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Fit for climate change - Measures for a sustainable, nature orientated adaptation of wet forests in the Münsterland to climate change - Waldgürtel MS
Project
Project code: 28WA100101
Contract period: 01.01.2014
- 31.12.2016
Budget: 2,974,085 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The planned project „Fit for climate change - Measures for a sustainable, nature orientated adaptation of wet forests in the Münsterland to climate change“ aims to investigate up to 4.000 ha of wet forests south of Münster hydrologically to assess options for climate change adaption. The aim is to stabilize the forest on predominant wet sites towards the expected consequences of climate change and to reach a long-term carbon sequestration as effective as possible. The study scheme was developed to act as a role model for other regions in Germany (with similar ecological conditions). The NABU-Naturschutzstation Münsterland e.V. carries out the project in cooperation with the Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz NRW. Scientific monitoring and evaluation will be performed by the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Landschaftsökologie. It is intended to involve all relevant stakeholders. Forests fulfill important climate functions. Worldwide, they are of crucial significance as carbon sinks. Large amounts of CO2 can be stored in the aboveground biomass and in the forest soil - especially in richly structured forests with a nature orientated management. Moreover, forests have a stabilizing effect on the regional climate by reducing the local effects of extreme weather events like heat waves or extreme rainfall. According to current climate models, certain regions of Germany will be effected by extended dry spells during the summer season. Forests which grow in areas with relative wet soils could therefore be exposed to significantly drier conditions periodically. Trees are particularly affected by a rapid change of environmental conditions because of their site-dependency and their longevity. Thus, entire forest areas could be destabilized. The securing of bog forests, the revitalisation of alluvial forests, and the optimization of wet forests shall be reached by carefully planned measures in the project area. This contains the removal of the drainage systems, the increase of the water retention capacity of the soils and the reactivation of alluvial sites. These measures will especially benefit unique oak-elm forests, oak-hornbeam forests which are adapted to water saturated soils and bog forests. Long-term carbon fixation can be increased by raising the amount of dead- and matured wood in the forests, the adaption of unnatural forest stands on wet sites to climate change and by creating new forests through afforestation. The restoration of a raised- peat bog (about 27 ha) in the project area will provide another significant contribution to the long-term sequestration of carbon in the project area. All measures will secure and increase biodiversity, closeness to nature and structural diversity. Rare and often countrywide endangered species such as fire salamander, common viper, middle-spotted woodpecker and honey buzzard will strongly profit from the envisaged project. Twelve reference sites will be used to monitor the results and to compare the carbon balance and biodiversity of unmanaged and managed forest areas as well as the long term effects of the measures. The methods that are used for the study will be developed by the scientific monitoring and evaluation part of the project and should act as a role model for a nationwide network of reference sites The ecological effects of an increased amount of mature- and deadwood will also be investigated as well as the effects of rewetting measures on major oak trees. Large parts of the forests in Germany are in private ownership. Owners of private forests will obtain a professional, silvicultural consulting to optimize their forest stands in regards to the effects of climate change. Therefore, professional trainings will be developed and put into execution in cooperation with the Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz. The educational material should not just be used in the project area but also nationwide to help private forest owners with the adaption of their forest stands. Owners of private forests are welcome to participate with their properties and can benefit from the scientific investigations and the adaptive measures. The development of nationwide applicable educational material for children should focus on the importance of our forests in regards to climate change and teach ways how to minimize the effects of our everyday actions to the global warming. A symposium, intensive public relations with additional information materials are planned as well as different events and an climate education trail to transfer the results of the project and general information about the relationship of forests and climate change.
Section overview
Subjects
- Silviculture
- Agricultural hydrology
- Climate Change
