Projects / Programmes
Conservation of quality and quantity of water aquifiers in forest land
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.01.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B430 |
Biomedical sciences |
Sylviculture, forestry, forestry technology |
| B410 |
Biomedical sciences |
Soil science, agricultural hydrology |
| P510 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physical geography, geomorphology, pedology, cartography, climatology |
forest hydrology, forest climatology, forest water balance, climate change, modeling
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
22592 |
PhD Urša Vilhar |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Head |
2007 - 2009 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0404 |
Slovenian Forestry Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051673000 |
0 |
Abstract
The importance of hydrological function in multifunctional forests under different environmental impacts, land use changes and extreme weather events is increasing. Forest and water are indivisible whole since half of forests in Slovenia have expressed hydrological function. First level of hydrological function is expressed in 33.000 ha of forests, which include protection areas around drinking water catchments, and second degree of hydrological function is expressed in 500.000 ha of forests in karst and high karst areas.
The obtained results will help to develop guidelines for forest management according to hydrological function of forests in accordance to Slovene legislation regarding forest management, management of water and the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (2000). The possible influence of forest management on active protection of hydrological regime in the forest land.
In a selected river sub-basin covered by forest in-situ measurements and BROOK90 hydrological model will be used for estimation of water balance of the sub-basin. The actual forest stand composition and elements of forest water balance will be determined. With the use of model the changes in the experimental sub-basin will be simulated, such as natural or anthropogenic changes (extreme weather events, land use change, change of tree species composition, etc). The aim of these simulations is to identify the influence of mentioned changes on water regime in the forest land.
Significance for science
Water balance of Slovene forest ecosystems is not known, yet the estimation is essential for understanding the influence of forests on general water cycling. The research project is important for the development of forest hydrology and climatology and especially:
-estimation of hydrological cycling in a watershed
-development of best management practices for forest management when hidrological function is important at different levels
-understanding of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems
-assessing the carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems
-projection of the impacts of extreme weather events (floods, strong winds, drought,...)
-simulation of different forest development scenarios in the future
One of the most important results of the project are original scientific papers and scientific book.
Significance for the country
The project results are of big national importance since they include a scientific book in the field of forest hydrology. It contains theoretical basis and practical application of sylvicultural measures on water balance of selected forest stands. Of great importance for forestry practice is the final report on Interreg project "Forest and water" in Slovene, German and summary in English. It was prepared in the cooperation with Forestry institute and Forestry service and incorporates theoretical information as well as best management guidelines for forest managers for forests where hydrological function is important.
Official institutions and ministries, responsible for preparation and realization of Forest act, Water act, Water frame directive 2000/60/EC, national forest development program, national environment protection program, strategies and action plans, are direct beneficiaries of the project results. At the same time the beneficiaries are all the institutions, active in water management and forest management planning.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
