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Wetter and drier regions as large-scale tree restoration shifts water fluxes

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Tree restoration is a popular approach to mitigating climate change, but its hydrological impacts are often overlooked. Tree restoration increases evaporation, as well as increasing downwind precipitation due to enhanced moisture recycling. Our study shows that these combined effects can affect regions’ wetness or dryness, streamflow and water availability.

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Fig. 1: Effect of forest restoration on water availability.

Change history

  • 10 June 2022

    The phrasing in the Fig. 1a caption has been updated to clarify the patterns of decreased water availability shown in Fig. 1a.

References

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This is a summary of: Hoek van Dijke, A. J. et al. Shifts in regional water availability due to global tree restoration. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-022-00935-0 (2022).

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Wetter and drier regions as large-scale tree restoration shifts water fluxes. Nat. Geosci. 15, 344–345 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-022-00941-2

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