Water is the most vital element of all natural resources and essential to life. But availability and quality of fresh water in many regions of the world are increasingly endangered by overuse, misuse and pollution. Due to the growing imbalance between water supply and demand in the world, there is an increasing need for ensuring adequate water quality and quantity also in Europe.
Sustainable forest management and water quality are closely linked. Through the Warsaw Resolution on Forests and Water, adopted at the latest Ministerial Conference, the responsible ministers emphasised the vital role of sustainable forest management in protecting water quality and promoting overall watershed management. The FOREST EUROPE member countries committed themselves to maintaining and enhancing the protective functions of forests for water and soil, as well as for mitigating local water-related natural disasters through sustainable forest management, including the use of public and private partnerships. They stressed the importance of developing, improving and coordinating policies for forest and water resource management.
Sustainable water supply
In maintaining high water quality, forests make their most significant contribution to the supply of water. Through stabilisation of soil, forests minimise erosion and hence reduce the impairment of water quality due to sedimentation. Woodlands protect water bodies and watercourses by trapping sediments and pollutants from other up-slope land use and activities. In Europe, 96.3 million hectares of forests are designated for the protection of soil and water. This corresponds to 10 percent of the total forest area.
Forests also play a role in water availability. They influence the amount of available water by intercepting precipitation, evaporating moisture from vegetative surfaces, transpiring soil moisture, capturing fog water and maintaining soil infiltration. At the same time, forests may influence the timing of water delivery by maintaining and improving soil infiltration and the soil's water-storage capacity.
How forests can mitigate negative effects of climate change
Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events. Natural hazards such as floods, debris flow, avalanches, storms and droughts will have severe impact on forest and water resources and their management. Research has shown that proper maintenance as well as the restoration of damaged and degraded forest ecosystems can play a protective role and cushion the effects of climate change. FOREST EUROPE promotes the restoration of degraded forests, particularly in floodplains and upper watershed areas for the benefit of the water environment, flood reduction, conservation of biodiversity and soil protection. There is a strong focus on developing appropriate policies and strategies for sustainably managing forests and water resources to adapt to climate change and contribute to its mitigation.
Strengthen co-operation and share knowledge
As an important step to facilitate implementation of the commitments in the Warsaw Resolution on Forests and Water, a workshop took place in May 2009. The workshop examined the complex interrelations and mutual influences of forests and water, how countries approach these topics and how these could be reflected in forest and water policies in the pan-European and UNECE region and neighbouring states. The workshop gave an outstanding opportunity for communication, dialogue and collaboration. Experts working with forests and their colleagues on water issues shared their knowledge and experiences to further strengthen their co-operation.
This important event brought together participants from more than 30 countries and organisations in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The workshop was hosted by the Republic of Turkey and jointly co-organised by Switzerland, Turkey, FOREST EUROPE, the UNECE Water Convention and the FAO.
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