Restoring Floodplain Forests

Abstract

Floodplain forests are unique ecosystems that are located alongside rivers and streams. These systems derive their characteristics from periodic inundations. The extent, structure, and diversity of floodplain forests have been strongly modified by human pressures acting at the catchment, reach, and local scales. Even though many floodplains in Europe are characterised by natural forestation that began after the Second World War due to widespread changes in land-use practices, most European floodplain forests have disappeared. Since the 1970s, the scientific community and land managers have recognised the ecological, economic, and social values of floodplain forest. These forests are very valuable because of their high potential in terms of wood production, protection of water quality, flood control, recreation, and improvement of the landscape. In addition, they are natural areas with a high biological diversity and ecological specificity due to the influence of water on habitat conditions. Riparian areas are important for fish, amphibians, and mammals (e.g., beavers). Additionally, the forests provide breeding habitat for birds, and are navigational aids and stopover sites for migrating species (e.g., the songbirds in the North Platte River). The need to preserve and restore them is now widely recognised. Forest ecosystems that are under hydrological control evolved their original ecological processes in response to their proximity to and the dynamics of the river. Thus, the periodic water supply is a key process characterising floodplain forests. The land–water interfaces are important areas for biological exchanges, water supply and content, soil moisture, organic matter evolution, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Floodplain forests are part of 44 Restoring Floodplain Forests