Plantations and Water Flows: To Plant or Not to Plant

The extent of plantations in the world is increasing at a rapid rate and in many parts of the world plantations are an important component of the landscape. At the same time the role that trees play at the landscape in terms of water quality and quantity remains debated. The linkages between forests and water have been discussed increasingly often among scientists and practitioners. There is a difference between the “public” and “scientific” perception on the role that forests have on water quantity and quality. Conventional wisdom about forests and hydrology often mix local observations, empirical evidence and cultural perspective to create myths that may or may not be true for specific regions or forest types. Land-use policy is often influenced by these “myths” – often with a high cost. To try to answer some of those questions, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation organized a special session on “Plantations and Water” within the International Congress on Cultivated Forets, which was held in Bilbao, Spain, between 3 and 6 October 2006.