Abstract ID: 3.12654 | Accepted as Poster | Requested as: Poster | TBA | TBA

Vegetation is one of the main systems for natural protection against erosion. Their roots are stabilizing slopes and banks and adjust the water content in the soil. Once the roots are grown, the soil erosion is stopped. This process can be accelerated by using wood wool as erosion control mats or fascines as alternative to nets and rolls made of cocos or jute. Those competing products often originate from Far East and contain pesticides, plastics or seeds of neozoa. Long transports, unwanted entry of pesticides or plastics and spreading of invasive species are not an issue when using wood wool products made in Switzerland. The evaluation of the conditions für re-introducing wood wool products as slope stability controller was funded by BAFU and Innosuisse in four projects (one BAFU and three Innosuisse projects). The mentioned projects focused on the use of wood wool for erosion control to avoid shallow landslides and for embankment stabilization. The wood wool products enable revegetation of slopes and banks. Important aspects of success are the choice of appropriate plants and the right method of propagating cuttings and seeds. Both aspects vary, depending on the location and the product selected, wood wool mats or Q-fascines. In common is that both products protect the seeds and young plants from physical agents while keeping the substratum humid. Furthermore, their degradation provides fertile-organic matter for the vegetation to grow. Wood wool is comprised of a natural and local material. Therefore, it is an ecological and 100%biodegradable product. The use of wood wool represents a close production cycle. Another use of wood wool mats was found in conservating snow over the summer period, known as snowfarming. Most snowfarming places use wood chips to preserve the snow over the warm period. During last winter the new composite of wood wool mats and glacier protection fleece could be tested. By comparing the traditional method with the new composite, we observed that 6 cm of wood chips were equal to 1 cm of the composite. Therefore, the new composite saves about 95% of wood that is needed to produce the wood chips.