Draft#1- Deforestation and hydrologic disturbance in the Tropics

This topic submitted by Jaleann M. Matos-McClurg ( geojmm79@yahoo.com) at 7:39 PM on 3/26/04.

This Male Poison Dart Frog is One Heck of a Father! See the tadpole on his back? (Bocas, Panama)

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

Justification: Currently there are many tropical countries clearing their forests. The clearing of forests causes habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, increase of atmospheric CO2 levels and hydrological disturbance. From a macro-scale perspective, deforestation as a problem to society should be understood under two dualistic approaches. I propose that the effects of deforestation occur simultaneously in two main Earth spheres; namely Hydrosphere and Atmosphere. The main emphasis of this topic/presentation will be on the hydrosphere and several processes within it. I intend to use maps and summarized tabular data & graphs to quantify the temporal rates of forest cover change from tropical countries. As part of this research, I will explore to what extent management and planning strategies could form part of the solution to some or all? the deleterious effects caused by deforestation.

Topic/Presentation Objectives:

1) Introduce a ÒdualisticÓ conceptualization of deforestation.
2) Demonstrate how the causes of deforestation contribute directly to changes in hydrologic and atmospheric processes over time (will provide examples).
3) Show maps to demonstrate temporal/spatial land-cover changes.
4) Explore management and planning options as part of the solution to deforestation in the Tropics.

Research Outline

A. Introduction/Background: The ÒdualisticÓ impacts of deforestation
-Hydrosphere Ð Changes in the hydrological flow regime
-Atmosphere Ð Climatic Change
-Examples of each (Hydrosphere & Atmosphere)

B. Causes of deforestation
-Land-use Policy
-Temporal Population Growth
-Temporal/Spatial Land-Use/Land-cover changes
-Others É

C. Consequences of deforestation in the hydrological flow regime: A dynamic understanding of processes

D. Deforestation Statistics and land-cover changes for several countries within the Tropics
-Maps
-Tabular Data
-Graphs

E. Management & Planning strategies used to mitigate the impacts of deforestation on hydrology

F. References

--Journal Articles--

Costa M.H.; Botta A; Cardille JA. 2003. Effects of large-scale changes in land-cover on the discharge of the Tocantins River, Southeastern Amazonia. Journal of Hydrology, 283(1-4):206-217.

Gallart, F; Llorens P. 2003. Catchment under environmental Change: Impact of land cover on water resources. Water International, 28(3): 334-340.
Geist, H., and Lambin, E., 2002. Proximate Causes and Underlying Driving Forces of Tropical Deforestation. BioScience 52:143-150.
Marengo, JA. 1995. Variations and change in South-American streamflow. Climatic Change, 31(1): 99-117.

Sahin V; Hall MJ. 1996. The effects of afforestation and deforestation on water yields. Journal of Hydrology, 178(1-4):293-309.

Sharma, KP; Moore B; Vorosmarty CJ. 2000. Anthropogenic, climatic, and hydrologic trends in the Kosi Basin, Himalaya. Climatic Change, 47(1-2):141-165.
Viramontes D; Descroix L. 2003. Changes in the surface water hydrologic characteristics of an endoreic basin of northern Mexico from 1970 to 1998. Hydrological Processess, 17(17): 1291-1306.
Zhang, H., Henderson-Sellers, A., and McGuffie K., 2001. The Compounding Effects of Tropical Deforestation and Greenhouse Warming on Climate. Climatic Change 49: 309-338.

--Web Sources--

www.mongabay.com/deforestation_stats.htm

www.mongabay.com/20costarica.htm

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