Climate change effects on temperate forests

Gaga Mumladze

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The main goal of the thesis is to determine the climate change effects on temperate forests using different professional literature research, satellite images comparison, and field trips. Climate change is one of the large-scale problems in the modern world with different circumstances. It is affecting many different fields such as science, economics, politics, health, and forest loss. As forest loss is one of the biggest environmental problems, it is crucial to learn about the connections of climate change and deforestation. Due to the importance of the climate change problems and the importance of the forests as one of the most valuable natural resources on the earth, the thesis aims to find, present, and underline specific threats caused by climate change, as well as the anthropogenic effects. Climate changes are likely to affect important ecological processes and forest parameters around the world. The thesis work aims to find connections between climate change and forest conditions in two different countries, Georgia, and the Czech Republic; different scientific data is used for better determination and understanding of the problem. Using the different research and field findings, the thesis aims to determine connections between global warming, rising temperatures, and the loss or degradation of the forest. There are clear prints of bark eater beetle negative effects in the forests of both the countries Georgia and the Czech Republic, according to our study within the field observations bark beetle is strongly promoted by climate change. Different methods were used for completing different objectives of the thesis work. One of the main methods was using remote observation of the forest conditions using satellite images in Georgia and the Czech Republic. The time of the images taken varies between the years of the last two decades according to the forest condition changes in specific areas. The most visible examples in the study were caused by forest fires or anthropogenic negative activities. Field trips were an important method to study the conditions of the forests in both countries. The most common effects determined by the field trip method were caused by the bark beetles, forest fires and drought activities. The questionnaire was created to determine awareness of the society in both countries. It was done to determine general awareness and doesn't aim to collect or aim to collect or sort any personal information or data. The proper research in both countries could be suggested work for the future.

Keywords

Climate change, Global warming, Wildfires, Rorest fires, Forests, FDI, Insect outbreak

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 23. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: doc. Dr. Mgr. Vera Potopová
• Reader: Alexandru Muntean, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme:
Natural Resources and Environment