Abstract
This study was performed to assess how local inhabitants in two tropical watersheds value forests and perceive both forests and their own capacity to influence the hydrological cycle. Both service and productivity functions were strongly valued, particularly forests' rain-bringing capacity. The view that forests are directly responsible for increased precipitation was especially strong in low rainfall areas. Forests were also seen as important for their ability to retain soil water. The human activity most often mentioned as affecting water availability was tree planting while water conservation structures were not seen as detrimentally affecting others. Water was pictured very strongly as being part of a cycle so that which is used by humans or trees is not considered lost but only displaced to return again as rain.
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Wilk, J. Local perceptions about forests and water in two tropical catchments. GeoJournal 50, 339–347 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011012420808
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011012420808