OLGA

Agroforestry along watercourses

Promote ecosystem services and regional added value of agroforestry systems

 
© Himbeerspecht | Liane Hoder

Smaller watercourses are important landscape elements in urban and rural areas. They provide a range of ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, watercourse and flood protection, recreation or biodiversity conservation. According to the EU Water Framework Directive, however, only 6.7% of surface waters are in good condition. OLGA is therefore researching how the ecological condition of small watercourses can be improved by sustainably planting agrowood structures near the banks.

What ecosystem services do agrowood plantations along watercourses provide, especially in terms of watercourse , climate and flood protection and for the protection of biodiversity?

What economic perspectives and marketing opportunities arise here for farmers and landowners and how can agricultural wood be made better known as an agricultural product and energy resource?

The following activities are being carried out within module 1:

  • Monitoring of the microclimate of woody streams by means of water level and temperature measurements and the investigation of the existing biological macrozoobenthos in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 
  • Modelling the effects of vegetation on flood retention and aquatic habitats using habitat modelling and the development of flood scenarios
  • Structural analysis of agricultural woods and visualisation using 3D laser scanning
  • Investigation of the plant physiology and rooting of agricultural trees and shrubs in order to gain insights into the development of the microclimate, the water balance and the rooting dynamics of these wood species
  • Implementation of an agro-wood plantation in the Dresden region

Back to overview

Resilience through regional cooperation? Value creation from agroforestry systems with fast-growing tree species

Practical workshop with municipalities, farmers and energy suppliers

Climate adaptation along watercourses through agroforestry?

Presentation of the microclimatic effects of agroforestry systems in riparian areas on the water and ambient temperature on agricultural land

Terrestrial laser scanning as a tool for assessing the biomass potential of agroforestry systems

Presentation of the results at the Peickwitz test site

Article published: Development of transient habitat modeling for stream Macrozoobenthos

As part of the analysis of the microclimatic effects of agroforestry structures on neighbouring watercourses, we have also worked in OLGA on monitoring the habitat change of microorganisms in the watercourse - the so-called macrozoobenthos. At the end of 2022, a scientific article entitled "Development of transient habitat modelling for stream macrozoobenthos" was published in English at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics at TU Dresden.

MDR contribution on agroforestry - Manuel Wewer reports

Insight into the investigations at the millrace at Peickwitz

Implementation of agroforestry systems along watercourses in Saxony

Multifunctional ecosystem services and regional value creation through land use change

It's all about the light!

Finalisation of vegetation mapping in and around agroforestry systems in Saxony and Brandenburg

Monitoring of microclimate, vegetation structure and woody plant physiology of agroforestry structures

Evaluation of the 2021 measurements

What's in bloom?

Vegetation mapping in and around agroforestry structures

Can agroforestry structures along watercourses reduce flood risk?

Flood simulation at the Wiesengrundbach in Klingenberg-Colmnitz

Criteria catalogue for agroforestry potential areas developed

Potentials in Dresden and the surrounding area

Measurement campaign launched: Investigations in and on agroforestry plantations along watercourses

What are the effects of riparian agroforestry structures on microclimate and biodiversity?