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Developing natural forests

Developing natural forests

Natural forest captures a great deal of water both above and below ground. It also provides resistance to flowing water. It can be developed on former arable land and former (production) grasslands. Conversion to a natural (or more natural) forest can also take place from production forest.

The impact

Why do natural forests work well?

Natural forests have different layers (tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer). This type of forest is a champion at absorbing and slowing down rainwater. First, the various layers of the canopy catch raindrops (at least during the summer season). Mosses on the branches and trunk also absorb rainwater. Once on the ground, humus also aids absorption. The water then seeps further into the soil. A healthy forest floor is porous to a great depth. Thanks to the abundance of soil fauna and plant roots, there are many cavities, tunnels and crevices into which the water can penetrate. This is the sponge effect at its best. In this way, a water reserve is also built up for dry periods.

In a floodplain or on a slope where water runs off, trees and shrubs provide resistance with their trunks and numerous branches. This slows down the flowing water.

Natural forest versus commercial forest

In a natural forest, all manner of trees and shrubs stand haphazardly intermingled: young and old specimens, straight and crooked, standing upright, leaning or lying down, and living, withering or dead specimens. It is an ecosystem rich in forms and species, in which water is collected and slowed down in all sorts of ways, both above and below ground.

In a timber production forest (in the truest sense), trees stand neatly in rows, at equal distances from one another, and are all the same age. Shrubs and low branches are often absent. This reduces the ability to collect and slow down water above ground.

A multifunctional forest is an intermediate form, in which the forest manager combines naturalness and production as effectively as possible.