Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics: Past, Present and Future Hydrological Research for Integrated Land and Water Management (International Hydrology Series)

Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Contributors......Page 10 Foreword......Page 13 Preface......Page 15 Acknowledgements......Page 17 Symposium and Workshop......Page 18 Introduction......Page 21 Part I: Current trends and perspectives on people–land use–water issues......Page 25 Introduction......Page 29 Observing land cover, inferring land use......Page 30 Country statistics of forest cover......Page 31 Hot spots of tropical deforestation as defined by the TREES project......Page 33 Pan-tropical land cover monitoring (remote sensing component, RSS, of the FAO Forest Resources Assessments of 1990 and 2000)......Page 34 Processes of land cover change and their trends at the pan-tropical, regional and eco-regional level......Page 36 Regional character of processes governing land cover change......Page 40 Eco-regional distribution of forest change......Page 48 Main results of the trees ii survey of deforestation in the humid tropics......Page 50 Concluding remarks......Page 52 Trends......Page 53 appendix 1.1 monitoring tropical land cover change: key methodological features......Page 54 appendix 1.2 definitions of forest and forest change......Page 56 appendix 1.3 examples of local land cover change processes......Page 57 appendix 1.4 pan-tropical woody biomass flux diagram 1990–2000: main transition types and causes of forest depletion......Page 58 The concept of efficiency......Page 60 Methods......Page 61 Agricultural analysis......Page 62 Energy use and economic activity......Page 63 Agricultural efficiency......Page 67 Discussion and conclusions......Page 73 The failure of development based on neoclassical economics to provide useful guidelines......Page 75 Neoclassical economics as an excuse for plunder......Page 76 the resource managers and external factors influencing them......Page 79 Government......Page 82 Private sector......Page 83 Conclusions......Page 84 Forces of change......Page 86 other groups of forest-dependent peoples......Page 87 Who should control the forest?......Page 88 Forest dweller effects on hydrology......Page 89 Water in the lives of forest dwellers......Page 90 Potential roles for forest people......Page 91 Strategies for engaging people and communities......Page 92 Conclusions......Page 93 5 People in tropical forests: problem or solution?......Page 95 Forest peoples as a solution......Page 97 Self-defence and vigilance......Page 98 resource management and capacity-building......Page 99 Policy dialogue......Page 101 Conclusion......Page 102 Governance mechanisms......Page 103 Introduction......Page 106 A quarter-century of debate......Page 107 The scientific viewpoint......Page 108 El Cajón in Honduras......Page 110 The Lempa River in El Salvador......Page 111 The Panama Canal......Page 113 Hurricane Mitch......Page 115 Conclusions......Page 116 Introduction......Page 119 Hydrological impacts of land use change......Page 120 Land use change, hydrology and economic welfare......Page 121 Hydrological outputs as inputs to the household production......Page 122 Downstream economic impacts of changes in hydrological function......Page 123 Valuation of water quality impacts......Page 124 Valuation of water quantity impacts......Page 127 The direction of hydrological externalities......Page 133 Conclusions......Page 135 Introduction......Page 141 Land use planning and watershed management......Page 142 Regional scale......Page 143 National scale......Page 145 Local scale......Page 147 Policy responses......Page 149 Concluding remarks......Page 152 Decentralisation and potential for local environmental management and policy......Page 154 A participatory research approach......Page 155 Indicator 1: Community perceptions, memories and experience......Page 159 Indicator 2: Soil erosion and suspended solids......Page 160 Indicator 3: Altered streamflows......Page 161 Indicator 4: Sediment yield......Page 162 From indicators to policy......Page 163 Other effects on policy......Page 165 Factors for successful use of indicators in policy......Page 166 Future needs and applications of indicators......Page 167 Lessons learned......Page 168 Part II: Hydrological processes in undisturbed forests......Page 171 Low-level circulation......Page 178 Features of the upper atmospheric circulation......Page 182 The Indian monsoon......Page 186 Monsoon depressions......Page 187 The Asian–Australian monsoon......Page 188 The West African monsoon......Page 189 South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ)......Page 190 Kelvin waves......Page 194 Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO)......Page 195 The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in Australia......Page 197 Northwest Pacific–Asia......Page 198 Indian rainfall......Page 199 Equatorial westerly gales......Page 200 Kelvin waves and El Niño......Page 201 West African interdecadal variability......Page 204 Indian monsoon......Page 206 Longer-term variations......Page 207 Conclusions......Page 208 Appendix 10.1 glossary of terms used in this chapter and the following chapter......Page 209 Introduction......Page 214 Current debate on the mechanisms connected with the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones......Page 215 Rapid intensification of tropical cyclones adjacent to the east coasts of continents......Page 216 Summary of the characteristics of rapid intensification......Page 217 Extreme tropical cyclone rainfall events......Page 218 The rain structure of tropical cyclones and depressions......Page 220 Common synoptic patterns between the south west Pacific and south west Indian Ocean during record rainfall events (northeast Queensland and La Réunion Island)......Page 221 Comparison of two severe tropical cyclones in Fiji of contrasting vertical wind and rain structure......Page 223 The synoptic meteorological controls of Hurricane Mitch: an example of a slow moving system which produced high rainfalls......Page 224 Climatological aspects of tropical cyclones linked with rainfall......Page 226 Perturbations in the easterlies......Page 227 A climatological reassessment of African easterly perturbations, 1979–1998......Page 230 The possible links between topographic relief and the genesis of African easterly perturbations......Page 233 Precipitation in tropical easterly perturbations: a case study over the Lesser Antilles archipelago (Guadeloupe)......Page 234 The first ever recorded tropical cyclone in the South Atlantic......Page 235 North Atlantic patterns for tropical cyclogenesis from troughs in the easterlies......Page 238 Definitions and theoretical considerations......Page 239 The structure of MCSs......Page 242 Example of a severe MCS near Fiji 18–20 January 1999......Page 245 South America......Page 246 Middle America and the Caribbean......Page 251 The oceans adjacent to Central and South America......Page 252 An example of the diurnal evolution of tropical island convection within the maritime continent......Page 253 MCSs over the TOGA area......Page 254 The diurnal cycle of surface rainfall in TOGA–COARE over the ocean......Page 259 Trade wind layer depth and moisture......Page 260 Perturbations in trade wind flow at the mesoscale......Page 261 Aspects of tropical rainfall: intensity–frequency–duration, and more on topographic interactions......Page 262 Rainfall intensity–frequency–duration......Page 263 Extreme rainfalls linked with topographic interactions......Page 266 Overview of methodologies......Page 269 Selected studies......Page 270 A classification of global tropical rainfall stations......Page 271 Precipitation recycling......Page 278 Effect of surface heterogeneity of land cover......Page 279 Conclusions......Page 281 Appendix 11.1......Page 282 Reconstructing past climates......Page 287 The historical and climatic framework of African tropical forests from the end of the Tertiary period to the Quaternary period......Page 288 The maximum forest extension during the Holocene: The chronological lag between the African and the Amazonian rainforests......Page 290 Earth radiation budget (ERB)......Page 292 The role of water and the involvement of the tropical forest in the water cycle......Page 293 Evaluating the climatic impact of forest conversion: modelling global terrestrial vegetation–climate interactions......Page 295 Climatic variability and impact on rainfall and runoff in West and Central Africa......Page 297 Interannual and multiannual scale: the Southern Oscillation......Page 299 An approximate ten-year cycle: the tropical Atlantic......Page 300 Recent fluctuations in climate: the trend towards increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall over West Africa......Page 301 Conclusions......Page 303 Introduction......Page 307 Hydrological studies in tropical rainforests......Page 308 The control of transpiration at the leaf level......Page 309 The control of forest transpiration at the stand level......Page 312 Measuring rainfall interception in tropical rainforest......Page 320 Modelling rainforest rainfall interception......Page 323 Interception from maritime sites......Page 324 Future research needs in lowland tropical rainforests......Page 325 Appendix 13.1 list of symbols......Page 329 Introduction......Page 334 Rainfall......Page 335 The limitations of point measurements and in situ parameterisation of soil and rock properties linked with hillslope hydrology......Page 336 Comparative studies of hillslope hydrology in the humid tropics......Page 338 Predominantly vertical pathways......Page 342 Predominantly lateral pathways......Page 351 The impact of complex geology and soils on dominant stormflow pathways......Page 396 A conceptual framework of hillslope hydrology responses linked with tropical rainforest soil landscapes......Page 402 The role of riparian zones in the runoff generation process......Page 404 Digital terrain models for runoff simulation......Page 405 The role of 'DEEP' groundwater......Page 414 A controversial issue: does stormflow increase and delayed flow decrease following forest conversion?......Page 415 Achievements and research gaps......Page 417 Influence of rainfall......Page 427 Patterns of sediment yield in large basins and throughout the humid tropics......Page 429 Erosion processes in small catchments......Page 432 Overland flow, subsurface flow, channel head dynamics and sediment supply......Page 434 Landsliding and mass movements......Page 435 Regulation of sediment discharge by coarse woody debris......Page 436 Variation in storm period-sediment yield with antecedent conditions......Page 438 Appendix 15.1 characteristics of the world‘s eight largest tropical rivers......Page 439 The rainforest nutrient cycle......Page 442 Quantification of pools and fluxes......Page 443 Soil analyses......Page 448 Mineral and organic soils: two types of acidity......Page 449 Nitrogen supply......Page 451 Soil heterogeneity......Page 453 Roots and mycorrhizas......Page 455 Nutrient addition experiments......Page 457 Trees, mineral weathering and pedogenesis?......Page 460 Concluding remarks......Page 461 Forests and peatswamps: a valuable combination......Page 467 Introduction......Page 469 Water balance studies in wetlands......Page 472 Water balance modelling approach......Page 476 Hydrological functions of peatswamps......Page 479 Acknowledgement......Page 480 Tropical montane cloud forests: definitions and occurrence......Page 482 Fog gauges......Page 485 Measurement of net precipitation......Page 486 Results of post-1993 rainfall and cloud interception studies in TMCF......Page 488 Transpiration and total forest water use......Page 491 Tropical montane cloud forests and water yield......Page 494 Putting cloud forests on the hydrological research agenda......Page 497 Part III: Forest disturbance, conversion and recovery......Page 513 Atmospheric systems......Page 517 The equatorial troughs......Page 518 Cyclones......Page 519 Inter-annual oscillations......Page 522 Tree mortality and tree-fall gaps......Page 523 Mass earth movements......Page 524 Floods and fluvial processes......Page 528 Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes......Page 533 Meteor impacts......Page 534 Modelling......Page 535 Conclusion......Page 536 Introduction......Page 541 Catchment-scale studies......Page 542 Evapotranspiration, catchment water-balance and water yield......Page 543 Flow-paths and rainfall-runoff behaviour......Page 545 Harvesting year impacts......Page 549 Recovery......Page 550 Rainfall regime controls......Page 552 Forestry land-use controls......Page 555 Conclusions......Page 556 Appendix 20.1 n. a. chappell the dynamic harmonic regression model......Page 557 Natural and wild fires in tropical rainforest......Page 561 Shifting cultivation......Page 562 Climate, especially rainfall......Page 563 Evapotranspiration......Page 564 Soil physical properties, infiltration and surface runoff......Page 565 Streamflow......Page 566 Effects of fire on erosion and sedimentation......Page 569 Leaching losses of dissolved elements......Page 570 Particulate nutrient losses......Page 574 Fire effects on nutrient losses to the atmosphere......Page 575 Traditional shifting cultivation......Page 576 Intensified shifting cultivation......Page 577 Wild fires in logged forests and secondary forests......Page 578 Effects of fire at the landscape level......Page 580 Towards integrated fire policy......Page 581 Recommendations for biogeochemical research......Page 582 Introduction......Page 589 Changes in energy and water balances during forest conversion and stabilisation of new land use......Page 590 Context and experimental design......Page 594 Experimental treatments......Page 596 Changes in storm runoff after land clearing (bare soil conditions)......Page 598 Evolution of runoff with time after application of the treatments......Page 600 Changes in flow pathways during forest conversion and stabilisation of new land use......Page 603 Erosion during forest conversion and stabilisation of new land use......Page 606 Soil fertility changes during forest conversion and stabilisation of new land use......Page 610 Concluding remarks......Page 613 Hydrological impacts of tropical forest conversion......Page 618 Large-scale hydrological impacts of tropical forest conversion: the importance of feedbacks......Page 619 How tropical forests manipulate their own climate......Page 621 Conclusions......Page 623 Changes in vegetation structure during forest recovery......Page 626 Phytomass accumulation, soil fertility and previous management intensity......Page 629 Changes in soil chemical properties during forest recovery......Page 631 Rainfall partitioning......Page 635 Soil water dynamics......Page 637 Albedo......Page 639 Aerodynamic roughness......Page 641 Surface conductance......Page 642 Conclusions......Page 645 Extent, development and importance of tropical tree plantations......Page 650 Hydrological impacts of forestation......Page 651 Water use of tropical tree plantations......Page 652 Effect of forestation on precipitation......Page 654 Effects of forestation on water yield......Page 655 Case study: effects of afforestation of subtropical grasslands in South Africa on water yield......Page 656 The link between productivity and water use......Page 658 Effect of forestation on low flows......Page 659 Effects of forestation on storm flows......Page 660 Forestation of degraded lands: prospects for improved flow regime......Page 661 Forestation Effects On Erosion And Sediment Yields......Page 666 Changes in soil chemical characteristics with land cover change......Page 668 Processes affecting soil nutrient levels during land clearing and plantation establishment......Page 669 Declining soil nutrient reserves in intensively managed plantations......Page 672 Conversion of grasslands into plantations......Page 673 Conclusions and recommendations......Page 674 Agroforestry as a management option......Page 680 Soil conservation: protection against erosion......Page 681 Soil organic matter and associated properties......Page 683 Water conservation and more efficient use of water......Page 685 The water balance of an agroforestry system......Page 686 Water use efficiency in tree/crop mixtures......Page 690 Resource capture: complementarity or competition?......Page 692 Concluding remarks......Page 694 Part IV: New methods for evaluating effects of land-use change......Page 699 Basics of remote sensing......Page 703 Forest cover......Page 711 Terrain attributes......Page 712 Soil characteristics......Page 713 Forest type, clearing and regrowth stage......Page 714 Forest condition and function......Page 720 Conclusion......Page 725 Introduction......Page 731 Selecting the test statistic......Page 732 Methods for checking assumptions......Page 733 Detecting climate change......Page 734 Advancing change detection in river flow data for the humid tropics......Page 735 Improvements in data collection......Page 736 Improvements in data access......Page 737 Significance levels......Page 739 Misconceptions......Page 741 Appendix 28.3 distribution-free approaches......Page 742 Summary of method for resampling......Page 743 Block resampling: resampling when data are not independent......Page 744 Introduction......Page 745 The basis for model choice......Page 747 Catchments as complex systems......Page 748 Scale assumptions......Page 749 Cumulative models......Page 751 Model comparisons......Page 753 The universal process model......Page 755 The universal model process: AMP......Page 756 The problem of validation......Page 757 An example of model development: south creek, babinda, (wyvuri, holding), northeast queensland......Page 759 Model development......Page 760 Incorporating tracer data into the model......Page 764 An alternative response function......Page 765 Conclusion......Page 767 Aims of the study......Page 770 Methodology......Page 772 Modelling of unregulated (natural) flow in gauged catchments......Page 773 Streamflow disaggregation procedure......Page 775 Disaggregation......Page 776 Calibration and testing......Page 777 Disaggregation results......Page 779 Discussion and conclusions......Page 781 Abilities......Page 782 Assumptions and limitations......Page 783 Introduction......Page 784 Topographically based, dynamic rainfall-runoff models......Page 786 (1) Point measurement of permeability......Page 789 (3) Permeability estimation by catchment-model inversion......Page 790 (4) Comparison of model-derived permeabilities with up-scaled field values......Page 791 (5) Hillslope-scale permeability estimation......Page 792 Conclusions......Page 793 Appendix 31.1 glossary of key modelling terms......Page 794 Isotope hydrograph separation basics......Page 798 Assumptions implicit in the technique......Page 801 What we know......Page 804 What we think we know......Page 805 A consensus?......Page 806 What is the most appropriate way to incorporate temporal variations in event water in IHS studies?......Page 807 How do temporal and spatial variations in hydrological linkages between landscape units (slopes – riparian zone – stream) affect a catchment’s isotopic and chemical response?......Page 808 How and why do IHS results vary with catchment scale?......Page 809 Controlled experiments that incorporate the use of environmental isotope tracers......Page 810 Integration of isotopic and geochemical tracers and hydrometric techniques with greater consideration of topographic properties......Page 811 Changes in water flowpaths......Page 812 Quantifying where mixing occurs in the landscape......Page 814 Conclusions......Page 815 An overview of erosion modelling......Page 818 GUEST methodology......Page 821 Hydrological drivers for GUEST......Page 824 Application of GUEST to tropical steeplands......Page 825 WEPP......Page 828 EUROSEM and LISEM......Page 830 A comparison of erosion prediction models......Page 832 Overland flows......Page 833 Conclusion......Page 835 Introduction......Page 839 The role of streams and rivers in the landscape......Page 840 Impacts of forest conversion......Page 842 Water flow to the stream......Page 843 Sedimentation......Page 847 Ecosystem energetics......Page 849 Nutrients......Page 850 Dissolved oxygen......Page 856 pH......Page 857 Other contaminants......Page 858 Concluding remarks......Page 859 Part V: Critical appraisals of best management practices......Page 865 The nature of tropical timber harvesting......Page 868 Reduced-impact logging (ril) techniques......Page 871 Research developments over the last decade in relation to catchment management in humid tropical forest areas......Page 872 Other relevant developments......Page 874 Experience with reduced-impact logging......Page 875 Key obstacles to sustainable forest management in tropical forests......Page 876 Concluding remarks......Page 877 Introduction......Page 880 The mc&i soil and water criterion of sustainable forestry management......Page 881 Performance standards associated with the indictors of the MC&I Soil and Water Criterion......Page 882 An example mc&i certification assessment......Page 883 Re-assessment of other MC&I criteria pertinent to hydrological impacts within the Selangor FMU......Page 884 Consistency with current hydrological science......Page 885 Skid trails......Page 886 Stream buffer zones......Page 887 Conclusions and recommendations......Page 889 Appendix 36.1 glossary of forestry terms used......Page 890 Introduction......Page 894 Tropical montane cloud forests......Page 895 Unstable slip-prone areas......Page 896 Riparian buffer zones......Page 897 Significant freshwater wetlands......Page 899 Mangrove forests......Page 900 High-quality water supply headwaters......Page 901 Soil limitations that will not sustain proposed use......Page 902 If clearing is happening, what guidelines are useful?......Page 903 Concluding remarks......Page 906 Introduction......Page 909 Support structures......Page 911 In-field practices......Page 921 Changing external factors......Page 927 Changing approaches: five new priorities......Page 928 Concluding comments......Page 930 Tropical forest loss: extent, patterns and causes......Page 934 Unique attributes of the humid tropical (forest) hydrological cycle......Page 936 Hydrological consequences of disturbing or clearing tropical forest: the scientific consensus......Page 938 Hydrological impacts of reforesting (degraded) humid tropical landscapes......Page 943 Chief hydrological research needs......Page 945 Outstanding economic and institutional issues......Page 949 Concluding remarks......Page 950 Forests, Water And People In The Humid Tropics Is The Most Comprehensive Review Available Of The Hydrological And Physiological Functioning Of Tropical Rain Forests, The Environmental Impacts Of Their Disturbance And Conversion To Other Land Uses, And Optimum Strategies For Managing Them.--jacket. Foreword / Charles Pereira -- 1. Trends And Pattern Of Tropical Land Use Change / R. Drigo -- 2. The Myth Of Efficiency Through Market Economics : A Biophysical Analysis Of Tropical Economies, Especially With Respect To Energy, Forests And Water / C.a.s. Hall And J.-y. Ko -- 3. Impacts Of Land Cover Change In The Brazilian Amazon : A Resource Manager's Perspective / E.a. Serrao And I.s. Thompson -- 4. Forest People And Changing Tropical Forestland Use In Tropical Asia / J. Schweithelm -- 5. People In Tropical Forests : Problem Or Solution? / A.l. Hall -- 6. Useful Myths And Intractable Truths : The Politics Of The Link Between Forests And Water In Central America / D. Kaimowitz -- 7. Land Use, Hydrological Function And Economic Valuation / B. Aylward -- 8. Water Resources Management Policy Responses To Land Cover Change In South East Asian River Basins / D. Murdiyarso --^ 9. Community-based Hydrological And Water Quality Assessments In Mindanao, Philippines / W.g. Dentsch, A.l. Busby, J.l. Orprecio, J.p. Bago-labis And E.y. Cequina -- 10. An Overview Of The Meteorology And Climatology Of The Humid Tropics / J. Callaghan And M. Bonell -- 11. Synoptic And Mesoscale Rain Producing Systems In The Humid Tropics / M. Bonell, J. Callaghan And G. Connor -- 12. Climate Variability In The Tropics / G. Mahe, E. Servat And J. Maley -- 13. Controls On Evaporation In Lowland Tropical Rainforest / J.m. Roberts, J.h.c. Gash, M. Tani And L.a. Bruijnzeel -- 14. Runoff Generation In Tropical Forests / M. Bonell -- 15. Erosion And Sediment Yield In The Humid Tropics / I. Douglas And J.-l. Guyot -- 16. Rainforest Mineral Nutrition : The 'black Box' And A Glimpse Inside It / J. Proctor -- 17. Hydrology Of Tropical Wetland Forests : Recent Research Results From Sarawak Peatswamps / A. Hooijer --^ 18. Tropical Montane Cloud Forest : A Unique Hydrological Case / L.a. Bruijnzeel -- 19. Natural Disturbances And The Hydrology Of Humid Tropical Forests / F.n. Scatena, E.o. Planos-gutierrez And J. Schellekens -- 20. Spatially Significant Effects Of Selective Tropical Forestry On Water, Nutrient And Sediment Flows : A Modelling-supported Review / N.a. Chappell, W. Tych, Z. Yusop, N.a. Rahim And B. Kasran -- 21. Effects Of Shifting Cultivation And Forest Fire / A. Malmer, M. Van Noordwijk And L.a. Bruijnzeel -- 22. Soil And Water Impacts During Forest Conversion And Stabilisation To New Land Use / H. Grip, J.-m. Fritsch And L.a. Bruijnzeel -- 23. Large-scale Hydrological Impacts Of Tropical Forest Conversion / M.h. Costa -- 24. Forest Recovery In The Humid Tropics : Changes In Vegetation Structure, Nutrient Pools And The Hydrological Cycle / D. Holscher, J. Mackensen And J.-m. Roberts --^ 25. The Hydrological And Soil Impacts Of Forestation In The Tropics / D.f. Scott, L.a. Bruijnzeel And J. Mackensen -- 26. The Potential Of Agroforestry For Sustainable Land And Water Management / J.s. Wallace, A. Young And C.k. Ong -- 27. Remote Sensing Tools In Tropical Forest Hydrology : New Sensors / A.a. Held And E. Rodriguez -- 28. Detecting Change In River Flow Series / Z.w. Kundzewicz And A.j. Robson -- 29. How To Choose An Appropriate Catchment Model / C. Barnes And M. Bonell -- 30. The Disaggregation Of Monthly Streamflow For Ungauged Sub-catchments Of A Gauged Irrigated Catchment In Northern Thailand / S.y. Schreider And A.j. Jakeman -- 31. Parsimonious Spatial Representation Of Tropical Soils Within Dynamic Rainfall-runoff Models / N.a. Chappell, K. Bidin, M.d. Sherlock And J.w. Lancaster -- 32. Isotope Tracers In Catchment Hydrology In The Humid Tropics / J.m. Buttle And J.j. Mcdonnell -- 33. Process-based Erosion Modelling : Promises And Progress / B. Yu --^ 34. Impacts Of Forest Conversion On The Ecology Of Streams In The Humid Tropics / N.m. Connolly And R.g. Pearson -- 35. Guidelines For Controlling Vegetation, Soil And Water Impacts Of Timber Harvesting In The Humid Tropics / D.s. Cassells And L.a. Bruijnzeel -- 36. Minimising The Hydrological Impact Of Forest Harvesting In Malaysia's Rainforests / H.c. Thang And N.a. Chappell -- 37. Red Flags Of Warning In Land Clearing / L.s. Hamilton -- 38. From Nature To Nurture : Soil And Water Management For Rainfed Steeplands In The Humid Tropics / W.r.s. Critchley -- Conclusion : Forests, Water And People In The Humid Tropics : An Emerging View / L.a. Bruijnzeel, M. Boncil, D.a. Gilmour And D. Lamb. Edited By M. Bonell, L.a. Bruijnzeel. Includes Bibliographical References. Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics is a comprehensive review of the hydrological and physiological functioning of tropical rain forests, the environmental impacts of their disturbance and conversion to other land uses, and optimum strategies for managing them. The book brings together leading specialists in such diverse fields as tropical anthropology and human geography, environmental economics, climatology and meteorology, hydrology, geomorphology, plant and aquatic ecology, forestry and conservation agronomy. The editors have supplemented the individual contributions with invaluable overviews of the main sections and provide key pointers for future research. Specialists will find authenticated detail in chapters written by experts on a whole range of people-water-land use issues, managers and practitioners will learn more about the implications of ongoing and planned forest conversion, while scientists and students will appreciate a unique review of the literature.