Forest Rewetting

What effects does the rewetting of forest areas have on biodiversity, and how can rewetting be implemented?

The working group will address the topic of rewetting forest areas, with a special focus paid to how rewetting affects biodiversity within the forest ecosystem. Drawing on experience from research and practice, the goal of the group is to summarize which implementation measures not only bring benefits in terms of water balance and carbon storage, but also advantages for biodiversity. Possible questions to be addressed in the synthesis are, for example: Which species benefit, and which species are negatively affected by rewetting? What does biodiversity-promoting management of these forests look like? What role can ecosystem engineers such as beavers play in the rewetting of forested areas? What are the costs and degree of maintenance involved?

The working group is expected to start in mid-May 2024 and expects first results by the end of 2024.