Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin

By affecting evapotranspiration and influencing how water is routed and stored in a basin, forests, wetlands and floodplains play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. Although they are widely attributed a major role in regulating flows (i.e., both attenuating floods and maintaining flow during...

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Main Authors: McCartney, Matthew P., Xueliang Cai, Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Format: Informe técnico
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39933
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author McCartney, Matthew P.
Xueliang Cai
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_browse McCartney, Matthew P.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Xueliang Cai
author_facet McCartney, Matthew P.
Xueliang Cai
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_sort McCartney, Matthew P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description By affecting evapotranspiration and influencing how water is routed and stored in a basin, forests, wetlands and floodplains play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. Although they are widely attributed a major role in regulating flows (i.e., both attenuating floods and maintaining flow during dry periods), these services are rarely factored into the planning and management of water resources. One reason for the failure to include them is lack of understanding. Very often the extent to which natural regulating functions really occur is unclear. Against this background, this report describes a simple, pragmatic approach for quantifying the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems. The method has been applied at 14 locations in the Zambezi River Basin.
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spelling CGSpace399332025-11-07T08:44:54Z Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin McCartney, Matthew P. Xueliang Cai Smakhtin, Vladimir U. river basins ecosystems flow control forests vegetation woodlands wetlands floodplains rain runoff hydrological cycle evaporation time series analysis By affecting evapotranspiration and influencing how water is routed and stored in a basin, forests, wetlands and floodplains play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. Although they are widely attributed a major role in regulating flows (i.e., both attenuating floods and maintaining flow during dry periods), these services are rarely factored into the planning and management of water resources. One reason for the failure to include them is lack of understanding. Very often the extent to which natural regulating functions really occur is unclear. Against this background, this report describes a simple, pragmatic approach for quantifying the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems. The method has been applied at 14 locations in the Zambezi River Basin. 2013 2014-06-13T14:29:43Z 2014-06-13T14:29:43Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39933 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute McCartney, Matthew; Cai, Xueliang; Smakhtin, Vladimir. 2013. Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 51p. (IWMI Research Report 148) doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2013.206
spellingShingle river basins
ecosystems
flow control
forests
vegetation
woodlands
wetlands
floodplains
rain
runoff
hydrological cycle
evaporation
time series analysis
McCartney, Matthew P.
Xueliang Cai
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title_full Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title_fullStr Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title_short Evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the Zambezi River Basin
title_sort evaluating the flow regulating functions of natural ecosystems in the zambezi river basin
topic river basins
ecosystems
flow control
forests
vegetation
woodlands
wetlands
floodplains
rain
runoff
hydrological cycle
evaporation
time series analysis
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/39933
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