Hydrological impacts of afforestation — A review of research in India

Abstract

We review the current status of experimental studies in India to understand the linkages between afforestation and hydrology. This discipline deals with the use and management of water, social awareness of environmental problems, and ecosystem limitations on provision of watershed services by river basins in the mountain regions of India. Our review begins with examination of experimental works in tropical countries and proceeds to discussion of initiatives of Indian research institutes and Government organizations towards establishing experimental watersheds to understand the impacts of land cover changes on hydrologic regimes in the Indian sub-continent. This is followed by the review of the experimental work carried out by various authors to assess the impact of land cover changes on major water balance components such as, runoff, groundwater, evapotranspiration and sediment yield. The spatial scales of these experiments have been limited to small watersheds or field plots. This paper also describes impacts of human interventions (such as plantations of exotic forest species to restore degraded landscapes) on the water balance components in diverse hydro-geo-environmental conditions in the Indian sub-continent. We focus on identifying the research areas which require immediate attention to develop tools to assist planners and policy makers in assessing and managing the water resources in these complex environments. The review is largely based on research results reported during the last 20 to 30 years.

References

[1] Anonymous. 2003. Annual Report 2002-03. CSWCRTI, Dehradun, pp.50–51.

[2] Anonymous. 2005. Annual Report 2004-05, CSWCRTI, Dehradun.

[3] Beven KJ, Krikby MJ. A physically based variable contribution area model of basin hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, 1979, 24: 43-69.

[4] Bonell M. Goudberg N, Bonell M, Benzaken D. Progress and future research needs in water catchment conversion within the wet tropical coast of north-east Queensland. Tropical rainforest research in Australia-Present Status and Future directions for the Institute for Tropical Rainforest Studies. 1991, Townsville, Australia: James Cook Univ., 59 86

[5] Bonell M. Bonell M, Bruijnzeel LA. Runoff generation in tropical forest. Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics-Past, Present and Future Hydrological Research for Integrated Land and Water Management. 2005, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 314 406

[6] Bonell M, Gilmour DA, Sinclair DF. Soil hydraulic properties and their effect on surface and subsurface water transfer in a tropical rainforest catchment. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, 1981, 26: 1-18.

[7] Bonell M, Gilmour DA, Cassels DS. A preliminary survey of hydraulic properties of rainforest soils in tropical north-east Queensland and their implications for the runoff process. Catena, 1983, 4: 57-78.

[8] Bruijnzeel LA, Bremmer CN. Highland-lowland interactions in the Ganges Brahmaputra River Basin: a review of published literature. ICIMOD Occasional Paper No. 11. 1989, Kathmandu, Nepal: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, 136.

[9] Bruijnzeel LA. Hydrology of moist tropical forests and effects of conversion: a state of knowledge review. 1990, Paris: UNESCO and Amsterdam: Virje University, 226.

[10] Calder IR, Swaminath MH, Karigappa GS, Srinivasalu GS, Srinivasa Murty NV, Mumtaz KV. Deuterium tracing for the estimation of transpiration from trees, Part 3. Measurements of transpiration from Eucalyptus plantation. Indian Journal of Hydrology, 1992, 130: 37-48.

[11] Elsenbeer H, Vertessy RA. Storm generation and flow path characteristics in an Amazonian rainforest catchment. Hydrological Processes, 2000, 14: 2367-2381.

[12] Elsenbeer H, Cassel DK, Castro J. Spatial analysis of soil hydraulic conductivity in a tropical rain forest catchment. Water Resources Research, 1992, 28: 3201-3214.

[13] Jain A, Rai SC, Sharma E. Hydro-ecological analysis of a sacred lake watershed system in relation to land-user cover change from Sikkim Himalaya. Catena, 2000, 40: 263-278.

[14] James EJ, Pradeep Kumar PK, Nadeshwar MD, Kandasamy LC, Ranganna G. Investigation on the hydrology of forest watersheds in the Western Ghats. Proceedings of Regional Workshop on Watershed Development Management and Evaluation in the Western Ghats Region of India. 2000, Calicut, Kerala: Organized by CWRDM, 30 43

[15] Kallarackal J, Somen CK. A eco-physiological evaluation of the suitability of Eucalyptus grandis for planting in the tropics. Forest Ecology and Management, 1997, 95: 53-61.

[16] Kallarackal J, Somen CK. Water use of Eucalyptus tereticornis stands of differing density in southern India. Tree Physiology, 1997, 17: 195-203.

[17] Kallarackal J, Somen CK. Transpiration difference between tree species as an important factor in estimating water balance from tropical catchments. Proceedings of a IUFRO Forest Hydrology Workshop, 10–12 July 2004, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Uji, Japan, 2004 37 40

[18] Krishnaswamy J, Bunyan M, Mehta VK, Jain N, Karanth UK. Impact of iron ore mining on suspended sediment response in a tropical catchment in Kudremukh, Western Ghats, India. Forest Ecology and Management, 2006, 224: 187-198.

[19] Kumar PK, James EJ. Venkatesh, Purandara, Ramasasrti. Hydrological processes in forested and deforested watersheds — A Case Study. Forest Hydrology. 2007, New Delhi, India: Capital Publisher, 69 75

[20] Mathur HN, Raj SFH. Groundwater regime under Blue-Gum at Osamund Nilgirisinitial observation. Indian Forester, 1980, 106: 547-553.

[21] Mathur HN, Ram B, Joshie P, Singh B. Effect of clear-felling and reforestation on runoff and peak rates in small watersheds. Indian Forester, 1976, 102(4): 219-226.

[22] Meher-Homji VM. Probable impact of deforestation on hydrological processes. Climatic Change, 1991, 19: 163-73.

[23] Negi GCS. Hydrological research in the Indian Himalayan Mountains: Soil and Water Conservation. Current Science, 2002, 83: 974-980.

[24] O’Loubhlin EM. Prediction of surface saturation zones in natural catchments by topographic analysis. Water Resources Research, 1986, 22: 794-804.

[25] Purandara BK, Venkatesh B, Varadarajna N. Estimation of groundwater recharge under different land-uses. Technical report. 1998, Roorkee: NIH

[26] Purandara BK, Venkatesh B, Bonell M, Jayakumar R. Subramanian, Ramanathan. Hydrological and soil impacts of natural and anthropogenic forest disturbances. Eco-hydrology. 2001, New Delhi, India: Capital Publisher, 433 444

[27] Putty MRY, Prasad R. Understanding of runoff processes using a watershed model: a case study in Western Ghats in South India. Journal of Hydrology, 2000, 228: 215-227.

[28] Putty M, Prasad R. Runoff processes in head water catchments-An experimental study in Western Ghats, South India. Journal of Hydrology, 2000, 228: 63-71.

[29] Putty MRY. Krishnaswamy J, Lele S, Jayakumar R. Salient features of the hydrology of Western Ghats in Karnataka. Hydrology and Watershed Services in the Western Ghats of India, Effects of land use and land cover changes. 2006, New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill, 65 80

[30] Roberts J, Rosier PTW. Physiological studies in young Eucalyptus stands in Southern India and derived estimates of forest transpiration. Agric Water Management, 1993, 24: 103-118.

[31] Sahoo DC, Jayakumar M, Sharda VN, Tripathi KP, Padmanabhan MV, Raghunath B, Mohanraj R, Chandran B. Venkatesh P, Ramasasrti. Impact of different land-uses on runoff and soil loss in high hills of Nilgiris. Forest Hydrology. 2007, New Delhi, India: Capital Publisher, 53 61

[32] Samraj P, Chinnamani S, Haldorai B. Natural versus man-made forest in Nilgiris with special reference to run-off, soil loss and productivity. Indian Forester, 1977, 103(7): 460-465.

[33] Samraj P, Sharda VN, Chinnamani S, Lakehmouan V, Haldorai B. Hydrological behaviour of the Nilgiri sub-watersheds as affected by bluegum plantations, Part I. The annual water balance. Journal of Hydrology, 1988, 1003: 335-345.

[34] Sastry G, Dhruva Narayana VV. Watershed responses to conservation measures. J Irrig Drainge Eng, 1984, 110: 14-20.

[35] Satapathy KK, Dutta KK. Venkatesh P, Ramasasrti. Effect of afforestation on baseflow under different farming systems in hills. Forest Hydrology. 2007, New Delhi, India: Capital Publisher, India, 89 95

[36] Scott DF, Bruijnzeel LA, Mackensen J. Bonell M, Bruijnzeel LA. The hydrological and soil impacts of forestation in the tropics. Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics-Past, Present and Future Hydrological Research for Integrated Land and Water Management. 2005, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 622 651

[37] Sharda VN, Samraj P, Samra JS, Lakshman V. Hydrological behaviour of first generation coppiced bluegum plantations in the Nilgiri subwatersheds. Journal of Hydrology, 1988, 211: 50-60.

[38] Sharda VN, Samraj P, Chinnamani S, Lakshmanan V. Hydrological behaviour of the Nilgiri sub-watersheds as affected by bluegum plantations, Part II. Monthly water balance at different rainfall and runoff probabilities. Journal of Hydrology, 1998, 103: 347-355.

[39] Sikka AK, Samra JS, Sharda VN, Samraj P, Lakshmanan V. Hydrological implications of converting natural grassland into bluegum plantation in Nilgiris, Bulletin No. T-38/O-5. 1998, India: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, (ICAR) Udhagamandalam (Tamilandu)

[40] Sikka AK, Samra JS, Sharda VN, Samraj P, Lakshmanan V. Low flow and high flow responses to converting natural grassland into blue gum (Eucalyptus globules) in Nilgiri watersheds of South India. Journal of Hydrology, 2003, 270: 12-26.

[41] Subbarao BK, Ramola BC, Sharda VN. Hydrologic response of forested mountain watershed to thinning: a case study. Indian Forester, 1985, 111: 418-430.

[42] Vandana S, Bondhopadhdyay J. Eucalyptus — a disastrous tree for India. Ecologist, 1983, 13: 184-187.

[43] Venkatesh B, Purandara BK, Chandramohan T. Raju KS, Sarkar AK, Dash ML. Analysis of spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity of forest soils. Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management. 2004, New Delhi, India: Jain Brothers, 125 133

[44] Vijaya K, Singh O, Rai SP. Venkatesh, Purandara, Ramasasrti. Hydrological response of a forested micro watershed in outer Shivalik of Jammu Region. Forest Hydrology. 2007, New Delhi, India: Capital Publisher, India, 62 68

[45] Wilk J. Do forest have an impact on water availability? Assessing the effects of heterogeneous land use on streamflow in two monsoonal river basins, 2000 193.

[46] Zimmermann B, Elsenbeer H, De Moraes JM. The influence of land-use changes on soil hydraulic properties: implications for runoff generation. Forest Ecology and Management, 2006, 222: 29-38.