Can forest transformation help reducing floods in forested watersheds? Certain aspects on soil hydraulics and organic matter properties, Kahlenberg

Date of entry : 08/04/2021

Date of last edition : 20/04/2021

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Informations

Solution ID

Title of Nature Base Solution

Can forest transformation help reducing floods in forested watersheds? Certain aspects on soil hydraulics and organic matter properties, Kahlenberg

External links

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474706505000628

Description of solution

Summary (Challenges; Objectives)

"Former floodplains in many European countries increasingly suffer from serious floods due to intensified human activity. These floods have caused safety and ecological problems as well as they have resulted in economic losses in agricultural used watersheds. In this context, the influence of the management practice of forest transformation in forested areas on soil hydraulic properties is presented and discussed as a means of preventing such disasters at a reasonable cost and during a foreseeable period."

"It is concluded that for the approximate duration of one century the practice of forest transformation does not contribute to flood prevention through enhanced infiltration capacity or water retention."

Technical characteristics

The experiments were carried out in the respective study area on four different plots, each representing a different stage of forest transformation.

Limiting factors / lessons learnt

The transformation of pure forest pine stands into mixed pine stands affects parameters such as infiltration capacity and water capacity of the soil and can therefore lead to increased surface runoff for about one century after the transformation took place (increased soil erosion). This means, of course, that the recent forest conversion is not likely to increase water retaining.

It is also noted that study areas such as this need to be studied over a long period of time, as such short analyses are insufficient to detect ecological changes affecting whole landscapes.

Location Latitude

52.8666667000

Location Longitude

13.8833333000

Comment on location

This study was carried out in the forest area of “Kahlenberg”, which is located about 50 km northeast of Berlin.

Keywords

Ecosystem (s) impacted

Woodland and forest

Hazard(s) concerned

Floods

Other keyword

forest transformation

Exposition

Exposed assets

No Assets

Is there population exposed?

Activity

Are there jobs created in the nature-based sector?

No jobs created

Are there new employments in tourism sector, sport activities or recreational activites ?

Are there new activities in the tourism sector , sport activities or recreational activites?

Are there new/traditional activities that increased?

I don't know

Temporal aspects

Design life time of the action

Don’t know

Implementation time of the action

Don’t know

Others

Participatory process

Is it possible to transpose this action in a different context?

Yes, it is easily transposable

References

Wahl, N. A., Wöllecke, B., Bens, O., & Hüttl, R. F. (2005). Can forest transformation help reducing floods in forested watersheds? Certain aspects on soil hydraulics and organic matter properties. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 30(8-10), 611-621.

Evaluation

Risk reduction

Hazard

Exposure

Vulnerability

Feasibility

Technical Feasibility

Economic Feasibility

Environment

Water

Soil

Vegetation

Landscape

Biodiversity

Society

Quality of Life

Community involvement

Landscape Heritage

Economy

Revitalization

Local Economy