Update from the Wüstebach deforestation experiment

The TERENO deforestation experiment in the catchment area of the Wüstebach in the Eifel National Park has the aim of comprehensively investigating the hydrological effects of such a disturbance on the forest ecosystem. The deforestation experiment is part of the large-scale measures of the Eifel National Park, in which the predominant spruce monocultures are converted into semi-natural mixed deciduous forests. After removal, by far the largest part of these areas is to develop back to the forest habitat types of the alder-ash and beech forest (especially the high-altitude beech forest in the sub-wetlands surrounding the brooks outside the wet soils). Since 2008, the site has been equipped with a large number of sensors for recording meteorological, pedological and hydrological data, in order to be able to investigate the water and matter cycle of the forest system before and after deforestation in detail. These include several weather stations, discharge measuring equipment, weighable lysimeters, cosmic-ray soil moisture sensors and a wireless sensor network for recording the spatial soil temperature and humidity. The front page photo shows the cleared area directly after deforestation in 2013, whereas the movie below shows the current situation. It can be seen that vegetation has naturally emerged and is slowly but steadily transitioning into a more natural forest. We are currently analysing all sensor data to quantify how matter fluxes have changed.

Contact:
Dr. Heye Bogena
Tel.: +49 2461 61 6752
E-Mail: h.bogena@fz-juelich.de

Dr. Thomas Pütz
Tel.: +49 2461 61 6182
E-Mail: t.puetz@fz-juelich.de