatras highlights that rewilding doesn’t mean abandoning the forest. Rather, it means trusting natural processes to rebuild complexity, resilience and life. 

Find out more about how rewilding is taking shape in the High Tatras in our picture story.

Miroslav Svoboda