Forests and Water: where are we now, and what do we need to know for the future? - 20th July
DFES-DSE Seminar Series, July 2010
Forests and Water: where are we now, and what do we need to know for the future?
A/Professor Patrick Lane
Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne
Research into streamflow from forested catchments in Victoria has had a significant impact on public debates and policy directions around water supply and forest management and disturbance. In particular the work in the 1980s of George Kuczera has provided a background to much of our conceptual understanding of streamflow response to fire and logging. However new challenges for both scientists and catchment managers abound. For example, three “mega-fire” events in 6 years have confronted our ability to predict hydrologic outcomes from these events. Likewise, the extended drought and possible climate change scenarios have led to new questions about fundamental ecosystem functioning which in turn impact on plant water use and catchment outflows. This seminar will discuss some of these new questions, present recent research findings from the University of Melbourne Forests and Water group, and outline critical knowledge gaps in system understanding and our predictive capabilities.
Date: Tuesday 20th July
Time: 1-2pm
Location: Room 5.3, VECCI, 486 Albert Street, East Melbourne, Melways 2F K1