Journal of Alpine Research | Revue de géographie alpine, 98-4 | 2010

Mountain forests produce a large number of ecosystem services that are going to be affected byclimate change. We are expecting an increase in high altitude species that could result in thedecrease in resinous and subalpine species. These changes in species could adversely affectbiodiversity and timber production. However, we also observe an increase in productivity thatfavours the production of energy wood and, at least temporarily, timber, as well as carbonstorage. Given the possible rise in extreme climatic events, changes in vegetation could bemarked by periods of decline, which will be very detrimental to the economic system, protectionagainst natural hazards and biodiversity. Climate change will also have an indirect effect on theforest by increasing the demand for renewable energy and carbon storage. There is a lot ofuncertainty about vegetation change predictions and this makes it difficult to define forestmanagement adaptation strategies. Effective crisis management, monitoring of naturaltransformations of the forest based on the interaction between research and management(adaptive management) and the explicit factoring in of the concept of uncertainty appear to beessential to the maintenance of the ecosystem services provided by the forest. La forêt de montagne produit de nombreux services écosystémiques qui vont être affectés par leschangements climatiques. On attend une remontée des essences en altitude qui pourraitconduire à une diminution des résineux et des espèces du subalpin. Ces changements d’essencespourraient avoir un impact négatif sur la biodiversité et sur la production de bois d’œuvre. Onobserve cependant également une augmentation de la productivité favorable à la production debois énergie et au moins temporairement de bois d’œuvre, ainsi qu’au stockage de carbone. FaceWhat is the future of the ecosystem services of the Alpine forest against a b... Journal of Alpine Research | Revue de géographie alpine, 98-4 | 201011