Hydrological effects of forest plantation clear-cut on water availability: Consequences for downstream water users

Fast-growing forest plantation areas have been expanding globally, with simultaneously increasing concerns about the water consumption of these forests, especially in water-limited regions with consequences for downstream users. Simulations of scenarios with varying forest cover proportions showed an annual streamflow increase of 90% when clear-cutting had removed the forest cover in the catchment. The 100% forest cover scenario produced rates of streamflow below the low flow indices, resulting in less water availability for downstream water users. The reduction in forest cover proportion at the catchment scale promoted an attenuation of water use. Therefore, forest plantation management should adopt management strategies such as regulating the forest cover proportion to minimize the effects on water supply for downstream water users.