UNESCO's water family
Resources
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| Title |
The disappearing tropical forests
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| Series |
IHP Humid Tropics Programme Series
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| Serial Number |
N° 1
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| Authors |
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| Publication Date |
1991
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| Abstract |
A transformation of the landscapes is now underway in many of the earth's tropical regions. Long-established tropical forests are vanishing as various exploitation or conversion scenarios are devised and implemented. However, in doing so, we may be fatally ignoring the interconnectedness of our water supply, our vegetation, and our biological processes. Changing from a tree-covered land surface to a pasture or urban landscape will affect the solar radiation input/output balance. Changing this balance in turn will modify the atmospheric recycling of the water which the solar heat has evaporated from the vegetation or land and water surfaces. Alterations in the atmospheric recycling of the water will then also affect the movement of water in the streams, in the water bodies and eventually, in the underground aquifers.
While the perspective of this document is generally from that of water resources, it is evident that all aspects of the land, water and air interact. It therefore has been felt to be necessary to take a broad view of the problems of vanishing tropical forests. And while maintaining scientific integrity, the document is written in a popularized style for an audience of non-technically educated persons.
(49 pages)
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| Availability |
Out of Print
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| Languages |
English
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| Keywords |
tropical forests, humid tropics, hydrology, water resources, erosion, greenhouse effects, agroforestry, sustainability, climate change, debt swaps, population
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UNESCO.ORG
