Czech forestry organizations restore water retention and wetlands

Forestry organizations in the Czech Republic are implementing projects to restore natural water regimes and revitalize wetlands to combat drought and support biodiversity.

In the Brdy region, Vojenské lesy a statky ČR (VLS) has undertaken measures in the Trokavec and U Pěti zlodějů locations. These efforts involve filling in drainage ditches and modifying forest roads to prevent rapid water runoff, affecting approximately 451 hectares of forest. These actions follow a 2023 water retention study that identified 25 priority locations for landscape water retention.

Separately, Lesy České republiky completed a revitalization project for the Stupnický stream in the Jizbice Forest near Vlašimsko. The project, funded by the Operational Programme Environment, utilized 413 wooden barriers to transform former drainage ditches back into functional wetlands and peatlands. This restoration aims to protect rare peat spruce forests, which serve as significant carbon sinks, while creating habitats for various insects, amphibians, and birds.