Forests and water cycle

Abstract

Based on a comprehensive literature analysis, a review on factors that control water cycle and water use in Mediterranean forest ecosystems is presented, including environmental variables and silvicultural treatments. This important issue is considered in the perspective of sustainable forest management of Mediterranean forests, with special regard to crucial environmental hazards such as forest fires and desertification risks related to climate change.

Keywords

• Forest
• Hydrological processes
• Water resources
• Sustainable forest management
• Mediterranean region