A new study by the University of Plymouth has shown that native broadleaf trees can have a marked impact on soils response during extreme weather events after just 15 years of being planted. This means that large quantities of rainwater can be better absorbed as opposed to running over the surface and into rivers, increasing flood risk.
Writing in Land Degradation & Development, scientists say their findings show that the establishment of more native woodlands in upland areas could be an effective and natural flood management tool. The findings by scientists at the University of Plymouth are extremely timely, given the Governments commitment to playing 30 million trees a year by 2025.
With Climate Change, it’s predicted that extreme rainfall and flooding events will become more common in the coming years and researchers from the university have shown that in areas where new woodlands have been planted, the ability of soil to absorb water was almost double that of areas with no trees.
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