La Rogativa Catchment Case Study
The Rogativa catchment consists in a large surface of Pine tree reforestation (Pinus nigra; Pinus pinaster; Pinus halepensis) from the 1970’s and remnants of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In the 1970s large forest restauration works, including the construction of a dense network of check-dams was performed together with reforestation. The effect of land use changes and check-dams on soil erosion, channel morphology, and implications for sediment and soil organic carbon dynamics at catchment scale were analysed and described in detail in previous studies. In BENCHMARKS we aim to further assess how past reforestations have affected soil health indicators as compared to native oak forests and how soil health is important for climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.
The Rogativa catchment is characterised by important land use changes over the past decades. Importantly, since the 1950’s agricultural land abandonment occurred and in the 1970’s large parts of the catchment were reforested as part of a large-scale hydrological control works. While the reforested sites are dominated by Pine trees, still some remnants can be found of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In BENCHMARKS we aim to assess how soil health indicators have developed in reforested sites as compared to native oak forests and what is the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Objectives
Assess how soil health indicators in reforested sites have developed as compared to native oak forests and discuss and evaluate the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation and protection of biodiversity.
Local focus
Evaluate soil health under different forest types (pine afforestation versus natural oak tree forest) and assess the relevance of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
La Rogativa Catchment Case Study
The Rogativa catchment consists in a large surface of Pine tree reforestation (Pinus nigra; Pinus pinaster; Pinus halepensis) from the 1970’s and remnants of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In the 1970s large forest restauration works, including the construction of a dense network of check-dams was performed together with reforestation. The effect of land use changes and check-dams on soil erosion, channel morphology, and implications for sediment and soil organic carbon dynamics at catchment scale were analysed and described in detail in previous studies. In BENCHMARKS we aim to further assess how past reforestations have affected soil health indicators as compared to native oak forests and how soil health is important for climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.
The Rogativa catchment is characterised by important land use changes over the past decades. Importantly, since the 1950’s agricultural land abandonment occurred and in the 1970’s large parts of the catchment were reforested as part of a large-scale hydrological control works. While the reforested sites are dominated by Pine trees, still some remnants can be found of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In BENCHMARKS we aim to assess how soil health indicators have developed in reforested sites as compared to native oak forests and what is the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Objectives
Assess how soil health indicators in reforested sites have developed as compared to native oak forests and discuss and evaluate the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation and protection of biodiversity.
Local focus
Evaluate soil health under different forest types (pine afforestation versus natural oak tree forest) and assess the relevance of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
La Rogativa Catchment Case Study
The Rogativa catchment consists in a large surface of Pine tree reforestation (Pinus nigra; Pinus pinaster; Pinus halepensis) from the 1970’s and remnants of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In the 1970s large forest restauration works, including the construction of a dense network of check-dams was performed together with reforestation. The effect of land use changes and check-dams on soil erosion, channel morphology, and implications for sediment and soil organic carbon dynamics at catchment scale were analysed and described in detail in previous studies. In BENCHMARKS we aim to further assess how past reforestations have affected soil health indicators as compared to native oak forests and how soil health is important for climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.
The Rogativa catchment is characterised by important land use changes over the past decades. Importantly, since the 1950’s agricultural land abandonment occurred and in the 1970’s large parts of the catchment were reforested as part of a large-scale hydrological control works. While the reforested sites are dominated by Pine trees, still some remnants can be found of native open oak forest (Quercus ilex). In BENCHMARKS we aim to assess how soil health indicators have developed in reforested sites as compared to native oak forests and what is the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Objectives
Assess how soil health indicators in reforested sites have developed as compared to native oak forests and discuss and evaluate the role of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation and protection of biodiversity.
Local focus
Evaluate soil health under different forest types (pine afforestation versus natural oak tree forest) and assess the relevance of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
