The aim of the project is to ensure the protection of floodplain forests from the negative impacts of excessive groundwater extraction and salinization. Minimum groundwater levels will be determined for protected parts of these ecosystems located within the influence of large abstraction areas, and a tool will be developed to assess their vulnerability to salinization. The project will focus on a detailed understanding of the interactions between groundwater and surface water, abstraction, water availability for vegetation, sap flow, and the stress status of trees based on their functional traits. The main output will be a
methodology (NmetS) for assessing the impact of water supply withdrawals and salinization on floodplain and riparian forests, with potential for broader application. |
