Targeted tree planting can reduce flooding

A study, led by the Universities of Birmingham and Southampton, has shown that strategic planting of trees on floodplains could reduce the height of flooding in towns downstream by up to 20 per cent. Dr Simon Dixon, from the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Forest Research (BIFOR), was lead author of the study.
Using a digital terrain model and a hydrological model simulation, scientists were able to show that targeted tree planting and restoration could reduce flood risk by slowing down the flow of water and the larger the area included in the work and the older the forests became, the more reductions in flood peak height would be achieved.
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Posted on 4th April 2016