Ecosystem management of protection forests aims at maintaining forests near a state during which effective protection is secured. As the evolution of a dynamic forest ecosystem cannot be stopped, silvicultural measures are required which aim at maintaining both the ecosystem integrity and the protective function of mountain forests. Ecosystem integrity is defined as the system’s capacity to mai...

The retreat of cliffs may constitute the dominant erosional response to base‐level fall in arid settings underlain by horizontally‐bedded sedimentary rock. These vertical cliffs typically loom above a relatively straight bedrock slope (‘plinth’) that is mantled with a thin layer of sediment and perched near the angle of repose. In detail, a plinth consists of a system of quasi‐parallel ridges a...

[1] In mountainous landscapes the role of periglacial processes in producing sediment is poorly defined, despite evidence of abundant talus slopes. Ice growth in rock has long been recognized as an efficient erosion mechanism, but the effects have not been readily applied to landscape evolution in response to tectonic and climatic forcing. Here, we quantify how and where ice-driven mechanical e...

Mountain forests below rocky cliffs are regularly impacted by falling blocks. Rockfall thus increases tree mortality and can locally alter the forest structure. At same time, trees decelerate or stop blocks play an important role in protecting settlements infrastructure from rockfall impacts. Furthermore, upper part of a slope protect further downslope. Considering interaction between dynamics ...

The overarching goal of the study is to develop a rockfall susceptibility map for Valchiavenna (SO), located in Italian Central Alps. approach was two-fold: first part work consisted developing geomechanical maps, which are relevant rock mass instability, whilst second aimed implementation obtained maps as predictors statistically based model. chosen target variables, collected an available fie...

In steep terrain, forests play an important role as natural means of protection against hazards, such rockfall. Due to climate warming, significant changes in the service these have be expected future. Shifts current more drought adapted species may result temporary or even irreversible losses reduction rockfall risk provided by forests. this study, we assessed how protective capacity a forest ...

This study aimed to find the optimal thickness combination of two-layered absorbing system combinated with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) cushion and a soil layer in steel shed under dynamic loadings. The coupled Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic method (SPH) Finite Element Method (FEM) were introduced simulate impact rockfall against two-layer system. By comparing numerical results test data, model ...