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.
fast-growing forest plantations (Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus nitens)
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). |
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).
watershed containing second growth forest thinned extracting 35% of the total basal area for the production of roundwood
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 |
San Pablo watershed in the study area (398370 –428300 S)