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| Forest hydrology research in China |
| Zhang Zhiqiang,Wang Lixian,Wang Shengping |
| School of Soil and Water Conservation at Beijing Forestry University, Key Lab. of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating, Ministry of Education, 100083, Beijing, China |
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Abstract Research on forest hydrology is the key to understand the physical, biological, and chemical processes in a watershed and has significance to watershed management. Forest water relations and their implications in watershed management, therefore, are one of the key themes of international hydrology and watershed management research. Lacking of long term research data causes vigorous debates over the practical role of forests or reforestation in reducing flood, annual water yield and soil erosion in China among scientists as well as decision makers. This paper presents the historical development of forest hydrology research in China during past several decades, the long term forest ecological research stations, and major results of forest hydrological research in terms of forest canopy interception, forest floor interception, evapotranspiration, runoff, soil erosion. In addition, the future challenges of long-term forest hydrological and ecological studies that are crucial to clarify the forest impacts on hydrological regime under different geographic and forest conditions are also outlined in the context of Chinese national eforestation programs.
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Received: 06 April 2004
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