Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics Past, Present and Future Hydrological Research for Integrated Land and Water Management
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Symposium and Workshop
- Introduction
- Part I Current trends and perspectives on people–land use–water issues
- Part II Hydrological processes in undisturbed forests
- Part III Forest disturbance, conversion and recovery
- Part IV New methods for evaluating effects of land-use change
- Part V Critical appraisals of best management practices
- 35 Guidelines for controlling vegetation, soil and water impacts of timber harvesting in the humid tropics
- 36 Minimising the hydrological impact of forest harvesting in Malaysia's rainforests
- 37 Red flags of warning in land clearing
- 38 From nature to nurture: soil and water management for rainfed steeplands in the humid tropics
- Conclusion: Forests, water and people in the humid tropics: an emerging view
- Plate section
- References
37 - Red flags of warning in land clearing
from Part V - Critical appraisals of best management practices
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 January 2010
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Symposium and Workshop
- Introduction
- Part I Current trends and perspectives on people–land use–water issues
- Part II Hydrological processes in undisturbed forests
- Part III Forest disturbance, conversion and recovery
- Part IV New methods for evaluating effects of land-use change
- Part V Critical appraisals of best management practices
- 35 Guidelines for controlling vegetation, soil and water impacts of timber harvesting in the humid tropics
- 36 Minimising the hydrological impact of forest harvesting in Malaysia's rainforests
- 37 Red flags of warning in land clearing
- 38 From nature to nurture: soil and water management for rainfed steeplands in the humid tropics
- Conclusion: Forests, water and people in the humid tropics: an emerging view
- Plate section
- References
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Land clearance in the humid tropics needs to be considered very carefully. This chapter is an attempt to put the brakes on, or at least to insert a filter of conditions, so that any clearing does not have adverse, or only minimally adverse, effects on soil and water resources and processes. It follows on from the many precautionary statements, some even labelled ‘guidelines’ that have appeared since the early 1970s. As a matter of forest land policy, setting the framework for planning, there should be a thorough examination of alternatives to clearing more land. Poore and Sayer (1987) put it succinctly:
‘Before deciding to modify or transform untouched areas, every consideration should be given to alternatives. This may include adapting areas that have already been changed, to more productive uses, for example, using savannas for pine plantations. Alternatively, it may involve intensification of existing uses, or using areas for more than one purpose, if these are compatible.’
The high cost (in both ecological and economic terms) of any new land development dictates that the starting point in planning should be a detailed analysis of alternatives including possibilities of intensification on land already converted (Hansen and Dickensen, 1987). Similarly, there is an early need for an assessment of the capability and suitability of an area under planning scrutiny for the proposed use if alternatives are not available. Such an assessment, using well-developed procedures (e.g. Carpenter, 1981; FAO, 1974), if rigorously carried out may abort a proposed conversion.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Forests, Water and People in the Humid TropicsPast, Present and Future Hydrological Research for Integrated Land and Water Management, pp. 866 - 880Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005
References
Adams, P. W. and Andrus, C. W. (1990) Planning secondary roads to reduce erosion and sedimentation in humid tropic steeplands. In: Research Needs and Applications to Reduce Erosion and Sedimentation in Tropical Steeplands. R. R. Ziemer, C. L. O'Loughlin and L. S. Hamilton (eds.) IAHS Publication No 192, Washington, 318–327
Agboola, A. A. (1987) Current programs, problems and strategies for land clearing and development in Nigeria. In: Tropical Land Clearing for Sustainable Agriculture, R. Lal, M. Nelson, H. W. Scharpenseel and M. Sudjadi (eds.). International Board for Soil Research and Management Proceedings No 3, Bangkok, 177–193
(1988) Mangrove habitat degradation and removal in Phauguga and Ban Don Bays, Thailand. Tropical Coastal Area Management 3(1):16Google Scholar
Aksornkoae, S. (1993) Ecology and Management of Mangroves. IUCN Regional Office. Bangkok
Aldrich, M. (1998) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests, Planning and advisory workshop. WCMC, IUCN, WWF, DFID report. Cambridge, UK
Anonymous (2000) Government to press ahead with peatland project. Indonesian Observer, 30 March 2000. Jakarta
Balek, J. (1989) Humid warm flatlands. In: Comparative Hydrology: an Ecological Approach to Land and Water Resources. T. Chapman (ed.). UNESCO, Paris. 353–369
Beschta, R. L., Blinn, T., Grant, G. E., Swanson, F. J. and Ice, G. G. (eds.) (1987) Erosion and Sedimentation in the Pacific Rim. IAHS Publication No 165, Washington
Beven, K; Lamb, R., Quinn, P., Romanowicz, R. and Freer, J. 1995 TOPMODEL (Chapter 18). In: Computer models of Watershed Hydrology, Singh, V. P. ed., Water Resources Publications, Boulder, USA, pp. 627–668
, and (2000) Impacts of mass movement erosion on land productivity: a review. Progress in Physical Geography 24(1):21–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
1998. Challenges in runoff generation research in forests from the hillslope to headwater drainage basin scale. J. Amer. Water Resources Association, 34, 765–785CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonell, M. (1999) Selected issues in mountain hydrology of the humid tropics. Keynote address in Water: Forestry and Land Use Perspectives, FRIM-WWF-UNESCO IHP, Kuala Lumpur, March 31–April 1, 1999, pp. 34–56
Bonell, M. with Balek, J. (1993) Recent Scientific Developments and Research Needs in Hydrological Processes of the Humid Tropics. In: Hydrology and Water Management in the Humid Tropics. M. Bonell, M. M. Hufschmidt and J. S. Gladwell (eds.). International Hydrology Series, UNESCO/Cambridge University Press, Paris and Cambridge, 167–260CrossRef
and (1980) Sediment in South African forest and mountain catchments. South African Forestry Journal 115:50–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruijnzeel, L. A. (1990) Hydrology of Moist Tropical Forests and Effects of Conversion: A State of Knowledge Review. UNESCO International Hydrological Programme, Paris
Bruijnzeel, L. A. (2000) Hydrology of tropical montane cloud forests: a re-assessment. Second International Colloquium on Hydrology and Water Management in the Humid Tropics, 22–24 March 1999. Panama City
Bruijnzeel, L. A. (2002) Tropical forests and environmental services: not seeing the soil for the trees? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Papers from Changmai Workshop on Tropical Hydrology 30 May–2 June, 1999. IHP Technical Document in Hydrology No. 52
Bruijnzeel, L. A. and Bremmer, C. N. (1989) Highland-lowland interactions in the Ganges Brahmaputra River Basin: a review of published literature. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Occasional Paper No. 11. Kathmandu
Bruijnzeel, L. A. and Hamilton, L. S. (2000) Decision Time for Cloud Forests. UNESCO International Hydrological Programme, Paris and WWF International, Gland
Bruijnzeel, L. A. and Proctor, J. (1995) Hydrology and biochemistry of tropical montane cloud forests: What do we really know? In: Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. L. S. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik and F. N. Scatena (eds.). Springer-Verlag Ecological Studies 110. New York, 38–78
, , , and (1987) Stream corridor management in the Pacific Northwest: 1. Determination of stream-corridor widths. Environmental Management 11(5):587–597CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bullock, A. (1993) Perspectives on the hydrology and water resource management of natural freshwater wetlands and lakes in the humid tropics. In: International Hydrology and Water Management in the Humid Tropics, M. Bonell, M. M. Hufschmidt and J. S. Gladwell (eds.). International Hydrology Series, UNESCO/Cambridge University Press, Paris and Cambridge, 273–300CrossRef
Burgess, L. C. N. (1967) Airphoto Interpretation as an Aid in Flood Susceptibility Determination. Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa
Carpenter, R. A. (ed.) (1981) Assessing Tropical Forest Lands: Their Suitability for Sustainable Uses. Tycooly International. Dublin
Carson, B. (1989) Soil Conservation Strategies for Upland Areas in Indonesia. East-West Center Occasional Paper No. 9. Honolulu
Cassells, D. S., Gilmour, D. A. and Bonell, M. (1984) Watershed forest management practices in the tropical rainforests of north-eastern Australia. In Symposium on Effects of Forest Land Use on Erosion and Slope Stability, C. L. O'Loughlin and A. J. Pearce (eds.). East-West Center, Honolulu
Cassells, D. S. and Bonell, M. (1986) Logging operations in forest watersheds: an Australian perspective. In Land Use, Watershed and Planning in the Asia-Pacific Region, A. J. Pearce and L. S. Hamilton (eds.), FAO Regional Office, RAPA Report 1986/3. Bangkok, 44–58
Couper, D. C., Lal, R. and Claasen, S. L. (1981) Land clearing and development for agricultural purposes. In: Tropical Agricultural Hydrology, R. Lal and F. W. Russell (eds.). John Wiley, New York, 119–130
Critchley, W. R. S. and Bruijnzeel, L. A. (1996) Environmental Impacts of Converting Moist Tropical Forest to Agriculture and Plantations. UNESCO International Hydrological Humid Tropics Programme Series No 10. UNESCO, Paris
Davies, T. R. H. and Pearce, A. J. (eds.) (1981) Erosion and Sediment Transport in Pacific Rim Steeplands. IAHS-AISH Publication No 132, Washington
FAO. (1974) Approaches to Land Classification. Soils Bulletin No. 22. FAO, Rome
FAO (1993) Forest Resources Assessment 1990, Tropical Countries. Forestry Paper 112. FAO, Rome
Fölster, H. (1986) Nutrient loss during forest clearing. In: Land Clearing and Development in the Tropics, R. Lal, P. A. Sanchez and R. W. Cummings, Jr. (eds.). Balkema, Rotterdam, 241–246
, and (1991) Land clearing and use in the humid Nigerian tropics, 1. Soil physical properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal 55(1):178–188CrossRefGoogle Scholar
, , and (1991) An ecosystem perspective of riparian zones. BioScience 41(8):540–551CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(1987) What are the impacts of Himalayan deforestation on the Ganges-Brahamaputra lowlands and delta? Assumptions and facts. Mountain Research and Development 7(3):256–263CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(1991) Tropical forests: identifying and clarifying the issues. Unasylva 166(42):19–27Google Scholar
Hamilton, L. S. (1995) A Campaign for Cloud Forests, Unique and valuable ecosystems at risk. IUCN Focus Series. IUCN, Gland
Hamilton, L. S. (1997) El desarrollo sostenible en tierras altas y las áreas clave de control para la conservación de montañas. In: Desarrollo Sostenible de Ecosistemas de Montaña: Manejo de Áreas Frágiles en los Andes. M. Liberman and C. Baied (eds.). Instituto de Ecología, La Paz, 269–276
Hamilton, L. S., Dixon, J. A. and Miller, G. O. (1990). Mangrove forests: an undervalued resource of the land and of the sea. In Ocean Yearbook 8, E. M. Borgese, N. Ginsburg and J. R. Morgan (eds.). University of Chicago. Chicago
Hamilton, L. S., Juvik, J. O. and Scatena, F. N. (1995) The Puerto Rico tropical cloud forest symposium: introduction and workshop synthesis. In: Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. L. S. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik and F. N. Scatena (eds.). Springer-Verlag Ecological Studies 110. New York, 1–23CrossRef
Hamilton, L. S. with King, P. N. (1983) Tropical Forested Watersheds: Hydrologic and Soils Response to Major Uses or Conversions. Westview Press, Boulder
Hamilton, L. S. and Snedaker, S. C. (eds.). (1984) Handbook for Mangrove Area Management. East West Center/IUCN/UNESCO/UNEP, Honolulu
Hansen, A. J. and Dickensen III, J. C. (1987) Settlement and land development. In: Ecological Development in the Humid Tropics, A. E. Lugo, J. R. Clark and R. D. Child (eds.). Winrock International, Morrilton, 81–109
Herrera, R., Medina, E., Klinge, H., Jordan, C. F. and Uhl, C. (1984) Nutrient retention mechanisms in tropical forests: the Amazon caatinga, San Carlos pilot project, Venezuela. In: Ecology in Practice: Part 1. Eco-system Management, F. DiCastri, F. W. G. Baker and M. Hadley (eds.). Tycooly International, Dublin, 85–97
(1995) Report on First International Conference on Wetlands and Development. Asian Wetlands News 8(2):3Google Scholar
Hudson, N. (1995) Soil Conservation (Fully revised and updated third edition). Iowa State University Press, Ames
and (1991) The use of unstable steeplands in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. Mountain Research and Development 11:295–318CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ISME 2000. Mangroves, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems Newsletter No 23
IUCN. (1975) The Use of Ecological Guidelines for Development in the American Humid Tropics. IUCN, Morges
and (1999) Preservation or conversion? Valuation and evaluation of a mangrove forest in the Philippines. Environmental and Resource Economics 14:297–331Google Scholar
, , and (1980) Nutrient scavenging of rainfall by the canopy of a tropical rainforest. Biotropica 12:61–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klinge, H. (1983). Forest structures in Amazonia. In: Ecological Structures and Problems of Amazonia. IUCN Commission on Ecology Papers No. 5, Gland, pp. 13–23
Krebs, J. E. (1975) A comparison of soils under agriculture and forests in San Carlos, Costa Rica. In: Tropical Ecological Systems: Trends in Terrestrial and Aquatic Research, F. B. Golley and E. Medina (eds.). Springer-Verlag, New York, 381–390CrossRef
Lal, R. (1981) Deforestation of tropical rainforest and hydrological problems. In: Tropical Agricultural Hydrology, R. Lal and E. W. Russell (eds.). John Wiley, Chichester, 131–140
Lal, R. (1983) Soil erosion in the humid tropics with particular reference to agricultural land development and soil management. In: Hydrology of Humid Tropical Regions, R. Keller (ed.). IAHS Publication No. 140, Wallingford, 221–239
Lal, R. (1986) Deforestation and soil erosion. In: Land Clearing and Development in the Tropics. R. Lal, P. A. Sanchez and R. W. Cummings Jr. (eds.). Balkema, Rotterdam, 299–316
(1996) Deforestation and land-use effects on soil degradation and rehabilitation in Western Nigeria, 1. Soil physical and hydrologic properties. Land Degradation and Development 7:19–453.0.CO;2-M>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(1997) Deforestation effects and soil degradation and rehabilitation in Western Nigeria, 4. Hydrology and water quality. Land Degradation and Development 8:95–1263.0.CO;2-K>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lal, R., Nelson, M., Scharpenseel, H. W., and Sudjadi, M. (eds.) (1987) Tropical Land Clearing for Sustainable Agriculture. IBSRAM Proceedings No. 3. International Board for Soil Research and Management, Bangkok
Lal, R., Sanchez, P. A. and Cummings Jr., R. W. (eds.) (1991) Land Clearing and Development in the Tropics. Balkema, Rotterdam
Langford, K. J. and O'Shaughnessy, P. J. (eds.) (1977) Water supply catchment hydrology research. First Progress Report. Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works Department, Melbourne
Liniger, H. P. (1998) Mount Kenya: a vital water tower in a semi-arid region. In: Mountains of the World: Water Towers for the 21st Century. Mountain Agenda (eds.). Institute of Geography, Berne, Switzerland, 10–12
Lugo, A. E., Clark, J. R. and Child, R. D. (eds.) (1987) Ecological Development in the Humid Tropics: Guidelines for Planners. Winrock International, Morrilton
Maltby, E. (1986) Waterlogged Wealth. International Institute for Environment and Development and Earthscan, London
Maltby, E. and McInnes, R. J. (1997) Functions and degradation of wetlands. In The Global Environment, Science, Technology and Management, D. Brune, D. V. Chapman, M. D. Gwynne and J. M. Pacyna (eds.), Vol 1. Scandinavian Science Publisher. Weinheim, Germany, 165–185CrossRef
Megahan, W. F. (1977) Reducing erosional impact of roads. In: Guidelines for Watershed Management, S. H. Kunkle and J. L. Thames (eds.). FAO Conservation Guide 1, Rome, 237–261
and (1985) Identification of critical areas on forest lands for control of nonpoint sources of pollution. Environmental Management 9(1):7–18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Megahan, W. F. and Schweithelm, J. (1983) Guidelines for reducing negative impacts of logging. In Tropical Forested Watersheds: Hydrologic and Soils Response to major Uses or Conversions, L. S. Hamilton with P. N. King. Westview Press, Boulder, 143–154
Mok, S. T. (1986) Sustained use and management of forests: a Malaysian perspective. In Land Use, Watersheds and Planning in the Asia-Pacific Region, A. J. Pearce and L. S. Hamilton (eds.). FAO Regional Office RAPA Report 1986/3. Bangkok, 34–43
, and (1991). Digital terrain modelling: A review of hydological, geomorphological and biological applications. Hydrol. Processes 5: 3–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(1974) Estimating regional variations in soil erosion hazard in Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia Nature Journal 28:94–106Google Scholar
(2000) Students raise funds for disaster relief in Venezuela. Cornell Chronicle 31(21):1, 3Google Scholar
Nutter, W. L. and Brinson, M. M. (1994) Application of hydrogeomorphic principals and functions to assessment of drainage intensity in forested wetlands. In Water Management in Forested Wetlands. Technical Publication R8-TP20, US Forest Service Southern Region. Atlanta
OAS (1984) Integrated Regional Development Planning: Guidelines and Case Studies from OAS Experience. Organization of American States, Washington
OAS/DRDE (1991) Primer on Natural Hazard Management in Integrated Regional Development Planning. Organization of American States/Department of Regional Development and Environment, Washington
and (1995) Functional approaches to riparian buffer strip design. Journal of Forestry 93(2):29–32Google Scholar
(1974) The effect of timber removal on the stability of forest soils. Hydrology 13:121–134Google Scholar
O'Loughlin, C. L. and Pearce, A. J. (eds.) (1984) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Effects of Forest Land Use on Slope Stability. East-West Center, Honolulu
O'Loughlin, C. L. and Ziemer, R. R. (1982) The importance of root strength and deterioration rates upon edaphic stability in steepland forests. In: Carbon Uptake and Allocation: a Key to Management of Subalpine Ecosystems. R. H. Waring (ed.). Oregon State University, Corvallis, 84–91
(1986). Prediction of surface saturation zones in natural catchments by topographic analysis. Water Resour. Res. 22: 794–804CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Opari-Nadi, O., Lal, R. and Ghuman, B. S. (1986) Effects of land clearing methods on soil physical and hydrological properties in south western Nigeria. In: Land Clearing and Development in the Tropics, R. Lal, P. A. Sanchez and R. W. Cummings, Jr. (eds.), Balkema, Rotterdam, 215–226
(1979) Mangroves impacted by human-induced disturbances: a case study of the Orinoco delta mangrove ecosystem (Venezuela). Environmental Management 3(3):205–216CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearce, A. J. and Hamilton, L. S. (eds.) (1986) Land Use, Watersheds, and Planning in the Asia-Pacific Region. FAO RAPA Report 1986/3, Bangkok
Poore, D. (1975) Ecological guidelines for the development of the American humid tropics. In: The Use of Ecological Guidelines for Development in the American Humid Tropics. IUCN, Morges, 225–247
Poore, D. and Sayer, J. (1987) The Management of Tropical Moist Forest Lands: Ecological Guidelines. IUCN Tropical Forest Programme, Gland
Qureshi, A. H., Hamilton, L. S., Mueller-Dombois, D., Perera, W. R. H., and Carpenter, R. A. (1980) Assessing Tropical Forest Lands, Their Suitability for Sustainable Uses. East West Center, Honolulu
Rapp, A. (1997) Erosion and land degradation in drylands and mountains. In: The Global Environment, Science, Technology and Management Vol. 1. D. Brune, D. V. Chapman, M. D. Gwynne and J. M. Pacyna (eds.). Scandinavian Science Publisher, Weinheim, 207–224CrossRef
Rapp, A., Berry, L. and Temple, P. H. (eds.) (1972) Studies of soil erosion and sedimentation in Tanzania. Geografiska Annaler, 54A:105–379
Reily, J. (2000) Kalimantan after the rice project. Arborvitae. IUCN/WWF Forest Conservation Newsletter No 13:8. Gland
Revenga, C., Murray, S., Abramovitz, J. and Hammond, A. (1998) Watersheds of the World: Ecological Value and Vulnerability. World Resources Institute/Worldwatch Institute, Washington
Ross, M. S. and D. G. Donovan (1986) Land Clearing in the Humid Tropics. IUCN/IIED Tropical Forest Policy Paper No. 1. IUCN Publications Services, Cambridge
Saenger, P., Hegerl, E. J. and Davies, J. D. S. (eds.) (1983). Global Status of Mangrove Ecosystems. Commission on Ecology Papers, No. 3, IUCN, Gland
Sanchez, P. A. (1979) Soil fertility and conservation considerations for agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Latin America. In: Soils Research in Agroforestry, H. O. Mongi and P. A. Huxley (eds.). International Council for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, 79–124
Scatena, F. N. (1990) Geomorphic impacts of Hurricane Hugo on the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico: preliminary observations. In: Research Needs and Applications to Reduce Erosion and Sedimentation in Tropical Steeplands. R. R. Ziemer, C. L. O'Loughlin and L. S. Hamilton (eds.). IAHS Publ. No. 192. Washington, 393
Trustrum, N. A. and Page, M. J. (1992) The long-term erosion history of Lake Tutira watershed: implications for sustainable land use management. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Land Management, P. Henriques (ed.). Landcare Research, Palmerston, 212–215
USDA. (1943) Classifying Land for Conservation Farming. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1853, US Department of Agriculture, Washington
USDA. (1967) Developing Soil-Woodland Interpretations. Soils Memorandum No. 26. USDA, Washington
Wijkman, A. and Timberlake, L. (1984) Natural Disasters – Acts of God or Acts of Man? Earthscan, London
Zadroga, F. (1981) The hydrological importance of a montane cloud forest area of Costa Rica. In: Tropical Agricultural Hydrology. R. Lal and F. W. Russell (eds.). John Wiley, New York, 59–73
Ziemer, R. R. (1981) Roots and the stability of forested slopes. In: Erosion and Sediment Transport in Pacific Rim Steeplands. T. R. H. Davies and A. J. Pearce (eds.). IAHS Publication No. 132, Washington, 343–359
Ziemer, R. R., O'Loughlin, C. L. and Hamilton, L. S. (eds.) (1990) Research Needs and Applications to Reduce Erosion and Sedimentation in Tropical Steeplands. IAHS Publication No. 192. Washington
- 3
- Cited by