Walddegradation

Walddegradation, or forest degradation, refers to the long-term decline in a forest's ecological integrity and its capacity to provide ecosystem services, without a complete replacement by non-forest land. Degradation reduces forest structure, species diversity, productivity, and resilience, making forests more vulnerable to disturbances such as fires, pests, and extreme weather.

Causes and drivers include unsustainable timber harvesting, fragmentation by roads and settlements, and land-use change. Natural disturbances like drought, windthrow, pests, and disease can contribute, often amplified by climate change. Pollution, invasive species, grazing pressure, and poor soil management also degrade soils and hydrological function.

Indicators and consequences include declines in species richness and old-growth features, a simplified vertical and horizontal forest structure, reduced canopy cover, soil compaction and erosion, nutrient depletion, and lower carbon storage and sequestration. Degraded forests may exhibit altered hydrological regimes, higher fire risk, and diminished capacity to recover after disturbances, which can propagate through watershed and regional ecosystems.

Management aims include sustainable forest management, restoration, and monitoring. Practices such as reduced impact logging, protection of critical habitats, maintaining structural diversity, and controlling invasive species help. Restoration approaches include natural regeneration, enrichment planting, erosion control, and exclusion of inappropriate land uses. International frameworks and certification schemes support governance, accountability, and the long-term resilience of forest ecosystems.