Synopses & Reviews
The protective function of forests for water quality and water-related hazards, as well as adequate water supplies for forest ecosystems in Europe, are potentially at risk due to changing climate and changing land-management practices. Water budgets of forest ecosystems are heavily dependent on climate and forest structure. The latter is determined by the management measures applied in the forestry sector. Various developments of forest management strategies, imposed on a background of changing climate, are considered in assessing the overall future of forest-water interactions in Europe. Synthesizing recent research on the interactions of forest management and the water regime of forests in Europe and beyond, the book makes an important contribution to the ongoing dialogue between scientists dealing with different scales of forest-water interactions. This collaborative endeavour, which covers geographic and climatic gradients from Iceland to Israel and from southern Spain to Estonia and Finland, was made possible through the COST Action "Forest Management and the Water Cycle (FORMAN)", which was launched in 2007 (http://www.forestandwater.eu/). The book will be of particular interest to the research community involved in forest ecosystem research and forest hydrology, as well as landscape ecologists and hydrologists in general. It will also provide reference material for forest practitioners and planners in hydrology and land use.
Synopsis
Synthesizing recent research on the interaction of forest management and water regimes of forests in Europe and beyond, this book is an important contribution to the discourse between scientists dealing with different scales of forest-water correlations.
Table of Contents
Forest Management and the Water Cycle - Introduction to the ChallengeAcknowledgementSection 1: Forest and water '" tree to small catchment processes in a changing environment1.0 Introduction1.1 Hydrological effects on below ground processes in temperate and Mediterranean forestsIntroductionBiogenic causes of soil moisture heterogeneityEffects of soil water deficitSoilMycorrhizal fungiFine rootsPhysiological adaptation of rootsChanges in root axial conductivity and hydraulic safety under droughtEffects of excess soil waterSoilMycorrhizal fungiFine rootsPhysiological adaptation of rootsConclusion and outlookReferences1.2 Above ground processes - anticipating climate change influencesIntroductionElevated [CO2] influences on leaf to tree level processesDrought, rising temperature, and extreme events influences on leaf to tree level processesInfluences on hydraulic structure of treesInfluences on tree growth and water use efficiencySpecies differences in water relations and canopy structure across EuropeCanopy atmosphere interactions: forest influences on climateConclusionsReferences1.3 Field studies of whole-tree leaf and root distribution and water relations in several European forestsThe importance of the integrated whole tree level approachWhole tree and stand level measurementsStudies of water storage and the effectivity of water conducting systemsDetail studies of water redistribution within treesSpatial application: tree to stand level studiesSpatial application: landscape '" level studiesTemporal application: combining present data with historyConclusionsAcknowledgementReferences1.4 Forested water catchments in a changing environmentIntroduction: catchments as integratorsAn historical controversyPaired-catchment approachWater yield and low flowsThe affected area and the intensity of the treatmentThe vegetation typeThe soil and the rooting depthThe amount of precipitationSnow and other seasonal effectsThe time factorFloodsWater qualityThe importance of long-term catchment studies in a changing worldReferences1.5 Forest development in the European Alps and potential consequences on hydrological regimeIntroductionDevelopment of forested areas and shrub encroachment in the AlpsDevelopment of soil stability in Alpine regionsEffects of change in forested area on hydrologyInfluences of different site conditions and forest typesGeneral conclusions and management implications for the AlpsBox 1: TerminologyReferences1.6 Effects of Climate Change on the vulnerability of Norway spruce stands '" soil hydrological constraints for forest management in Austria"s lowlandsIntroductionDistribution and vulnerability of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.)) in lowlandsSoil water regime in Norway spruce dominated forestsThe Fürstenfeld studyWeather conditions in the year 2003 und 2004Soil water contentSap flowThe Kreisbach studyConclusions and implications for forest managementReferences1.7 Observed Climate Change in Croatia and its impact on the hydrology of lowlandsIntroductionEnvironmental system of lowland forestsClimateGeology, soils and vegetationThe observed changes of groundwater tablesThe reconstruction of the historic state of groundwater tablesAssessment of morphology of hydromorphic soilsCalculation of water logging status from groundwater dataPrediction of the average water logging rate (WLR) from soil morphologyThe possibilities of water table management to mitigate water scarcity impactForest canopy treatmentRunoff retention in the landscapeManagement of forest defoliatorsDrought indicesConclusionReferences1.8 The Case of Yatir ForestIntroductionAims of forest establishmentEcological backgroundThe species plantedResearch aims at YatirMaterials and methodsResearch sites and treesInstrumentation and MeasurementsSap velocity measurements and hourly sap flux calculationsSoil volumetric water contentThe meteorological towerEvapotranspirationWater-balance partitioning in the forestDaily, seasonal and annual evapotranspiration in relation to meteorological parameters, soil water availability and topographyMeasurements in 1992-3Measurements during 2003 to 2006Physiological activity under semi-arid climateResults from a provenance trial at YatirHabitat effects on adaptive genetic variation in Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) provenancesSite effects on physiological aspectsConclusionsReferences1.9 How Mediterranean deciduous trees cope with long summer drought? The case of Quercus pyrenaica forests in Western SpainIntroductionStudy SpeciesStudy AreaTemporal Dynamic of Soil Moisture. Estimation of Stand EvapotranspirationDaily and Seasonal Evolution of Stomata Activity. Estimating Tree TranspirationLessons LearnedQuercus pyrenaica oak is only slightly water-limited during summer droughtQuercus pyrenaica oaks depend on thick porous-weathered bedrocksQuercus pyrenaica is a well-performed deciduous oak to cope with increasing summer droughtReferencesSection 2: Forest structures, management and water fluxes2.0 IntroductionReferences2.1 Changes in Forest Cover and its Diversity1. Introduction2. The climax forest cover in Europe3. Zoogenic and anthropogenic effects on European forests4. Forest cover transitionReferences2.2 Afforestation strategies with respect to forest-water interactionsIntroductionEffects of afforestation on water yields and qualityWater yields Afforestation and changes in water yields in BulgariaWater qualityEnergy wood plantations in central Europe and their hydrological constraintsWater constraints on afforestation in the Mediterranean regionConclusionsReferences2.3 Tree Species" Tolerance to Water Stress, Salinity and FireIntroductionWater stressSalinityFireConclusion2.4 Overland flow, soil erosion and stream water quality in forest under different perturbations and climate conditionsIntroductionMechanisms and processes of overland flow and soil erosionRunoff and overland flow processesSoil erosion processesMediterranean, semiarid climateRunoff and soil erosionRunoff water qualitySemi-humid northern climateOverland flow yieldOverland flow qualityMild, humid climateOverland flow yieldOverland flow qualitySummary and conclusions2.5 Forest Management Effects on Below-ground Hydrological ProcessesIntrinsic variability of soil hydrologic processesAbove-ground biomassSoil surface interfaceVadose zone and groundwaterEffects of forest management on the quality of seepage watersType of cutting and regenerationHarvest intensityDitchingOutlookReferences2.6 Adjustment of forest management strategies to changing climateIntroductionMajor water-related forest management concerns under climate change uncertaintiesAdaptation of forest management strategies aimed at protecting forest hydrological functionsConclusionsReferencesSection 3: Scales and Approaches for Forest '" Water Interactions3.0 Introduction3.1 Forest Management and the Water Cycle: An Integrated Introduction to ScalingIntroductionForest Ecohydrological Processes and ScalingScales and Scaling in Fluvial SystemsGIS based scaling, modelling and monitoringConclusionsReferences3.2 Multidimensionality of Scales and Approaches for Forest - Water InteractionsIntroductionStable Conditions: Water, Quantity, Quality and Management - Impact of Forest Management on Water Quantity and QualityForests and Water Retention CapacityFive Most Important Indicators for Water Quality and Quantity Influenced by Different Forest Management PracticesBest Management Practice Guidelines for Water Quality and Quantity in the frame of Close-to-Nature Forest ManagementDrought and Decay of WoodlandsExposure of European Forests to DroughtBoreal forestsAtlantic forestsContinental forestsMediterranean forestsForest-Tree Response at Various Spatio-Temporal ScalesDrought and Adaptive Forest Management StrategiesForest Measures for Flood ProtectionLandscapeForest conversionAfforestationForest managementRiver CourseLimitation and ScalesWater QualityConclusionsReferences3.3 Fundamentals of Model Scaling in Forest EcologyIntroductionApplication of Scaling in Forest EcohydrologyFunctional-Structural Plant Models and Systems BiologyModel-Based Reasoning: The connecting link between observation and quantificationScale Identification and ScalingConclusionReferences3.4 Up- and Downscaling Model Approaches for Water Relations in Forest Management from Plot to Landscape LevelIntroductionScaling optionsUpscalingDownscalingMean values of fluctuating processesExamplesGroundwaterRoad runoffCatchment yield modeling Drought indexConclusionsReferences3.5 A Small Catchment Scale Approach for Modeling Effects of Forest Management on Water Cycle in Boreal LandscapeIntroductionCatchment Disaggregation in Hydrological ModelsHRU for the Peatland ForestWater Cycle and Forest Management in Boreal PeatlandsHRU for the Upland ForestWater Cycle and Forest Management in Boreal Upland AreasRemarksReferences3.6 Large Scale Approach to Forest and Water InteractionsIntroductionDealing with Ecohydrological Processes on Larger ScalesPrecipitation, Soil Water and Discharge at Different Scales in Dependency upon Forestry and Land Cover DynamicsApproach of Hydrological Processes in Dependency of Forests and Forest Site Properties on Larger ScalesHydrological System Behaviour at Catchment ScaleContribution of Remote Sensing Techniques to Assess Water and Forests Interactions at the Meso- and MacroscaleHydrochemical Interactions of Forest and Water and its Impacts on Larger ScalesIntegrated Land and Water Management at Larger ScaleThe Effects of an Integrated Forest and Watershed Management at Larger Scales - Myths and RealitiesLand-Use and Water Management Governance: the European Water Framework Directive and the European Floods DirectiveConclusions3.7 Model-Based Assessment of Forest Land Management on Water Dynamics at Various Hydrological Scales - A Case StudyIntroductionSoil propertiesUpscalingIntegrated ModelingConclusions and OutlookReferences3.8 Typological Up-Scaling of Wooded PeatlandsIntroductionFeatures of Aerial Photo Mapping of the PeatlandsFeatures of Peatland MappingAerial Photo Mapping of PeatlandsAnalyses of Wooded PeatlandsOrtophoto and Ground Level Parameterisation of Wooded PeatlandsGIS Based Analysis of Wooded Peatland EcotopesResultsOrtophoto and Ground Level Parameterisation of Wooded PeatlandsGIS Based Analysis of the Wooded Mire EcotopesConclusionsReferences3.9 Difficulties of Scaling in Forest and Water Management in Urban Areas: Social and Institutional DimensionIntroductionUrban Growth and IndustrializationTransboundary WatersInstitutional and Organizational FrameworkJurisdictional BoundariesDiscussionConclusionReferencesSynthesis and OutlookIntroductionForest management and scienceForest services and costsHolism and reductionism in forest management and the water cycleConclusionReferences