Project funded
by theEU–DGEnvironment
L
andsurfacerelevant
forapplication
Artificial surface
Agriculture land
Forest and semi-natural areas
Wetlands
F
inancialcosts
(C
apital
,
operation
&
maintenance
)
Capital costs will depend on the method used for afforestation (natural succession
or plantation). Depending on the manner in which the forest is used, there may be
maintenance costs
for example associated with trails and public access points.
Key additional costs relate to land acquisition or compensation for the foregone
income associated with land use prior to afforestation.
D
esign
Land use conversion through afforestation is probably most beneficial in areas of
marginal agricultural land, areas with
steep slopes
and significant erosion or
landslide risk and near
urban
areas. The benefits of increased infiltration and
improvements to water quality are likely to be greatest in
headwater areas
.
S
cale
Land use conversion can be applied at
all spatial scales
. The larger the af-
forested area is, the greater the benefits
will be observed.
Land use conversion is a general term for large scale geographic change. Afforestation is one such land conversion in which trees are planted on
previously
non forested
areas. It may occur deliberately or through the abandonment of marginal agricultural land. Planting indigenous broadleaves and low intensity
forestry may lead to benefits such as enhanced evapotranspiration.
Case studies:
HabitatReconstruction in the forestsof theKörösValley,Hungary
FORESTRY
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