Tropical forest hydrology and the role of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme

摘要

The paper outlines a perspectiveon tropical forest hydrology within the context of an international hydrologicalprogramme. Experience in tropical forest hydrology research in North EastAustralia is a focal point for comparison with international activitieselsewhere. The impacts of climate variability and change are considered briefly,as well as those of reforestation of degraded land on the land use hydrology,which requires a longer term vision and support of long term experimentalcatchments. Sadly, too few long term experimental catchments have beenmaintained in the humid tropics and there have been some significant closureseven of these sites in recent years. Yet the case for long-term experiments isstrengthened by the problematic issue of separating anthropogenic influences(such as land use change) on the hydrology of landscapes from the effects ofclimate variability at a time of escalation in population and relatedsocio-economic pressures in the humid tropics. Particular emphasis is made ofthe need for greater consideration for the social and cultural dimensions offorest management within forest hydrology. Furthermore, scientists must becommitted to incorporating ‘societal needs' in their planning of researchprojects, as well as in publicizing the applications of their results, withinthe framework of forest-land-water policy. Alarm is expressed at the extensivedisregard for the application of existing forest hydrology ‘know how' inforest-land management manipulations associated with the humid tropics.