Water
Restoring dense vegetation can slow mountain erosion to near natural benchmark levelsBackgroundTropical mountain areas may undergo rapid land degradation as demographic growth and intensified agriculture cause more people to migrate to fragile ecosystems. To assess the extent of the resulting damage, an erosion rate benchmark against which changes in erosion can be evaluated is required. Benchmarks reflecting natural erosion rates are usually not provided by conventional sediment fluxes, which are often biased due to modern land use change, and also miss large, episodic events within the measuring period. Available with subscription or purchase |
Hydrological Functions of Tropical Forests: Not Seeing the Soil for the trees?backgroundThis literature review provides a summary of hydrological functions in tropical forests and includes differences in the hydrology of disturbed areas, secondary forests, and mature forests. Available with subscription or purchase |
Effect of Reforestation using Tectona grandis on Infiltration and Soil Water RetentionBackgroundIn this study, researchers examine the effect of teak (Tectona grandis) reforestation on soil infiltration and water retention in Sri Lanka. They compare the reforested site (12 years after planting) with a corn field and an abandoned pasture dominated by Imperata cylindrica grass. Available with subscription or purchase |
Using ecosystem valuation to protect the Atlantic Rainforest: the case of the Oasis ProjectBackgroundThe article explores the Oasis Project, which is a payment for ecosystem services program that aims to protect the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The program was established in 1990 in response to the destruction of the forest. The Oasis Project aims to provide drinking water to approximately 17 million in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region by financially compensating landowners engaged in maintaining forest cover in their proprieties. Available with subscription or purchase |
Deep Soil Moisture Storage and Transpiration in Forests and Pastures of Seasonally-Dry AmazoniabackgroundThis study, conducted in the seasonal rainforest of Northern Brazil (Para), compares re-growth of pasture, mature forest, and natural forest (capoeira). Goals & MethodsThe study assessed the impacts of land-use change on plant-available water (PAW) and evapotranspiration (ET). To do so, they measured volumetric water content (VWC) at 8 m below three nearby ecosystems over four years, including a mature evergreen forests, an adjacenet pasture, and a second-growth forest on abandoned pasture land. Available with subscription or purchase |
Environmental Drivers in Mangrove Establishment and Early Development: A reviewbackgroundThis study reviews literature on the environmental conditions that influence the establishment and early growth of mangroves. Research Goals & MethodsDifferent species grow in areas with different flooding regimes. The authors used the classification of "inundation by all high tides, inundation by medium high tides, inundation by normal high tides, inundation by spring tides, and occasional inundation by exceptional or equinoctial tides." Available with subscription or purchase |
Modelos espaciales aplicados al manejo de los recursos naturales: una propuesta en la sub-cuenca del Río Pilón, Nuevo León, México (Spacial modeling applied to natural resources management)Open access copy available |
Evaluación comparativa de dos mitigaciones realizadas en la ciénaga Las Cucharillas, Puerto Rico (Wetland mitigation in Puerto Rico)Open access copy available |
Vinculación entre el sustento de los agricultores, los árboles y el proceso de agua y suelos en las buenas prácticas de gestión de áreas de captación (Linking farmers livelihoods, trees and soils in water catchments management practices)Open access copy available |
Directrices de restauración ecológica en cuencas hidrográficas andinas: “Plan de manejo ambiental de la cuenca hidrográfica La Floresta – La Novita” (Guidelines for ecological restoration in Andean watersheds)EspañolantecedentesEl estudio forma parte del proyecto que tiene por objetivo la realización de un Plan de Manejo Ambiental de la Cuenca Hidrográfica La Floresta – La Novita para prevenir y controlar el proceso erosivo actual y recuperar el equilibrio ecológico de los ecosistemas nativos. Open access copy available |
