Landscape hydrology. The hydrological legacy of deforestation on global wetlands.
Increased catchment erosion and nutrient loading are commonly recognized impacts of deforestation on global wetlands. In contrast, an increase in water availability in deforested catchments is well known in modern studies but is rarely considered when evaluating past human impacts. We used a Budyko water balance approach, a meta-analysis of global wetland response to deforestation, and paleoecological studies from Australasia to explore this issue. After complete deforestation, we demonstrated that water available to wetlands increases by up to 15% of annual precipitation. This can convert ephemeral swamps to permanent lakes or even create new wetlands. This effect is globally significant, with 9 to 12% of wetlands affected, including 20 to 40% of Ramsar wetlands, but is widely unrecognized because human impact studies rarely test for it.
School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Chamberlain Building, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland, Australia. c.woodward1@uq.edu.au.
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Woodward
School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Chamberlain Building, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland, Australia.
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Shulmeister
School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Chamberlain Building, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland, Australia.
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J
Larsen
Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC 2232, New South Wales, Australia.
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Jacobsen
Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC 2232, New South Wales, Australia.
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Zawadzki
D001315:Australia; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D006801:Humans; D060106:Lakes; D009520:New Zealand; D014881:Water Supply; D053833:Wetlands