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GOTILWA+: A process-based model that evaluates the effects of climate change on forests and explores forest management options for its mitigation

Abstract:

In the current climate change context, it is essential to develop tools able to explore forest ecosystems' responses to different climate change projections. GOTILWA + is a forest growth process-based model that allows to explore the effects of different climate change scenarios on forests, as well as their responses to different forest management options. Despite Spanish forests are, in general, currently performing as carbon sinks, during the second half of this century, some of them may become net carbon sources. The main cause of this change would be driven by an increased aridity according to climate change scenario projections. Furthermore, for the same reason, the relative amount of evapotranspiration will be also increased due to a rising atmospheric evaporative demand. However, adaptive forest management to climate change would help to increase water use efficiency by forests, as well as to maintain positives its carbon balances.