IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i8p4443-d789583.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Large-Scale Effect of Forest Cover on Long-Term Streamflow Variations in Mediterranean Catchments of Central Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Pizarro

    (UNESCO Chair Surface Hydrology, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
    Centro Nacional de Excelencia para la Industria de la Madera (CENAMAD), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
    Faculty of Forest Engineering and Nature Conservancy, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile)

  • Rodrigo Valdés-Pineda

    (Piteau Associates, Water Management Group, 2500 North Tucson Boulevard, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA
    Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA)

  • Pablo A. Garcia-Chevesich

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
    Intergubernmental Hydrological Programme, UNESCO, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay)

  • Alfredo Ibáñez

    (Centro Nacional de Excelencia para la Industria de la Madera (CENAMAD), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile)

  • Juan Pino

    (Dirección de Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile)

  • David F. Scott

    (Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Daniel G. Neary

    (Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, USA)

  • John E. McCray

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Miguel Castillo

    (Faculty of Forest Engineering and Nature Conservancy, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile)

  • Patricio Ubilla

    (Dirección General de Aguas, Santiago, Chile)

Abstract

Forest ecosystems play an important role in hydrological processes as surface and subsurface runoff, as well as the storage of water at the catchment scale. Therefore, it is important to have a greater understanding of the effects of forests in the long-term water balance of Mediterranean catchments. In this sense, this study evaluates the effect of native forests, forest plantations, and the combination of both, on long-term streamflow variations in central Chile, an unusual area of Mediterranean climate characterized by a well-marked annual cycle with dry summers and wet winters. Thus, the temporal pattern of monthly streamflow was evaluated for mean flow (Qmean), maximum flow (Qmax), and minimum flow (Qmin) in 42 large-scale (>200 km 2 ) Mediterranean catchments. Each series of monthly streamflow data was QA/QC, and then evaluated using the Mann–Kendall’s non-parametric statistical test to detect temporal variations between 1994 and 2015. In addition to the previous analysis, the monthly series were grouped into wet seasons (April–September) and dry seasons (October–April), to determine if there were any significant differences within the annual hydrological cycle. The areas covered with native and forest plantations and their relative changes were evaluated for each catchment through streamflow variations and forest cover indicators. Results revealed that streamflow variations are positive and significant when more forest cover exists. The intra-catchment relationships assessed for both species revealed the significant role of native forests and mixed masses as key ecosystems for the long-term conservation of summer streamflow in Mediterranean catchments of central Chile. These findings encourage an urgent need to create highland afforestation programs on degraded areas of central Chile, to maximize water storage in a region that is quickly drying out due to unsustainable water and land use management practices and the effects of global warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Pizarro & Rodrigo Valdés-Pineda & Pablo A. Garcia-Chevesich & Alfredo Ibáñez & Juan Pino & David F. Scott & Daniel G. Neary & John E. McCray & Miguel Castillo & Patricio Ubilla, 2022. "The Large-Scale Effect of Forest Cover on Long-Term Streamflow Variations in Mediterranean Catchments of Central Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4443-:d:789583
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/8/4443/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/8/4443/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert Heilmayr & Cristian Echeverría & Eric F. Lambin, 2020. "Impacts of Chilean forest subsidies on forest cover, carbon and biodiversity," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 701-709, September.
    2. Kristin M. Mikkelson & Eric R. V. Dickenson & Reed M. Maxwell & John E. McCray & Jonathan O. Sharp, 2013. "Water-quality impacts from climate-induced forest die-off," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(3), pages 218-222, March.
    3. Mojtaba Shadmani & Safar Marofi & Majid Roknian, 2012. "Trend Analysis in Reference Evapotranspiration Using Mann-Kendall and Spearman’s Rho Tests in Arid Regions of Iran," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(1), pages 211-224, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Weibin Zhang & Xiaochun Zha & Jiaxing Li & Wei Liang & Yugai Ma & Dongmei Fan & Sha Li, 2014. "Spatiotemporal Change of Blue Water and Green Water Resources in the Headwater of Yellow River Basin, China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(13), pages 4715-4732, October.
    2. Bhattacharjee, Arnab & Aravena, Claudia & Castillo, Natalia & Ehrlich, Marco & Taou, Nadia & Wagner, Thomas, 2022. "Agroforestry Programs in the Colombian Amazon: Selection, Treatment and Exposure Effects on Deforestation," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 537, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    3. repec:caa:jnljfs:v:preprint:id:20-2024-jfs is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Md. Kamruzzaman & A. T. M. Sakiur Rahman & Md. Shakil Ahmed & Md. Enamul Kabir & Quamrul Hasan Mazumder & M. Sayedur Rahman & Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, 2018. "Spatio-temporal analysis of climatic variables in the western part of Bangladesh," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 89-108, February.
    5. Muhammad Imran Khan & Dong Liu & Qiang Fu & Shuhua Dong & Umar Waqas Liaqat & Muhammad Abrar Faiz & Yuxiang Hu & Qaisar Saddique, 2016. "Recent Climate Trends and Drought Behavioral Assessment Based on Precipitation and Temperature Data Series in the Songhua River Basin of China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(13), pages 4839-4859, October.
    6. Scholastica Akalibey & Petra Hlaváčková & Jiří Schneider & Jitka Fialová & Samuel Darkwah & Albert Ahenkan, 2024. "Integrating indigenous knowledge and culture in sustainable forest management via global environmental policies," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(6), pages 265-280.
    7. Zhang, Lei & Traore, Seydou & Cui, Yuanlai & Luo, Yufeng & Zhu, Ge & Liu, Bo & Fipps, Guy & Karthikeyan, R. & Singh, Vijay, 2019. "Assessment of spatiotemporal variability of reference evapotranspiration and controlling climate factors over decades in China using geospatial techniques," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 499-511.
    8. Muhammad Waseem & Ijaz Ahmad & Ahmad Mujtaba & Muhammad Tayyab & Chen Si & Haishen Lü & Xiaohua Dong, 2020. "Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Precipitation in Southwest Arid-Agriculture Zones of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Mohammad Valipour, 2014. "Use of average data of 181 synoptic stations for estimation of reference crop evapotranspiration by temperature-based methods," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(12), pages 4237-4255, September.
    10. Arash Malekian & Majid Kazemzadeh, 2016. "Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Regional Trends and Shift Changes of Autocorrelated Temperature Series in Urmia Lake Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(2), pages 785-803, January.
    11. Samuel G. Woodman & Sacha Khoury & Ronald E. Fournier & Erik J. S. Emilson & John M. Gunn & James A. Rusak & Andrew J. Tanentzap, 2021. "Forest defoliator outbreaks alter nutrient cycling in northern waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    12. Khanmohammadi, Neda & Rezaie, Hossein & Montaseri, Majid & Behmanesh, Javad, 2017. "The effect of reference-condition-based temperature modification on the trend of reference evapotranspiration in arid and semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 204-213.
    13. Jean-Sébastien Landry & Navin Ramankutty, 2015. "Carbon Cycling, Climate Regulation, and Disturbances in Canadian Forests: Scientific Principles for Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-36, January.
    14. Abhijeet Mishra & Florian Humpenöder & Galina Churkina & Christopher P. O. Reyer & Felicitas Beier & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber & Hermann Lotze-Campen & Alexander Popp, 2022. "Land use change and carbon emissions of a transformation to timber cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Pratik Pathak & Ajay Kalra & Sajjad Ahmad & Miguel Bernardez, 2016. "Wavelet-Aided Analysis to Estimate Seasonal Variability and Dominant Periodicities in Temperature, Precipitation, and Streamflow in the Midwestern United States," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(13), pages 4649-4665, October.
    16. Kai Lun Chong & Sai Hin Lai & Ahmed El-Shafie, 2019. "Wavelet Transform Based Method for River Stream Flow Time Series Frequency Analysis and Assessment in Tropical Environment," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(6), pages 2015-2032, April.
    17. Jiang, Shouzheng & Liang, Chuan & Cui, Ningbo & Zhao, Lu & Du, Taisheng & Hu, Xiaotao & Feng, Yu & Guan, Jing & Feng, Yi, 2019. "Impacts of climatic variables on reference evapotranspiration during growing season in Southwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 365-378.
    18. Nam, Won-Ho & Hong, Eun-Mi & Choi, Jin-Yong, 2015. "Has climate change already affected the spatial distribution and temporal trends of reference evapotranspiration in South Korea?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 129-138.
    19. Arash Malekian & Majid Kazemzadeh, 2016. "Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Regional Trends and Shift Changes of Autocorrelated Temperature Series in Urmia Lake Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(2), pages 785-803, January.
    20. Shih-Lun Fang & Yi-Shan Lin & Sheng-Chih Chang & Yi-Lung Chang & Bing-Yun Tsai & Bo-Jein Kuo, 2024. "Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms to Estimate and Short-Term Forecast the Daily Reference Evapotranspiration with Limited Meteorological Variables," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, March.
    21. Giuntoli, J. & Barredo, J.I. & Avitabile, V. & Camia, A. & Cazzaniga, N.E. & Grassi, G. & Jasinevičius, G. & Jonsson, R. & Marelli, L. & Robert, N. & Agostini, A. & Mubareka, S., 2022. "The quest for sustainable forest bioenergy: win-win solutions for climate and biodiversity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4443-:d:789583. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.