title: Conceptualizing and communicating management effects on forest water quality.
abstract: We present a framework for evaluating and communicating effects of human activity on water quality in managed forests. The framework is based on the following processes: atmospheric deposition, weathering, accumulation, recirculation and flux. Impairments to water quality are characterized in terms of their extent, longevity and frequency. Impacts are communicated using a "traffic lights" metaphor for characterizing severity of water quality impairments arising from forestry and other anthropogenic pressures. The most serious impairments to water quality in managed boreal forests include (i) forestry activities causing excessive sediment mobilization and extirpation of aquatic species and (ii) other anthropogenic pressures caused by long-range transport of mercury and acidifying pollutants. The framework and tool presented here can help evaluate, summarize and communicate the most important issues in circumstances where land management and other anthropogenic pressures combine to impair water quality and may also assist in implementing the "polluter pays" principle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. martyn.futter@slu.se.
authors.forename: Martyn N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Futter
authors.affiliation: Skogforsk, Uppsala Science Park, 751 83, Uppsala, Sweden. lars.hogbom@skogforsk.se.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Högbom
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway. salar.valinia@niva.no.
authors.forename: Salar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valinia
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. ryan.sponseller@umu.se.
authors.forename: Ryan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sponseller
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Skogsmarksgränd, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden. hjalmar.laudon@slu.se.
authors.forename: Hjalmar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laudon
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058735:Environmental Policy; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D035501:Uncertainty; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Boreal; Environmental communication; Forestry; Water quality