Soil Eco-Technology to Recover Water Storage in disturbed Forests

Provider

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

Programme

—

Call for proposals

—

Main participants

Biologické centrum AV ČR, v. v. i.

Contest type

M2 - International cooperation

Contract ID

MSMT-6292/2020-9

Project name in Czech

Soil Eco-Technology to Recover Water Storage in disturbed Forests

Annotation in Czech

Soil water is an important pool of water globally and locally, it regulates the water fluxes in the landscape. The role of soils in the water cycle is largely determined by soil organic matter, which is in turn governed by land use. Here, we develop innovative techniques for the smart landscape water management. Consequently, applying these measures offers adaptations to global climatic changes contribute to reducing risks of droughts and floods, ensure provisioning of water for plants and human use, and contribute to the development of sustainable societies in Europe, Japan, and in other regions worldwide. In addition this will support efforts for mitigating global change by sequestering carbon in soils and biomass. To illustrate the magnitude of the effect of the suggested measures, we have calculated that soils in Czech Republic contain 5-10 times more water than all river dam reservoirs we have in this country. It can be concluded, therefore, that an increase of soil water storage capacities by up to 10% equal to increasing existing reservoir capacities of 150 - 200%, however, with cost being many orders of magnitudes lower. In forest soil, selection of tree species and application suitable forestry techniques is a major tool that effect hydraulic properties of the sites as is affect soil and soil biota development. The project brings recommendations on how tree species selection and forest management can be applied to improve water storage in landscape. We will focus on dominant tree species used in Europe, Japan, and Indonesia. Moreover, we will bring conceptual understanding of key processes of water storage relate to leaf traits, suggest general rules for forest planning. This toolkit will be applied on following examples of forest disturbances important in Europe and Japan: forest recovery after mining and similar heavy disturbances, effect of compaction by machinery and effect of game (deer) grazing, effect of acidification by acid deposition.

R&D category

ZV - Basic research

OECD FORD - main branch

40104 - Soil science

OECD FORD - secondary branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

OECD FORD - another secondary branch

40102 - Forestry

CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)

DF - Pedology<br>DI - Pollution and air control<br>DJ - Pollution and water control<br>DK - Contamination and decontamination of soil including pesticides<br>DL - Nuclear waste, radioactive pollution and control<br>DM - Solid waste and its control, recycling<br>DO - Protection of landscape<br>GK - Forestry

Provider evaluation

U - Uspěl podle zadání (s publikovanými či patentovanými výsledky atd.)

Project results evaluation

Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid pandemic, the project objectives were achieved. The partners harmonized research methodologies and monitored locations in the EU and Japan. The partners published the results in 9 articles in international journals recorded in WoS, one book chapter and one book published in Czech and English.

Realization period - beginning

Apr 1, 2020

Realization period - end

Mar 31, 2023

Project status

U - Finished project

Latest support payment

Feb 27, 2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Data delivery code

CEP24-MSM-8I-U

Data delivery date

Jul 1, 2024

Total approved costs

15,167 thou. CZK

Public financial support

15,167 thou. CZK

Other public sources

0 thou. CZK

Non public and foreign sources

0 thou. CZK