Water Regulating in Kenozero Taiga: Excess or Lack of Water and Where Does It Go?

Deforestation in the boreal forests of Lake Kenozero's catchment significantly increases runoff and soil erosion, with hypothetical total forest loss leading to a 71 mm/year rise in runoff and a 2.44 t/ha/year increase in soil erosion. The study quantified water yield regulation due to evapotranspiration (125 mm/year) and water quality assurance through erosion prevention (9.56 t/ha/year), highlighting a tradeoff where deforestation enhances water yield but deteriorates water quality. Using the InVEST model, researchers mapped these ecosystem services, emphasizing the importance of considering precipitation recycling under climate change to inform sustainable forest management strategies.

Petrov, L., Bukvareva, E., & Aleinikov, A. (2022). Water Regulating in Kenozero Taiga: Excess or Lack of Water and Where Does It Go? Earth, 3(4), 1237–1257. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth3040070