Sammanfattning

In this proof of concept paper, we address the potential role of forests and vegetation cover as an adaptation tool. In contrast to work addressing the carbon benefits of afforestation, we highlight the potential usefulness of forests as major contributors to the water cycle. Integrating water and carbon cycle benefits into a common objective enhances discussions about the role and value of forests. Herein, we describe a method for increasing regional precipitation in semi-arid environments, thereby potentially helping to increase scarce water resources. The approach capitalizes on observed interactions between forest cover and the hydrologic cycle, with the express aim of returning much needed water resources to an increasingly vulnerable region. The natural processes behind "precipitation recycling" (PR), and vegetation based cross continental transport of atmospheric moisture form the core of this solution. Induced precipitation recycling (IPR) initiates these processes by irrigating afforested land using locally available surplus water. This paper discusses the underlying processes and a proposed demonstration project that functions as both a "proof of concept" and a research testing ground, providing potential validation for promoting future expansion to the wider region. The proposed IPR project utilizes treated wastewater and surplus storm run-off, thus averting additional burdens on the existing water supply, while performing additionally valuable environmental and ecosystem services. IPR provides an alternative approach to supplement existing and typically far costlier plans to address regional water shortages and handle wastewater treatment. The proposed integrated solution would not only contribute positively to regional water supply, but would also provide additional eco-system services and end-products that add value and utility, thereby improving the project's potential economic viability. This project should be of particular interest to land use and water management planners in the Los Angeles Basin area for whom it is conceived, as well as to those along much of the coastal region in California where climate change-driven drought cycles have been increasing in length and intensity

Nyckelord

Precipitation-recycling; Adaptation; Afforestation; Water management; Drought management; Integrated solutions

Publicerad i

Ecological Engineering
2016, Volym: 91, sidor: 553-565

SLU författare

• Ellison, David

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Ellison Consulting Group

Globala målen

Säkerställa tillgången till och en hållbar förvaltning av vatten och sanitet för alla
Säkerställa hållbara konsumtions- och produktionsmönster
Vidta omedelbara åtgärder för att bekämpa klimatförändringarna och dess konsekvenser
Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald


UKÄ forskningsämne

Skogsvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.02.031

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/76219