Research
Forestry and Water Quality
Research Status:current
Our research is attempting to understand the effects of forests and forestry on water quality. Water draining forests is usually of high quality and many of the world’s largest cities rely on water draining forest protected areas. On the other hand, forest operations have the potential to impair water quality by increasing diffuse pollution. Our studies are investigating the effects of forest operations such as cultivation, drainage, road construction, fertilisation and harvesting on water quality. The work includes studies on surface water acidification, carbon and nitrogen cycling, peatland restoration and the benefits of woodland planting for water quality and ecology, in the riparian zone and the wider catchment.
The effects of forests and forest management on the acidification of soils and waters has been the subject of much research over the last 25 years.
A principal concern in the UK has been whether upland conifer forests have contributed to the serious problems of acidified waters and loss of salmon in acid sensitive areas.
The primary cause of acidification is the deposition of acidifying sulphur and nitrogen pollutants from the combustion of fossil fuels. However, trees can increase the amount of pollutants that are deposited on a given area due to the greater air turbulence created by their ‘rough’ canopies.
Since forests can enhance the deposition of acid pollutants from the atmosphere, they have the potential to further acidify sensitive waters. There is therefore a need to be able to quantify the amount of pollutants that are captured by forests and identify where this could have a significant impact on the water environment. The way that forests are planned, designed and managed will also influence the risk of them contributing to acidification.
Many organisations have been involved in and continue to research the issue of acidification and its causes, both in the UK and across Europe and the wider world. Much research is undertaken in collaborative programmes and is designed to guide emission control policy and practice. We carry out research, monitoring and assessment work in the following areas:
We have worked with the James Hutton Institute and other partners to assess the role of forestry in relation to atmospheric pollution and the acidification and recovery of acidified waters. This was to inform discussions between the forestry sector, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, fisheries groups and other stakeholders on the case for further reductions in forest cover to aid the recovery process in affected areas.
(PDF-4144K)
The long term (1860-2100) response of soil and surface water chemistry in selected streams and rivers in Galloway to changes in acidic deposition and forest management practices were assessed using the dynamic model MAGIC (Model of Acidification of Groundwater in Catchments). The results of this work are now available in a joint report, which was jointly funded by the Forestry Commission, the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Trent University, Ontario.
Parts of central and southwest Scotland, Cumbria, the Pennines, Wales and the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland.
This is because of their base-poor, slow weathering soils and rocks, which are unable to neutralise the large quantities of acid pollutants that they receive in rainfall. Over the past 100-150 years, stream and loch waters in these areas have gradually acidified until some can no longer support salmon or other sensitive aquatic life.
International action was taken in the 1980s to tackle this problem by reducing the emissions of acid pollutants by power stations and industry. However, while this has resulted in many waters showing clear signs of chemical recovery, the response of fish and aquatic invertebrates has generally been small.
Guidance to support the UK Forestry Standard has been produced to describe measures that can be taken to minimise adverse impacts and provide a methodology for determining whether new planting, restocking or felling proposals could pose a risk to freshwaters.
Research Note 16: Forestry and surface water acidification, reviews the evidence of the role of tree species, planting scale and design. It covers the identification and protection of vulnerable areas, use of critical load and site impact assessments, research and monitoring, and measures to promote recovery.
To study the effects forests and forestry on water quality and the water environment across spatial and temporal scales.
To discover ways in which forestry and forests can contribute improvements to the water environment.
To test the efficacy of the UKFS Water Guidelines and associated guidance, and inform future revisions.
The work is done in partnership with Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, St Andrews and Stirling; The Galloway and Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trusts.
We are investigating the effects of peatland restoration by deforestation on nutrient and carbon transport to the water environment.
This Practice Guide provides advice to forest managers, practitioners, planners and supervisors, on how forest operations should be planned and managed to protect the water environment.
This project aims to monitor the effects of aerial and hand forest fertiliser applications on water quality in sensitive water catchments.
Opportunity mapping has been developed to help identify these locations and promote more integrated catchment management.
Ecosystem services have traditionally been regarded as ‘free goods’ and there is a lack of incentives to protect them. Payments for Ecosystem Services attempt to rectify this, often through market mechanisms. The use of these schemes has become more widespread particularly in the USA and some developing countries. By Gregory Valatin (Forest Research) and Jenna Coull […]
Hydrologist
Science Group Leader
