Abstract
Forest water conservation function is an important part of forest ecosystem services. The discontinuous distribution of forests in semiarid areas brings difficulties to the quantitative evaluation of forest water conservation functions at the basin scale. In this paper, we took the upstream of Xiong’an New Area (Zijingguan—ZJG, Zhongtangmei—ZTM and Fuping—FP basins) as an example and combine the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) and the water balance method to calculate the amount of forest water conservation (AFWC) at annual, monthly and daily scales from 2007 to 2017, and analyzed the changes of AFWC. The results showed that the hydrological response unit (HRU) generated with the threshold area zero can accurately reflect the forest patch distribution in the three basins. On an annual scale, the annual AFWC were all positive in ZJG and ZTM basins from 2007 to 2017. While, the annual AFWC in the FP basin was negative in 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017. On a monthly scale, the positive values of AFWC mainly appear from June to September, and the negative values of AFWC mainly appear from December to March. On a daily scale, the AFWC during extreme precipitation was positive, while that was negative during extreme drought. The annual and monthly AFWC in the three basins was positively correlated with the wetness index, and FP basin needs more humid climate conditions than ZJG and ZTM basins to make the forest store water and keep in a stable water storage state. The above results can not only provide important insight into sustainable forest and water resources management in the region, but also serve as reference cases for other regions to carry out relevant research work.
Highlights
Water is the source of life, the essentials of production and the foundation of the ecosystem [1,2]
The water conservation of forests is usually quantified by the amounts of forest water conservation (AFWCs) [12]
Most studies are based on the fixed-point experimental observation methods to study forest water conservation on the individual plant and slope scale, and there is a lack of studies on the water conservation of forests at larger spatial scales [13,14]
Summary
Water is the source of life, the essentials of production and the foundation of the ecosystem [1,2]. The main task becomes the development and conservation of water resources. Climate warming and other environmental problems have appeared, water shortage and drought and flood disasters frequently alternate in different regions, years and seasons worldwide [5,6]. At this time, the main task is the rational development and efficient utilization of water resources, producing water conservation. The stored water will be discharged to feed the ecological base flow of the basin in the non-rainy season and provide a strong guarantee for the water used by social development and human life [8]. Most studies are based on the fixed-point experimental observation methods to study forest water conservation on the individual plant and slope scale, and there is a lack of studies on the water conservation of forests at larger spatial scales [13,14]
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