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Think of flood prevention and you might imagine huge concrete dams, levees or the shiny Thames barrier. But some of the for reducing flood risk are far more natural and widely recognizable: woodlands and green spaces. Trees offer much more than beauty and oxygen. Here's to protect us from floods.

1. Intercepting rainfall

Trees and green spaces hold the key to . When rain falls on a forest, in managing water flow. The canopy of a forest acts like a giant umbrella, catching and holding rainwater before it hits the ground.

This how quickly rain reaches the soil, allowing water to gradually seep into the earth instead of rushing over the ground and straight into rivers and watercourses. This delayed water flow can reduce peak water levels in rivers during heavy storms, helping to prevent flash floods.

One of us (Martina) was involved , which has not been peer reviewed, that used sensor equipment to measure the speed and level of surface water at various locations along two streams in the Menstrie catchment area in Scotland: one with greater tree cover and another with less.

The stream with more trees appeared to have consistently reduced flow discharges compared with the more barren stream. This suggests that young forests may be able to dramatically reduce water runoff during rainfall, potentially preventing water from overwhelming streams and rivers.

As trees grow and mature, their effect on water management could become even more significant. This study adds to a that shows forests offer a natural defense against floods.

Trees are one of our best allies in adapting to the increasing risks posed by climate change. Trees also remove water from catchments , whereby moisture evaporates from the surface of the soil and is released from the plant's leaves and other surfaces.

Importantly, these processes aren't just relevant at the scale of rural catchments. We can use the benefits of trees and plants in our towns and cities as targeted small-scale interventions.

2. Keeping rivers clean

Trees help keep rivers clean and healthy. When there are no trees, rain can wash away a lot of soil (and pollutants) into rivers. This might lead to them having a reduced capacity to convey water. But tree roots act , binding the soil in place and preventing it from flowing into rivers.

This keeps the rivers clear and stops sedimentation, helping them cope with flood waters better. That, in turn, can prevent flooding and maintain river capacity to protect against future flooding.

In places like the Menstrie catchment, planting trees around rivers helps trap dirt and sediment in the upper parts of the river, keeping the lower parts cleaner.

Plowed ground can better capture sediment across the catchment because the plow lines act as barriers. They keep the sediment in place more efficiently than other techniques, such as hand-screefing (when someone clears a small spot of ground by hand to plant a tree) and excavator mounding (a process that uses a machine to build little hills to help trees grow better in wet areas), which were less successful in containing the sediment.

Evidence shows that trees are essential for long-term soil stabilization. and forestry practices therefore in managing erosion and sediment flow.

3. Absorbing and storing water like sponges

Trees improve the soil's ability to . Their roots channel deep into the ground, creating that allow water to absorb into the soil profile, rather than run off on the surface. helps reduce the amount of water rushing towards rivers and streams after a heavy rainstorm, which is in slowing the flow of water and reducing flooding.

How trees are planted, the slope of the land and the type of soil all affect how much water runs off during rainfall. Different planting techniques affect water runoff differently depending on the amount of rain.

During floods, some areas with trees planted (that includes plots with plow cultivation and excavation mounding) have less water runoff compared with unplanted areas without trees.

4. Reducing surface runoff

When heavy rain falls on bare land, water runs off quickly, which can cause floods. Trees, with their roots and fallen leaves, slow this down by helping the ground soak up more water.

This reduces how much water flows into rivers all at once, helping to prevent floods. Planting trees using can make this even more effective by helping trees grow better and absorb more water, thereby reducing runoff.

5. Stopping floodwaters

In Somerset, England, tree planting projects along rivers, such as those under the Environment Agency's initiative, have played a crucial role in reducing flood risks.

, almost 30,000 across multiple sites to help slow water flow and protect communities vulnerable to flooding. These trees were strategically placed along riverbanks, including in the Parrett catchment in Somerset, an area known to be prone to flooding.

Underground, lots of water, slowing how quickly the rainwater flows. And when floodwater hits a forest, the tree trunks act like a natural barrier or wall, slowing the water down so it doesn't rush all at once to other areas and cause bigger floods. By planning and planting forests to build , these positive effects can become even stronger.

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