Assessment of ecosystem services as an opportunity for the conservation and management of native forests in Chile

Lara, A., et al., 2009. Forest Ecology and Management

Original research (primary data)
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Abstract

This paper quantifies two important native forest ecosystem services in southern Chile: water supply and recreational fishing opportunities. We analyzed streamflow in relation to forest cover in six watersheds located in the Valdivian Coastal Range (39 degrees 50′-40 degrees 05’S), the effect of forest management on streamflow in two watersheds in the Valdivian Andes (600-650 m of elevation; 39 degrees 37’S), and fish abundance as a function of forest cover in 17 watersheds located in the Coastal Range and the Central Depression (39 degrees 50′-42 degrees 30’S). We found that the annual direct runoff coefficient (quickflow/precipitation) and total streamflow/precipitation in the dry summer season were positively correlated with native forest cover in the watershed (R-2 = 0.67 and 0.76; *P = 0.045 and 0.027, respectively) during four years of observations. Conversely, a negative correlation was found between summer runoff coefficients (total streamflow/precipitation) and cover of Eucalyptus spp. and Pinus radiata plantations (R-2 = 0.84; *P = 0.010). We estimated a mean increase of 14.1% in total summer streamflow for every 10% increase in native forest cover in the watershed. The analysis of streamflow changes between two paired watersheds dominated by native secondary Nothofagus stands, one thinned with 35% of basal area removal and a control, showed that the former had a 40% increase during summer (four years of observations). The best correlation between fish abundance and forest cover was found between trout abundance (%) and secondary native forest area in 1000 m x 60 m stream buffers (R2 = 0.65, ***P < 0.0001). We estimated a 14.6% increase in trout abundance for every 10% increase of native forest cover in these buffers. Similar approaches to quantify forest ecosystem services could be used elsewhere and provide useful information for policy and decision-making regarding forest conservation and management.

Case studies

Basic information

  • Case ID: INT-148-2
  • Intervention type: Created habitats
  • Intervention description:

    fast-growing forest plantations (Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus nitens)

  • Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
  • Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures
    Reduced water availability  Negative mean annual direct runoff coefficient (quickflow/precipitation: Qq/P) we separated the total streamflow (Qt) in baseflow (Qb, sum of groundwater flow and saturated superficial flow) and quickflow (Qq, total streamflow minus baseflow). Finally, we computed runoff coefficients by dividing both total streamflow volume and quickflow by precipitation (Qt/P and Qq/P, respectively).
  • Approach implemented in the field: Yes
  • Specific location:

    The study area (398370 –428300 S) comprised different water- sheds located in three main physiographic units, following a longitudinal pattern from west to east ... We selected six watersheds with a wide range of variation in the area covered by native forests or by fast-growing forest plantations (Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus nitens) (Fig. 1, Table 1).

  • Country: Chile
  • Habitat/Biome type: Created forest |
  • Issue specific term: Not applicable

Evidence

  • Notes on intervention effectivness: Effectiveness determined by regression analysis of % of watershed with plantations versus summer runoff - significant negative correlation indicated that with increasing plantation cover in the watershed, runoff decreased plantations replaced native vegetation " In order to assess the effect of different forest cover types in streamflow we performed regression analyses."
  • Is the assessment original?: Yes
  • Broadtype of intervention considered: Not applicable
  • Compare effectivness?: No
  • Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
  • Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: No
  • Impacts on GHG: Not applicable
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
  • Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
  • Ecosystem measures:
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
  • Impacts for people: Not reported
  • People measures:
  • Considers economic costs: No
  • Economic appraisal conducted: No
  • Economic appraisal described:
  • Economic costs of alternative considered: No
  • Compared to an alternative: Not reported

Evaluation methodology

  • Type of data: Quantitative
  • Is it experimental: No
  • Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
  • Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
  • Study is systematic:

Basic information

  • Case ID: INT-148-1
  • Intervention type: Management
  • Intervention description:

    watershed containing second growth forest thinned extracting 35% of the total basal area for the production of roundwood

  • Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
  • Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures
    Reduced water availability  Positive total runoff and baseflow response of both watersheds to a high-intensity and short-duration storm, monthly stream discharge (runoff) values throughout the year
  • Approach implemented in the field: Yes
  • Specific location:

    San Pablo watershed in the study area (398370 –428300 S)

  • Country: Chile
  • Habitat/Biome type: Mediterranean shrubs and Forests |
  • Issue specific term: Not applicable

Evidence

  • Notes on intervention effectivness: effectiveness determined by comparing to an unthinned watershed as a control. "The analysis of streamflow changes between a thinned and a control watershed, both dominated by second-growth Nothofagus forests, showed that the former had a higher annual and summer streamflow compared to the control." Most effect seen in the drier summer season "Summer relative difference [between thinned and control] increased to 50% when calculated for baseflow, which can be attributed to the reduction in canopy interception and evapotranspiration in the thinned watershed compared to the control and a relatively faster depletion of soil and water table reserves in the control watershed through the summer"
  • Is the assessment original?: Yes
  • Broadtype of intervention considered: Not applicable
  • Compare effectivness?: No
  • Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
  • Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: No
  • Impacts on GHG: Not applicable
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
  • Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
  • Ecosystem measures:
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
  • Impacts for people: Not reported
  • People measures:
  • Considers economic costs: No
  • Economic appraisal conducted: No
  • Economic appraisal described:
  • Economic costs of alternative considered: No
  • Compared to an alternative: Not reported

Evaluation methodology

  • Type of data: Quantitative
  • Is it experimental: Yes
  • Experimental evalution done: In-situ/field
  • Non-experimental evalution done: Not applicable
  • Study is systematic: