Abstract
We studied the impact of infrastructure networks on relict floodplain forest along three stretches of the Upper Rhine (Kembs-Efringen-Kirchen, Strasbourg-Kehl and Beinheim-Iffezheim) and the Inn-Danube (Mulheim-Obernberg, Passau-Ingling and Engelhartszell-Jochenstein), each on the border between two countries. We analysed land use patterns within a 500 m wide buffer area along the main channel using photo-interpretation and compared the situations between the 1950s, 1980’s and 2010’s. Temporal changes were assessed with transition matrices and selected spatial metrics, including fragmentation indices. Over this period, forest area remained similar at three sites, increased slightly at two sites and decreased at one site. However, on average, 12.5% of floodplain forest had changed location (range: 7.3% (Engelhartszell-Jochenstein)– 26.5% (Kembs-Efringen-Kirchen)). The natural development of unmanaged areas and agricultural abandonment after World War II has led to the emergence of young riparian forests along rivers. In the Upper Rhine region, the results showed asymmetry in these two factors, with unmanaged natural areas most important on the French side and agricultural abandonment on the German side. Along the Inn-Danube, agricultural abandonment has led to an increase or stagnation of floodplain forest areas. In most cases, development of transport infrastructure between the 1950s and 2010s has caused fragmentation of the forest area, reducing the relict forest to a patchy green corridor with reduced functionality and interfacing. To go further and improve the management of these relict forests, we have to investigate the interdependency between practices related to infrastructure operation and the role that biodiversity plays for stakeholders.
Highlights
The alluvial plains of large European rivers have been heavily modified throughout the last two centuries to meet different human uses, including transport, hydropower generation, industrial production and housing
While total forest area sometimes appeared to remain constant over time, there were cases where the forest changed location, e.g. where one habitat type has developed into forest while a similar area of forest changed to another habitat type
Parts of the 1950s forest had been transformed into other habitat types, but this was counterbalanced by the conversion of other habitats into forest, either by natural development of pioneer habitats or through the effects of agricultural abandonment
Summary
The alluvial plains of large European rivers have been heavily modified throughout the last two centuries to meet different human uses, including transport, hydropower generation, industrial production and housing. River channelization applied in the mid- and late-nineteenth century has resulted in profound landscape transformation, with multi-channel river ecosystems reduced to single-thread channel configurations This major change has led to modifications in land use at the expense of the riparian forest that naturally surrounded large rivers and provided a smooth transition between the aquatic environment and adjacent terrestrial ecosystems [1,2,3,4]. The natural floodplain forest ( called alluvial forest or riparian forest) has been reduced to a thin buffer of vegetation extending laterally from the residual active channel to the uplands [5] This relict floodplain forest constitutes an essential element of the green corridor running along watercourses, and a key element of the landscape matrix. In the absence of overflow from the river due to channelization, floodplain forest sustainability is closely linked to the land use and development on the alluvial floodplain [6]
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