Alluvial forest, a wildlife corridor

Ecological corridors provide connections between natural or agricultural environments, providing favourable conditions for wildlife to move around and complete their life cycles. Hedgerows, grassed strips and forests along watercourses are essential for maintaining biodiversity.

The alluvial forest or ripisylve (ripi = bank; sylve = forest) is situated along the banks of the River Dranse. It grows on the alluvium deposits left here and there by the river as it floods. It is in direct contact with the river and the alluvial groundwater (different from the regular groundwater), which is present at shallow depths. Disturbances (flooding, erosion, fluctuations in the groundwater) play an essential role in the spread of plant species.
Closer to the river, willows, alders, birches and black poplars cannot always grow as they please!