Conventional wisdom links deforestation both to diminished flows and to downstream floods. But the relationships between forest loss and hydrological flows are complex. A better understanding of these complexities can improve the design of natural resources management programs and policies. With support from the Bank-Netherlands Partnership Program, an interdisciplinary team of researchers has examined some of these relationships at scales ranging from small watersheds to the global pantropics. The team includes researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the University of New Hampshire, the University of Washington, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and the World Bank. Please join them on December 2 and 3 to hear and discuss their findings. 

Tuesday 2 December 12:30 - 2:00 Room MC4 - W150: Brown Bag Lunch Does deforestation affect river flows across the Mekong Basin? Professor Jeffrey E. Richey, School of Oceanography, University of Washington. The cumulative downstream impacts ("far-field effects") of even subtle variations in the flow regime of the Mekong has important consequences for biodiversity, water management, and flooding. Prof. Richey will evaluate the relative influence on river flows of variability in climate, and changes in land use over the past 20 years, together with scenarios of historical and potential future conditions. 

Wednesday 3 December Room JB1-075 Brown Bag Lunch Presentation 12:30-2:00 In-depth presentations and workshop 2:00-5:00 Tropical forests and water flows: from small watersheds to the pantropics Project team The BBL will present an overview, with detailed presentations and discussions afterward; join for all or part. The presentations will explore underlying processes linking land cover change to watershed functions, the evidence available linking causes and specific effects at various scales (from local hazards to pantropic assessment of vulnerabilities), and application of a suite of models to test fundamental questions about relationships between hydrological functions and tropical deforestation. Team members are applying new tools and state-of-the-art datasets to map the coincidence of biodiversity, populations, and hydrologically sensitive areas at the global scale; and to model the impact of deforestation and alternative land management strategies on hydrological flows across a wide range of watershed scales. The overall goal is to identify locations within the humid tropics where the hydrology/biodiversity/poverty nexus is likely to be important and assist the Bank and other institutions in setting priorities for action. 

Team members include: Thomas Tomich, ICRAF Kenneth Chomitz, DECRG Ellen Douglas, UNH Meine van Noordwijk, ICRAF Prof. Jeffrey Richey, UW Kate Sebastian, IFPRI Prof. Charles Vörösmarty, UNH Stanley Wood, IFPRI Please forward this announcement to others who might be interested. Visitors from outside the World Bank please contact Yasmin d'Souza 202 473 1449 for a visitor's pass.

DC meeting 1-5 December

'outside' invitees

Land Use Scenario_Abstract1

UNH_SynopticOverview_abstract_r1

Ken, here are some thoughts.  It is too long, but by including more text (and options) I hope this helps you customize to your liking. 

Title: Forests, flows or fallacies?

Option 1

Conventional wisdom has it that tropical forests are indispensable to rainfall and to reliable water supplies. Similarly, few doubt direct causal links between deforestation and flooding far downstream. The popular presumption of a long-distance connection between upland deforestation and lowland flooding has motivated much policy (e.g.  Chinese timber ban) and is one basis for hope for environmental service payments from cities to dwellers in biodiverse upland forests.  But there is little evidence to support these views. 

Option 2

The quantity, quality, and timing of water supplies are key determinants of human welfare. And deficiencies in water supplies are a growing feature of poverty in the 21^st Century.  Could it be - contrary to conventional wisdom -- that these water problems have little to do with deforestation or land use upstream?

The following events are planned on 2-3 December to report findings of a team including the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the University of New Hampshire, the University of Washington, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and the World Bank.  This work has been underway for the past year and is partially funded by the World Bank Netherlands Partnership Programme.   

Tuesday 2 December  - brown bag lunch presentation by Professor Jeffrey E. Richey, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, "Far-field effects: the impact of climate variability, landcover, landuse, and land management change on the dynamics of surface water in the Mekong Basin", 12:30 - 2:00, Room MC4 - W150.

[Ken - that's the title of his paper.  Suggest you call him later today (+1 (206) 543-7339 - office - or  +1 (206) 329-3824 - home) to get something snappier.  Also, did he confirm to you that he would do this?)  

Wednesday 3 December - an interactive brown bag lunch presentation followed by a workshop with members of the research team.

- Brown bag lunch for exchange of views on "Tropical forests and water supply: sorting fundamentals from  fallacies" with members of the research team,  12:30 - 2:00, Room JB1 - 075.

- A series of presentations by team members and opportunities for more detailed discussion will follow from 2:00-5:00 in the same room (Room JB1 - 075), and will be open to those who wish to join in for all or part.  The presentations will cover the range of watershed functions, exploring underlying processes linking land cover change to watershed functions, the evidence available linking causes and specific effects at various scales (from local hazards to pantropic assessment of vulnerabilities), and application of a suite of models to test fundamental questions about relationships between hydrological functions and tropical deforestation.  Team members are applying new tools and state-of-the-art datasets to mapping of three distinct problem domains: (1) biodiversity loss, as represented by globally-significant ecosystems, (2) relationship between land cover change and specific hydrological functions, and (3) human population distributions.  The overall goal is to identify locations within the humid tropics where the hydrology/biodiversity/poverty nexus is likely to be important and assist the Bank and other institutions in setting priorities for action.  

Please RSVP - Ken, suggest you designate yourself or Victor.  (Should it announce that "Participants from outside the Bank also are welcome.")

RE: activity plan and food, bev budget

[WD]DC meetings 1-5 Dec