The Trent Rivers Trust has planted over 2,000 trees in Staffordshire along the River Dove to protect the local salmon population and “climate-proof” the river habitat.
The project aims to reduce erosion and regulate water flow by adding woody material to the river over the longer term.
Senior Catchment Manager at Trent Rivers Trust, Ruth Needham, said that the lack of vegetation near the river was a concern.
“The landscape is devoid of any established vegetation close to the river.”
“Trees will provide vital cover for species, as well as helping to stabilise the riverbank and adding woody material to the river over the longer term.”
The addition of woody material will also create important riffles, pools, and slack areas of water, which are crucial for the success of the early life stages of various fish species, including salmon.
The Missing Salmon Alliance has warned that wild salmon stocks have declined by 80% in 25 years, and researchers predict a bleak future for the species. The trust also noted that while salmon parr can survive in water temperatures up to 29.5C in the short-term, this limit drops to 28C over a prolonged period.
——————————————————————————
At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about stopping the decline in our wildlife.
The declines in our wildlife is shocking and frightening. Without much more support, many of the animals we know and love will continue in their declines towards extinction.
When you help to restore a patch of degraded land through rewilding to forests, meadows, or wetlands, you have a massive impact on the biodiversity at a local level. You give animals a home and food that they otherwise would not have had, and it has a positive snowball effect for the food chain.
We are convinced that this is much better for the UK than growing lots of fast-growing coniferous trees, solely to remove carbon, that don’t actually help our animals to thrive.
This is why we stand for restoring nature in the UK through responsible rewilding. For us, it is the right thing to do. Let’s do what’s right for nature!
Support our work today at https://naturalworldfund.com/ and join in the solution!