Project initiated for collaboration among leaders
New Coordination Center Established for Forest Water Retention in Germany
A new coordination center has been established in Germany, with the aim of improving water retention in forests and enhancing the resilience of forests against heavy rain events, drought, forest fires, and heat. The center, named the Waldnaturschutz (Forest Conservation) program in Baden-Württemberg, will operate across municipal, city, and county borders.
The project, which focuses on sustainable solutions for forests and the region across municipal boundaries, has a total budget of approximately 268,500 euros and is designed for three years. The center's work will contribute to cooling the surroundings, replenishing groundwater, and stabilizing the landscape water balance.
The project's success is contingent on collaboration among various stakeholders, including forest owners, forestry cooperatives, government agencies, universities, and citizen initiatives. The coordinating body will connect these stakeholders, bundle existing concepts and ideas, and initiate new measures.
The center will primarily focus on small, natural interventions such as permeable dams, adapted path structures, and natural retention basins. These interventions are designed to mitigate heavy rain events and make forests more resilient to drought, forest fires, and heat.
The project lays an important foundation for flood, heavy rain, nature, and climate protection in the region. It is a joint initiative of the LEADER regions Voreifel - Die Bäche der Swist and Zülpicher Börde, and the approval of the Cologne Regional Government. The participating municipalities and the Rhein-Sieg district will each contribute an equal share of the co-financing, with 70% of the project's budget funded by Leader funding, the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the European Union.
The project emphasizes the key role a healthy forest plays in regional climate protection. By retaining water and strengthening forests, the project aims to protect the climate and make the surroundings more resilient to environmental changes. The coordination center will be instrumental in achieving these goals by identifying, planning, and overseeing measures for water retention in forests.
In conclusion, the new coordination center for improving water retention in forests is a significant step towards enhancing the resilience of forests and the region against environmental changes. With its focus on small, natural interventions and collaboration among various stakeholders, the center is poised to make a meaningful impact on flood, heavy rain, nature, and climate protection in the region.
