Avalanche activity and socio-environmental changes leave strong footprints in forested landscapes: a case study in the Vosges medium-high mountain range

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Giacona, F., Eckert, Nicolas, Mainieri, R., Martin, B., Corona, Christophe, Lopez Saez, J., Monnet, J.M., Naaim, Mohamed, Stoffel, M.
• Other Authors: Erosion torrentielle neige et avalanches (UR ETGR (ETNA)), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), Laboratoire des EcoSystèmes et des Sociétés en Montagne (UR LESSEM), Centre de Recherches sur les Économies, les Sociétés, les Arts et les Techniques (CRESAT), Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA)), Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale (GEOLAB), Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 )-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)-Institut Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (IR SHS UNILIM), Université de Limoges (UNILIM)-Université de Limoges (UNILIM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE INSTITUT DES SCIENCES DE L ENVIRONNEMENT GENEVE CHE, Partenaires IRSTEA, Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA CHE, Universite Grenoble Alpes, IDEX Grenoble (CrossDisciplinary Program Trajectories)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: geomorphology; climate change; avalanches; VOSGES MASSIF; CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE; GEOMORPHOLOGIE; AVALANCHE; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Annals of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02608424; https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2018.26

International audience The medium-high mountain ranges of Western Europe are undergoing rapid socio-environmental changes. The aim of this study is to show that their landscape can be strongly shaped by the actions of avalanche activity, humans and climate. The study area is the Rothenbachkopf-Rainkopf complex, a site representative of avalanche-prone areas of the Vosges Mountains (France). A geo-historical approach documents regular avalanche activity over more than 200 years on 13 paths. A diachronic analysis of historical maps and photographs demonstrates substantial afforestation (from 60 to 80% of the total surface since 1832). LIDAR data and field surveys highlight the existence of a longitudinal and transversal structure of trees. Hence, the avalanche, human and climate activity footprints are retained by the landscape, which rapidly adapts to these changing drivers. Specifically, the pattern of tree species and heights results from a near equilibrium with regular avalanche activity sometimes disturbed by major avalanches that induce quasi-cyclic changes in the landscape mosaic. The afforestation trend is attributable to profound changes in silvo-pastoral practices, supplemented by the impact of climate change. The wider relevance of the results in relation to the local context is discussed, as well as outlooks that can refine our understanding of this complex system.