Forests can help prevent floods and droughts — European Environment Agency

<!DOCTYPE html>      <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="no-js" lang="en"> <head> <base href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/forests-can-help-prevent-floods/" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#069" /> <meta name="description" content="Information on the environment for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public" /> <meta name="DC.description" content="Forests can retain excess rainwater, prevent extreme run-offs and reduce the damage from flooding. They can also help mitigate the effects of droughts. A new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides an overview of the water-retention potential of European forests." /> <meta name="description" content="Forests can retain excess rainwater, prevent extreme run-offs and reduce the damage from flooding. They can also help mitigate the effects of droughts. A new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides an overview of the water-retention potential of European forests." /> <meta name="DC.format" content="text/html" /> <meta name="DC.type" content="News" /> <meta name="DC.date.valid_range" content="2015/09/24 - " /> <meta name="keywords" content="forest management, water retention, forest, nature-based solutions" /> <meta name="DC.date.modified" content="2020-11-23T11:58:35+01:00" /> <meta name="DC.subject" content="forest management, water retention, forest, nature-based solutions" /> <meta name="DC.date.created" content="2015-09-23T12:55:48+01:00" /> <meta name="DC.language" content="en" /> <style> /* - critical.css - */ /*! (do not remove this :) *//*! 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><span>Topics</span><span> overview</span ><i alt="Title icon" aria-hidden="true" class="eea-icon eea-icon-arrow-right" ></i ></a> </div> <a title="At a glance" class="sub-title" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance" ><span>At a glance</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="State of Europe's environment" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/state-of-europes-environment" ><span>State of Europe's environment</span></a ><a title="Climate" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/climate" ><span>Climate</span></a ><a title="Economy and resources" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/economy-and-resources" ><span>Economy and resources</span></a ><a title="Health" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/health" ><span>Health</span></a ><a title="Nature" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/nature" ><span>Nature</span></a ><a title="Sustainability" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/at-a-glance/sustainability" ><span>Sustainability</span></a > </div> </div> <div id="topics-right-column" class="nine wide column"> <a title="In-depth topics" class="sub-title" href="/en/topics/in-depth" ><span>In-depth topics</span></a > <div class="ui four column grid"> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Agriculture and food system" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/agriculture-and-food" ><span>Agriculture and food system</span></a ><a title="Air pollution" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/air-pollution-new" ><span>Air pollution</span></a ><a title="Bathing water quality" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/bathing-water" ><span>Bathing water quality</span></a ><a title="Biodiversity: state of habitats and species" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/biodiversity" ><span>Biodiversity: state of habitats and species</span></a ><a title="Buildings and construction" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/buildings-and-construction" ><span>Buildings and construction</span></a ><a title="Chemicals" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/chemicals" ><span>Chemicals</span></a ><a title="Circular economy" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/circular-economy" ><span>Circular economy</span></a ><a title="Climate change impacts, risks and adaptation" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/climate-change-impacts-risks-and-adaptation" ><span>Climate change impacts, risks and adaptation</span></a ><a title="Climate change mitigation: reducing emissions" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/climate-change-mitigation-reducing-emissions" ><span>Climate change mitigation: reducing emissions</span></a ><a title="Electric vehicles" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/electric-vehicles" ><span>Electric vehicles</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Energy" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/energy" ><span>Energy</span></a ><a title="Energy efficiency" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/energy-efficiency" ><span>Energy efficiency</span></a ><a title="Environmental health impacts" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/environmental-health-impacts" ><span>Environmental health impacts</span></a ><a title="Environmental inequalities" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/environmental-inequalities" ><span>Environmental inequalities</span></a ><a title="Extreme weather: floods, droughts and heatwaves" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/extreme-weather-floods-droughts-and-heatwaves" ><span>Extreme weather: floods, droughts and heatwaves</span></a ><a title="Forests and forestry" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/forests-and-forestry" ><span>Forests and forestry</span></a ><a title="Industry" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/industry" ><span>Industry</span></a ><a title="Land use" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/land-use" ><span>Land use</span></a ><a title="Nature protection and restoration" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/nature-protection-and-restoration" ><span>Nature protection and restoration</span></a ><a title="Noise" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/noise" ><span>Noise</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Plastics" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/plastics" ><span>Plastics</span></a ><a title="Pollution" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/pollution" ><span>Pollution</span></a ><a title="Production and consumption" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/production-and-consumption" ><span>Production and consumption</span></a ><a title="Renewable energy" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/renewable-energy" ><span>Renewable energy</span></a ><a title="Resource use and materials" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/resource-use-and-materials" ><span>Resource use and materials</span></a ><a title="Road transport" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/road-transport-new" ><span>Road transport</span></a ><a title="Seas and coasts" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/seas-and-coasts" ><span>Seas and coasts</span></a ><a title="Soil" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/soil" ><span>Soil</span></a ><a title="Sustainability challenges" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/sustainability-challenges" ><span>Sustainability challenges</span></a ><a title="Sustainability solutions" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/sustainability-solutions" ><span>Sustainability solutions</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Sustainable finance" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/sustainable-finance" ><span>Sustainable finance</span></a ><a title="Textiles" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/textiles" ><span>Textiles</span></a ><a title="Transport and mobility" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/transport-and-mobility-new" ><span>Transport and mobility</span></a ><a title="Urban sustainability" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/urban-sustainability" ><span>Urban sustainability</span></a ><a title="Waste and recycling" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/waste-and-recycling" ><span>Waste and recycling</span></a ><a title="Water" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/topics/in-depth/water" ><span>Water</span></a > </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="menu-content tablet hidden mobile hidden" id="tip-analysis-and-data"> <div class="mega-menu-title"> <a title="Analysis and data" class="ui button inverted icon right labeled" href="/en/analysis" ><span>Analysis and data</span><span> overview</span ><i alt="Title icon" aria-hidden="true" class="eea-icon eea-icon-arrow-right"></i ></a> </div> <div class="ui four column grid"> <div class="column"> <a title="Publications" class="sub-title" href="/en/analysis/publications" ><span>Publications</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Maps and charts" class="sub-title" href="/en/analysis/maps-and-charts" ><span>Maps and charts</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Indicators" class="sub-title" href="/en/analysis/indicators" ><span>Indicators</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Country fact sheets" class="sub-title" href="/en/analysis/country-fact-sheets" ><span>Country fact sheets</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Datahub" class="sub-title" href="/en/analysis/data-hub" ><span>Datahub</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="menu-content tablet hidden mobile hidden" id="tip-countries"> <div class="mega-menu-title"> <a title="Countries" class="ui button inverted icon right labeled" href="/en/countries" ><span>Countries</span><span> overview</span ><i alt="Title icon" aria-hidden="true" class="eea-icon eea-icon-arrow-right"></i ></a> </div> <div class="ui grid"> <div class="eight wide column"> <a title="EEA member countries" class="sub-title" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries" ><span>EEA member countries</span></a > <div class="ui five column grid"> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Austria" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/austria" ><span>Austria</span></a ><a title="Belgium" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/belgium" ><span>Belgium</span></a ><a title="Bulgaria" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/bulgaria" ><span>Bulgaria</span></a ><a title="Croatia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/croatia" ><span>Croatia</span></a ><a title="Cyprus" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/cyprus" ><span>Cyprus</span></a ><a title="Czechia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/czechia" ><span>Czechia</span></a ><a title="Denmark" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/denmark" ><span>Denmark</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Estonia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/estonia" ><span>Estonia</span></a ><a title="Finland" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/finland" ><span>Finland</span></a ><a title="France" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/france" ><span>France</span></a ><a title="Germany" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/germany" ><span>Germany</span></a ><a title="Greece" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/greece" ><span>Greece</span></a ><a title="Hungary" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/hungary" ><span>Hungary</span></a ><a title="Iceland" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/iceland" ><span>Iceland</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Ireland" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/ireland" ><span>Ireland</span></a ><a title="Italy" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/italy" ><span>Italy</span></a ><a title="Latvia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/latvia" ><span>Latvia</span></a ><a title="Liechtenstein" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/liechtenstein" ><span>Liechtenstein</span></a ><a title="Lithuania" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/lithuania" ><span>Lithuania</span></a ><a title="Luxembourg" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/luxembourg" ><span>Luxembourg</span></a ><a title="Malta" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/malta" ><span>Malta</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Netherlands" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/netherlands" ><span>Netherlands</span></a ><a title="Norway" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/norway" ><span>Norway</span></a ><a title="Poland" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/poland" ><span>Poland</span></a ><a title="Portugal" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/portugal" ><span>Portugal</span></a ><a title="Romania" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/romania" ><span>Romania</span></a ><a title="Slovakia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/slovakia" ><span>Slovakia</span></a ><a title="Slovenia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/slovenia" ><span>Slovenia</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Spain" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/spain" ><span>Spain</span></a ><a title="Sweden" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/sweden" ><span>Sweden</span></a ><a title="Switzerland" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/switzerland" ><span>Switzerland</span></a ><a title="Türkiye" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/eea-member-countries/turkiye" ><span>Türkiye</span></a > </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="four wide column"> <div class="ui one column grid nested-grid"> <div class="column"> <a title="Cooperating countries" class="sub-title" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries" ><span>Cooperating countries</span></a > <div class="ui two column grid"> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Albania" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/albania" ><span>Albania</span></a ><a title="Bosnia and Herzegovina" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina" ><span>Bosnia and Herzegovina</span></a ><a title="Kosovo" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/kosovo" ><span>Kosovo *</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <div role="list" class="ui list"> <a title="Montenegro" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/montenegro" ><span>Montenegro</span></a ><a title="North Macedonia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/north-macedonia" ><span>North Macedonia</span></a ><a title="Serbia" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/countries/cooperating-countries/serbia" ><span>Serbia</span></a > </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="menu-content tablet hidden mobile hidden" id="tip-newsroom"> <div class="mega-menu-title"> <a title="Newsletter" class="ui button inverted icon right labeled" href="/en/newsroom"> <span>Newsletter</span> <span> overview</span> <i alt="Title icon" aria-hidden="true" class="eea-icon eea-icon-arrow-right"></i> </a> </div> <div class="ui four column grid"> <div class="column"> <a title="Press releases" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/news"> <span>Press releases</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Feature articles" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/editorial"> <span>Feature articles</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Corporate visuals" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/branding-materials"> <span>Corporate visuals</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Events" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/events"> <span>Events</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Photo competitions" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/photo-competitions"> <span>Photo competitions</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Newsletter and news service" class="sub-title" href="/en/newsroom/newsletter"> <span>Newsletter and news service</span> </a> <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="menu-content tablet hidden mobile hidden" id="tip-about-us"> <div class="mega-menu-title"> <a title="About us" class="ui button inverted icon right labeled" href="/en/about" ><span>About us</span><span> overview</span ><i alt="Title icon" aria-hidden="true" class="eea-icon eea-icon-arrow-right" ></i ></a> </div> <div class="ui four column grid"> <div class="column"> <a title="Who we are" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/who-we-are" ><span>Who we are</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="Governance" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/who-we-are/governance" ><span>Governance</span></a ><a title="Our knowledge network — Eionet" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/who-we-are/our-knowledge-network-eionet" ><span>Our knowledge network — Eionet</span></a ><a title="Projects and cooperation agreements" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/who-we-are/projects-and-cooperation-agreements" ><span>Projects and cooperation agreements</span></a ><a title="Becoming a climate neutral agency" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/who-we-are/becoming-a-climate-neutral-agency" ><span>Becoming a climate neutral agency</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Key partners" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/key-partners" ><span>Key partners</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="European Union partners" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/key-partners/eu-partners" ><span>European Union partners</span></a ><a title="International engagement" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/key-partners/international-engagement" ><span>International engagement</span></a ><a title="Copernicus" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/key-partners/copernicus" ><span>Copernicus</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Careers" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/careers" ><span>Careers</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="Vacancies" class="item" href="/en/about/careers/vacancies"><span>Vacancies</span></a> <a title="How to apply" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/careers/how-to-apply" ><span>How to apply</span></a ><a title="Our workplace" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/careers/our-workplace" ><span>Our workplace</span></a ><a title="Traineeships" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/careers/traineeships" ><span>Traineeships</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Procurement and grants" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/procurement-and-grants" ><span>Procurement and grants</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="Contracts between €15,000 and €143,000" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/procurement-and-grants/negotiated-procedures" ><span>Contracts between €15,000 and €143,000</span></a ><a title="Contracts above €143,000" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/procurement-and-grants/tenders" ><span>Contracts above €143,000</span></a ><a title="Toolbox" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/procurement-and-grants/toolbox" ><span>Toolbox</span></a > </div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Policy corner: EU policies we support" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/policy-corner-eu-policies-we-support" ><span>Policy corner: EU policies we support</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"></div> </div> <div class="column"> <a title="Working practices" class="sub-title" href="/en/about/working-practices" ><span>Working practices</span></a > <div role="list" class="ui list menu-list"> <a title="Procedures and policies" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/working-practices/procedures-and-policies" ><span>Procedures and policies</span></a ><a title="Personal data protection" class="item" role="listitem" href="/en/about/working-practices/personal-data-protection" 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data-sentry-dsn="https://b8f49a13f9704ac88fb4c9bb30539028@sentry.eea.europa.eu/2" data-sentry-env="W1 AWS" data-sentry-ver="23.9.14" data-sentry-user="{}" data-sentry-site="www" data-sentry-server="www-plone-anon-instance-4"></div> </div> <div id="region-content" class=""> <dl class="portalMessage info" id="kssPortalMessage" style="display:none"> <dt>Info</dt> <dd></dd> </dl> <div id="content" class="documentContent panels"> <div class="fullwidth-img-container"> <div class="fullwidth-img-bg" style="background-image:url(https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/forests-can-help-prevent-floods/image_panoramic)" title="Annemarie Bastrup-Birk"></div> </div> <div class="content-header"> <p class="mini-portal-type">News</p> <h1 id="parent-fieldname-title" class="documentFirstHeading"> Forests can help prevent floods and droughts </h1> <div class="content-header-body">  <div id="article-language"> <span class="eea-icon eea-icon-globe eea-icon-lg"></span> <a href="#">Change language</a> <div 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Please make sure javascript is enabled in your browser.</div> </noscript> <span class="portalType">News</span> <span class="docDate publishDate"> Published 24 Sep 2015 <span class="byline-separator"></span> </span> <span class="docDate modificationDate"> Last modified 23 Nov 2020 <span class="byline-separator"></span> </span> <div class="documentByLineReadingStats inline-block"> <span class="documentByLineReadingTime">2</span> <span>min read</span> <span class="byline-separator"></span> </div> <div class="documentByLineImageCopyright"> <span>Photo: ©</span> Annemarie Bastrup-Birk </div> </div> <div class="documentByLineThemes" id="themes-tags"> <span class="listHead">Topics:</span> <span> <a class="link-category" rel="tag" href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity">Biodiversity — Ecosystems</a> </span> <span> <a class="link-category" rel="tag" href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water">Water and marine environment</a> </span> <span> <a class="link-category" rel="tag" href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate-change-adaptation">Climate change adaptation</a> </span> </div> <div id="parent-fieldname-description" class="documentDescription"> Forests can retain excess rainwater, prevent extreme run-offs and reduce the damage from flooding. They can also help mitigate the effects of droughts. A new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides an overview of the water-retention potential of European forests. </div> </div> </div> <nav id="portal-breadcrumbs" class="plone-breadcrumb"> <div class="eea-container breadcrumbs-container"> <span id="breadcrumbs-you-are-here" class="hiddenStructure">You are here:</span> <ol aria-labelledby="breadcrumbs-you-are-here" class="plone-breadcrumb-list"> <li id="breadcrumbs-home"> <a title="Home" href="https://www.eea.europa.eu"> <em class="eea-icon eea-icon-lg eea-icon-home eea-icon-marginless"></em> </a> </li> <li id="breadcrumbs-1"> <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights" title="News">News</a> </li> <li id="breadcrumbs-2"> <span id="breadcrumbs-current">Forests can help prevent ...</span> </li> </ol> </div> </nav> <div class="content-core-wrapper"> <div id="content-core" class="content-core wf-state-published"> <div class="" id="parent-fieldname-text-15c8a4ba86b14571ba68a8c32f44854e"> <p>One third of European territory is covered by forests (mostly managed) and approximately 296 million Europeans live in or close to forests. Forests are essential for human well-being and provide a wide range of ecosystem services to society, including ‘water retention’, defined as the water absorbed or used by forests.</p> <p>The EEA report <a title="" href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-retention-potential-of-forests" class="internal-link" target="_self">‘Water-retention potential of Europe's forests’</a> shows that water retention has an important role to play in buffering the effects of heavy rainfall and droughts. A better understanding of this role can help develop measures to tackle the effects of climate change and extreme weather events.</p> <p><span>The volume of water retained by forests can depend on characteristics such as forest cover area, the length of vegetation growing season, tree composition and tree density, as well as the age and the number of layers of vegetation cover. Water retention by forests affects the amount and timing of the water delivered to streams and groundwater by increasing and maintaining infiltration and storage capacity of the soil. Forests can soak up excess rainwater, preventing run-offs and damage from flooding. By releasing water in the dry season, forests can also help provide clean water and mitigate the effects of droughts.</span></p> <p><span>The report shows that water retention potential tends to increase along with the extent of forest cover in a water basin. Compared to basins with a forest cover of 10%, total water retention is 25% and 50% higher in water basins where the forest cover is more than 30% and 70%, respectively.</span></p> <p><span>Irrespective of the extent of the basin’s forest cover, water retention is typically about 25% greater in summer time than in winter time and that coniferous forests in general retain 10% more water than broadleaved forests or mixed forests. In general, forests in Alpine and Continental regions have the highest water-retention potentials, while Atlantic and Mediterranean regions register lower water-retention potentials.</span></p> <p><span>The report suggests that despite its important role, water retention by forests cannot be promoted as a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, water retention should be considered on a case-by-case basis according to local and regional ecological and hydrological conditions, as proposed in the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/adaptation/ecosystemstorage.htm">natural water-retention measures catalogue</a> of the European Commission .</span></p> </div>   </div> <div class="related-wrapper fullwidth-bg eea-block bg-secondary"> <div id="relatedItems" class="relatedItems"> <h2 class="notoc">Related content</h2> <div class="sorter_ctl" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; display:none;"> <label for="sort_by"> <span>Sort by:</span> <select name="sort_by" id="sort_by"> <option value="effective">Publishing date</option> <option value="title">Title</option> </select> </label> </div>  <div class="visualNoMarker" data-paginate-count="3"> <h3 class="notoc">News and articles</h3> <div> <div class="photoAlbumEntry" data-effective="1458033300000" data-title="Sustainable management is the key to healthy forests in Europe"> <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/sustainable-management-is-the-key" title="Sustainable management is the key to healthy forests in Europe" class=""> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapperImg lazy" data-src="https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/sustainable-management-is-the-key/image_mini"></span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitleWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryType">Article</span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitle">Sustainable management is the key to healthy forests in Europe</span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryDescription">Forests in Europe provide us essential services: clean air, clean water, natural carbon storage, timber, food and other products. 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We talked about the challenges Europe’s forests face with Annemarie Bastrup-Birk, forest and environment expert at the European Environment Agency. </span> </a> </div> </div> <h3 class="notoc">Related briefings</h3> <div> <div class="photoAlbumEntry" data-effective="1424214000000" data-title="Forests"> <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/2015/europe/forests" title="Forests" class=""> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapperImg lazy" data-src="https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/2015/europe/forests/image_mini"></span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitleWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryType">Briefing</span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitle">Forests</span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryDescription"></span> </a> </div> </div> <h3 class="notoc">Related publications</h3> <div> <div class="photoAlbumEntry" data-effective="1443081600000" data-title="Water-retention potential of Europe's forests"> <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-retention-potential-of-forests" title="Water-retention potential of Europe's forests" class=""> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapperImg lazy" data-src="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-retention-potential-of-forests/image_mini"></span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitleWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryType">Publication</span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitle">Water-retention potential of Europe's forests</span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryDescription">This report provides for the first time a European overview of the role of forests in water retention, based on the Water Accounts Production Database developed at the EEA. The results represent 287 sub-basins hosting more than 65 000 catchments across Europe. The impact of forests on water retention is measured according to three parameters/characteristics: forest cover (measured in hectares), forest types (coniferous, broad-leaved, mixed), and the degree of management of the forests (‘protected’ versus unprotected/commercial forests). The estimation of the water-retention potential is derived from the relationships between input (rainfall) and output (water run-off into rivers and lakes) as affected by these three forest characteristics.</span> </a> </div> <div class="photoAlbumEntry" data-effective="1442822400000" data-title="Exploring nature-based solutions — The role of green infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of weather- and climate change-related natural hazards "> <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/exploring-nature-based-solutions-2014" title="Exploring nature-based solutions — The role of green infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of weather- and climate change-related natural hazards " class=""> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryWrapperImg lazy" data-src="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/exploring-nature-based-solutions-2014/image_mini"></span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitleWrapper"> <span class="photoAlbumEntryType">Publication</span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryTitle">Exploring nature-based solutions — The role of green infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of weather- and climate change-related natural hazards </span> </span> <span class="photoAlbumEntryDescription">This report focuses on certain types of extreme events and natural hazards at European scale that will be very likely amplified by ongoing climate change, i.e. landslides, avalanches, floods and storm surges. In addition, the report also touches upon the green infrastructure and ecosystem services contributing to global climate regulation. 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"https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/forests-can-help-prevent-floods/image_listing", "@type": "http://schema.org/Image", "http://schema.org/height": "16px", "http://schema.org/width": "16px" }, { "@id": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/forests-can-help-prevent-floods#article", "@type": "http://schema.org/Article", "http://schema.org/author": { "@id": "https://www.eea.europa.eu#author:karadgu" }, "http://schema.org/dateModified": "2020-11-23T10:58:35+00:00", "http://schema.org/datePublished": "2015-09-24T10:00:00+00:00", "http://schema.org/description": "forests-can-help-prevent-floods Forests can help prevent floods and droughts Forests can retain excess rainwater, prevent extreme run-offs and reduce the damage from flooding. They can also help mitigate the effects of droughts. A new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides an overview of the water-retention potential of European forests. One third of European territory is covered by forests (mostly managed) and approximately 296 million Europeans live in or close to forests. Forests are essential for human well-being and provide a wide range of ecosystem services to society, including ‘water retention’, defined as the water absorbed or used by forests. \r\n The EEA report ‘Water-retention potential of Europe's forests’ shows that water retention has an important role to play in buffering the effects of heavy rainfall and droughts. A better understanding of this role can help develop measures to tackle the effects of climate change and extreme weather events. \r\n The volume of water retained by forests can depend on characteristics such as forest cover area, the length of vegetation growing season, tree composition and tree density, as well as the age and the number of layers of vegetation cover. Water retention by forests affects the amount and timing of the water delivered to streams and groundwater by increasing and maintaining infiltration and storage capacity of the soil. Forests can soak up excess rainwater, preventing run-offs and damage from flooding. By releasing water in the dry season, forests can also help provide clean water and mitigate the effects of droughts. \r\n The report shows that water retention potential tends to increase along with the extent of forest cover in a water basin. Compared to basins with a forest cover of 10%, total water retention is 25% and 50% higher in water basins where the forest cover is more than 30% and 70%, respectively. \r\n Irrespective of the extent of the basin’s forest cover, water retention is typically about 25% greater in summer time than in winter time and that coniferous forests in general retain 10% more water than broadleaved forests or mixed forests. In general, forests in Alpine and Continental regions have the highest water-retention potentials, while Atlantic and Mediterranean regions register lower water-retention potentials. \r\n The report suggests that despite its important role, water retention by forests cannot be promoted as a one-size-fits-all solution. 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Forests can help prevent floods and droughts — European Environment Agency