Code F02 Year of Issue none Sector Forest The complete description of the NWRM f2_-_maintenance_of_forest_cover_in_headwater_areas.pdf Summary Headwaters are the source areas for rivers and streams, crucial for sustaining the structure, function, productivity and complexity of downstream ecosystems. They are vital to hydrologic cycling as they are one of the main areas where precipitation contributes to surface and groundwater. Headwaters are typically less intensively used than downstream areas. In many headwater areas, extensive agriculture, forests or other semi-natural land cover types predominate. Forests in headwater areas have a beneficial role for water quantity and quality. Creating or maintaining forest cover in headwater catchments is a widely used practice in many major cities including New York, Istanbul and Singapore, as these cities are reliant on headwater forests for drinking water provisioning. Forest soils generally have better infiltration capacity than other land cover types and may act as a “sponge”, slowly releasing rainfall. In areas of high relief, afforestation of headwater catchments can contribute to slope stabilization and may reduce the risks associated with landslides. On the other hand, afforestation of headwaters in dry areas may lead to reduction of water yield. Illustration(s) Before and after afforestationSource: http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-landscape-architecture/reclamation-of-degraded-landscapes-due-to-opencast-mining Possible benefits with level Benefits Level BP1 - Store runoff High BP2 - Slow runoff High BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration High BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge High BP7 - Increase soil water retention High BP8 - Reduce pollutant sources High BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways High BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery High BP11 - Improve soils Medium BP12 - Create aquatic habitat Medium BP13 - Create riparian habitat Medium BP14 - Create terrestrial habitats High BP15 - Enhance precipitation Low BP16 - Reduce peak temperature Medium BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 High ES1 - Water storage High ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting Low ES3 - Natural biomass production High ES4 - Biodiversity preservation Medium ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation High ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge High ES7 - Flood risk reduction High ES8 - Erosion/sediment control High ES9 - Filtration of pollutants High ES10 - Recreational opportunities High ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value High PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements Low PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements Low PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements Low PO4 - Improving chemical status and priority substances Low PO5 - Improving quantitative status Medium PO6 - Improving chemical status Medium PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration Medium PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration High PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks High PO10 - Protection of important habitats High PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure High PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry Medium PO13 - Better management of fish stocks Medium PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss High Case study(ies) Water retention management in the broader area of Ancient Olympia, Elia, Greece Increasing water retention through afforestation, landscaping and reducing the stream gradient in Xiropotamos River Basin, Greece Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL