Floodplain Forests—Key Forest Ecosystems for Maintaining and Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Alluvial Landscape

Abstract

Floodplain forests are considered as key forest ecosystems in lowland regions of the European temperate zone. Ecosystem services of floodplain forests are essential for maintaining and sustainable management of water resources. The ecological role of floodplain forest ecosystems in the landscape is emphasized in the context of global change because of flood risk management in landscapes along lowland European river. This chapter deals with these important functions of floodplain forests. Authors of the chapter contribute a large amount of their own professional experience and also utilize a large amount from published literature in the field of monitoring, research and management practice of the water regime and its consequences for floodplain forests from an European perspective. The aim of the case study from the Czech Republic is to fill the knowledge gaps related to the monetary evaluation of floodplain forest habitats endangered by the international water management project Danube–Oder–Elbe channel. The case study is based on published and unpublished research material both from the Czech Republic and also from sources of other European countries. The presented conclusions from this chapter can be of interest for the better understanding of the floodplain forests functions and sustainable management of floodplain forests and their protection in an European perspective.