Slope forest corridor

Slope forest corridor

Slope Corridor- is a continuous forest corridor that runs along mountain and hilly slopes and connectswatersheds, springs, streams, valleys and floodplainsIts main task isslow down the movement of water down the slope, maximize its penetration into the soil and prevent erosion.

In the systemDREVO Living MountainsSlope corridors are the main element connecting mountain peaks with river valleys.

"Every slope should become a natural sponge, not a drain."

Main objectives

Slowing down of surface runoff.

Maximum water infiltration.

Erosion prevention.

Landslide prevention.

Accumulation of humus.

Formation of a sustainable forest.

Restoring biodiversity.

Creation of animal migration routes.

Main functions

Hydrological

moisture accumulation;

groundwater recharge;

flood reduction;

support of springs.

Soil protection

slope stabilization;

reduction of soil erosion;

preventing the formation of ravines;

accumulation of organic matter.

Biological

forest restoration;

seed dispersal;

mycorrhiza development;

habitat formation.

Climate

decrease in surface temperature;

increase in air humidity;

protection from dry winds;

reduction of wind erosion.

Corridor structure

Upper tree tier

Priority types:

beech;

oak;

fir;

larch;

maple;

ash tree.

Middle tier

linden;

elm;

rowan;

merry;

wild apple tree.

Undergrowth

hazel;

they have become sea buckthorn;

viburnum;

elderberry;

red;

hawthorn;

rose hip.

Soil cover

forest herbs;

mosses;

ferns;

mushrooms;

sedges (in damp places).

Engineering solutions from DREVO

Contour Forest Belts

Planting of forest belts strictly along the slope contours.

Functions:

reduction in runoff velocity;

soil retention;

accumulation of organic matter.

Living Terraces

Biological terraces are created using:

wood;

boulders;

shrubs;

perennial herbs.

Water Retention Berms

Small earth or stone ramparts:

retain rainwater;

reduce erosion;

promote infiltration.

Infiltration Pockets

Local depressions and bioengineered pockets filled with wood chips, dead wood and organic material.

Purpose:

moisture accumulation;

nutrition of soil biota;

development of mycorrhiza.

Living Root Network

Using plants with different root system depths:

deep roots stabilize the slope;

the middle ones strengthen the soil;

surface ones retain the upper fertile layer.

Priority trees

Water-retaining

beech;

linden;

maple;

ash tree;

fir.

Soil improvers

alder;

ash tree;

linden;

maple.

Pioneer

birch;

aspen;

willow;

larch.

Nitrogen-fixing

alder;

they have become sea buckthorn;

to look at;

slavery(only in controlled commercial plantings and outside natural ecosystems where it may be invasive).

Protective (prickly)

view(under suitable climatic conditions);

hawthorn;

rose hip;

blackthorn.

They are used to protect young plantings from grazing animals.

Animals

Slope corridors must support:

Large herbivores

bison;

red deer;

roe deer;

sirn;

mountain goats.

Ecosystem engineers

wild boars;

badgers;

beavers(at the bottom of slopes and near streams).

Pollinators

bees;

bumblebees;

butterflies;

solitary bees.

Integration with DREVO

Stages of creation

Stage I — Analysis

slope mapping;

identification of erosion-prone areas;

surface runoff modeling.

Stage II - Engineering Preparation

installation of micro-terraces;

construction of infiltration shafts;

creation of small water-retaining structures.

Stage III – Biological restoration

tree planting;

formation of undergrowth;

restoration of soil biota;

mycorrhiza introduction.

Stage IV – Environmental Integration

return of animals;

development of pollinators;

long-term monitoring.

Expected results

reduction in the rate of surface runoff;

reduction of erosion;

reducing the risk of landslides;

increase in soil moisture reserves;

restoration of springs;

increasing soil fertility;

formation of sustainable mixed forests;

increasing biodiversity.

Key performance indicators

The main principle

Slope Corridor transforms a slope from a source of erosion into a source of life.

In the systemDREVO Living Mountainsthe slope corridor serves as a link betweenWatershed Corridoron watersheds andRiver Corridorin the valleys. It retains water on every meter of slope, restores soil fertility, stabilizes the terrain, and creates a continuous ecological network through which water, seeds, fungi, animals, and life move simultaneously.

Mountain Forest Corridors