Abiotic effects of forestry close to water
–
ongoing research at Skogforsk
Lars Högbom, Isabelle Bergkvist, Eva Ring
What is a driving damage?
• Consensus work on
definitions between
authorities, operational
forestry and researchers
on how to define “nonacceptable driving
damages”.
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Photo: Lars Högbom
Berg et al. (2010) Skogforsk
Working Report no [in Swedish]
Serious driving damages:
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in or close to water
causing sediment transport
causing damming
on peat lands close to water
that affects left environmental considerations
that reduce accessibility
that affect quality of frequent outdoor areas
affecting cultural heritage
Riparian forest
• Create a link between
upland soils and water
courses.
• Important for biodiversity
both on land and in water.
• Greenhouse gas balance.
• Nutrient retention - both
nitrogen and phosphorous.
Painting: M.C. Eischer
Published by CAR-ES
Gundersen P, Laurén A, Finér L, Ring E, Koivusalo H, Saetersdal M,
Weslien J, Sigurdsson B, Högbom L, Hansen K (2010) Ecosystems
services provided by forest by the water in the Nordic countries. AMBIO,
39:555-566.
Riparian forests
Important for
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Photo: Lars Högbom
Litter input
Micro climate
Water chemistry
Biodiversity
Riparian forests
And
• Coarse woody debris
• Stream bank stability
• Flow velocity
Photo: Lars Högbom
Buffer zones with trees
Maintain the functions
provided by riparian forests
• Litter input
• Input of coarse woody
debris
• Stabilizing banks
• Shade (micro climate)
and they also
Protect from physical and
chemical disturbance
• May act as a “filter” for
upslope fluxes of sediments
and nutrients
No rutting in the riparian
zone →
• Reduced export of
sediments and nutrients
• Intact soil processes
Field-courses
• Over the last years we
have given more then
100 full day courses
• A mix of biology,
chemistry and
technology on one hand
and “hands on”
experience on the other.
Photo: Lars Högbom
Take home from the courses
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Planning
Avoid driving damages (rutting) close to water
Avoid sediment transport
Avoid damming up
Use technical solutions (portable bridges,
corduroy bridges and brash mats)
• Restoration not a solution – there is a risk that
the problems worsen.
Photo: Eva Ring
Research (on-going projects)
• Bio-fuel extraction and
driving damages
• Effects on soils of
various technical
different
Photo: Lars Högbom
Bio-fuels vs. driving damages
• Aims, to:
• Estimate the problem,
Photo: Lars Högbom
to what extent is biofuel harvesting
responsible for driving
damages.
• Identify important
factors that affects the
outcome
• Estimate the alternative
costs for avoiding
damages
Evaluation of technical aids
• At four sites, test driving
on:
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Brash mats
Portable bridges
No protection (limiting)
No driving
• Using long transects,
including discharge
areas for ground water.
• Study effects on:
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Fuel consumption
Soil compaction
Rutting
Mercury release
Carbon and nitrogen
mineralisation