Environmental Services Provided from Riparian Forests in the Nordic Countries |
| |
Authors: | Per Gundersen Ari Laurén Leena Finér Eva Ring Harri Koivusalo Magne Sætersdal Jan-Olov Weslien Bjarni D Sigurdsson Lars Högbom Jukka Laine Karin Hansen |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Forest and Landscape Ecology, Forest and Landscape Denmark, University of Copenhagen, H?rsholm Kongevej 11, 2970, H?rsholm, Denmark 2. Joensuu Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland 3. Skogforsk Uppsala Science Park, 751 83, Uppsala, Sweden 4. P.O. Box 15200, 00076, Aalto, Finland 5. Skog og Landskap, Fanaflaten 4, 5244, Fana, Norway 6. Agricultural University of Iceland, Hvanneyri, 311, Borgarnes, Iceland 7. Parkano Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Kaironiementie 54, 39700, Parkano, Finland
|
| |
Abstract: | Riparian forests (RF) growing along streams, rivers and lakes comprise more than 2% of the forest area in the Nordic countries (considering a 10 m wide zone from the water body). They have special ecological functions in the landscape. They receive water and nutrients from the upslope areas, are important habitats for biodiversity, have large soil carbon stores, but may emit more greenhouse gases (GHG) than the uplands. In this article, we present a review of the environmental services related to water protection, terrestrial biodiversity, carbon storage and greenhouse gas dynamics provided by RF in the Nordic countries. We discuss the benefits and trade-offs when leaving the RF as a buffer against the impacts from upland forest management, in particular the impacts of clear cutting. Forest buffers are effective in protecting water quality and aquatic life, and have positive effects on terrestrial biodiversity, particularly when broader than 40 m, whereas the effect on the greenhouse gas exchange is unclear. |
| |
Keywords: | Biodiversity Greenhouse gas exchange Riparian forest buffer Surface water quality Clear cutting |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|