Selected natural hazards as climate change indicators on the example of forest ecosystems in the Slovak republic

Climate changes represent one of the most important phenomena endangering natural ecosystems i.e. forest ecosystems. Due to present climate change it is anticipated a higher frequency and extend of natural hazards (i.e. drought, heavy storms, floods, wild fires, heat waves) (IPCC 2014). Regarding to potential damages in forest ecosystems are following natural hazards the most important: heath waves, drought episodes, forest and wild fires, torrential rains, windstorm calamities, snow avalanches and bark beetle calamities. The project focuses not only on evaluation of the selected natural hazards as a climate change indicators, but also aims to prepare a frame of adaptation and mitigation measures in forest ecosystems and landscape.