Guidance Forest and woodland: water draw down and acidification

Index section Forest and woodland: water draw down and acidification

• Tree vitality
• The red-scaled curtain fungus and chanterelle: acidification of forests
• Woodland butterflies: water draw-down, eutrophication and forest management

Introduction

The forests on the higher-lying sandy soils are particularly at risk from eutrophication and the effects of water draw-down. Eutrophication encourages the proliferation of nitrophytes such as nettle, bramble, climbing corydalis and cleavers.

The decline in certain woodland birds on the higher-lying sandy soils is possibly attributable to the effects of water draw-down and acidification. Certain butterflies are also suffering from the effects of water draw-down. And these effects, together with acidification and eutrophication are also affecting the forest fungi. Recently there seems to have been a resurgence of fungi, possibly because of the improved environmental quality. Acidification and eutrophication probably also affect the trees' vitality, but forest health is not at risk.