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The protective role of mountain forests

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Abstract

While additional research in needed on the hydrological and erosional effects of changes in mountain forests, sufficient knowledge is available, or may be inferred from existing research, to question, refute or reaffirm some of the conventional wisdom about the protective role of these forests. A major difficulty is sorting out the consequences of natural processes from those caused by anthropogenic actions. The effects of alteration or removal/conversion of mountain forests on rainfall, surface erosion, mass erosion, sediment, floods and low flows is reviewed. It is suggested that a key factor in the cause/effect scenario is the size of the catchment unit being appraised.

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  1. East-West Center, Environment and Policy Institute, 1777 East-West Road, 96848, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Hamilton Lawrence S. Dr.

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Hamilton, L.S. The protective role of mountain forests. GeoJournal 27, 13–22 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150632

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