Floodplain forest recovery : softwood forest development in relation to hydrology, riverbank morphology and management

Floodplain forest plays an important role in the river ecosystem and the significance of the river areas as a diverse ecosystem and wildlife habitat has been recognised during the last decades. This has resulted in the development of visions and plans to restore the river ecosystem. Besides the importance of floodplain forest in restoration plans it also affects river management. Large areas of floodplain forest cause an increase of the hydraulic roughness resulting in increased water levels during a flood. During high magnitude floods this increase of the waterlevel may conflict with the safety of the inhabitants of the river area.