Impact of thinning on the water balance of a catchment in a Mediterranean environment

Abstract

A study on the impact of silvicultural practices on the water balance was carried out in a watershed in Calabria, southern Italy, the prevalent cover of which is Calabrian pine stands. A thinning was carried out in 1993, which removed 50% of the total number of trees (about 30% of the basal area), and the catchment hydrological response before and after the intervention was compared. After thinning, differences were observed in yearly runoff, with a significant increase in groundwater flow during spring and summer. In light of this evidence, we assume that silvicultural interventions can contribute significantly to improve water resources management, particularly in regions with a long dry season, as in the Mediterranean area. Key words: Pinus laricio, runoff, small catchment, thinning, water resources management