HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES

Hydrol. Process. 22, 142– 148 (2008)

Published online 29 May 2007 in Wiley InterScience
(www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6582

Effect of Pinus radiata plantations on water balance in Chile

Anton Huber,1 Andrés Iroumé2 * and James Bathurst3
1 Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Geosciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia, Chile
2 Faculty of Forest Sciences, Institute of Forest Management, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia, Chile
3 Institute for Research on Environment and Sustainability, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Devonshire Building 3Ð16, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1
7RU, UK

Abstract:
The effect of Pinus radiata (D. Don) plantations on water resources at different Chilean sites located between 33° and 40° south
was determined. Incoming precipitation, canopy interception loss, evapotranspiration, net evapotranspiration (transpiration and
evaporation from the soil), percolation and soil water content were measured in each site, where Pinus radiata plantations
were 12 to 17 years old and between 700 and 830 trees ha
1 dense. The results were compared with those obtained from
areas covered with perennial grasses and shrubs at the same sites. The pine canopies intercepted on average 36–40% of the
annual rainfall at all sites where rainfall was less then 1200 mm, while only 15% of the mean rainfall was intercepted in the
southernmost and rainy (2081 mm year
1 ) site. Annual net evapotranspiration increased from south to north from 32% of the
incoming precipitation for the southernmost site to 55% for the one located at the lower latitude. In this northernmost site
almost the entire incoming precipitation was evapotranspired. Annual percolation registered its minimum value in the northern
site (5% of incoming precipitation) and its maxima in the southern one (53%). The values of net evapotranspiration and
percolation were regulated by the pluviometric regime and the soil moisture retention capacity in each site. Compared with
the shrub or grass covers, sites under Pinus radiata plantations registered higher water consumption by evapotranspiration
and reduced percolation. Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KEY WORDS interception; evaporation; forest hydrology; percolation; water balance

Received 5 March 2006; Accepted 12 September 2006

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Nationwide, there is at least 2 million hectares planted

The replacement of shrub or grass lands by forest
plantations produces alterations in the water balance by
increasing the interception loss and evapotranspiration
and reducing percolation (Duncan, 1995; Calder et al.,
1997; Calder, 1998; Oyarzún and Huber, 1999; Xiao
et al., 2000; Putuhena and Cordery, 2000; Huber and
Iroumé, 2001; Bronstert et al., 2002; Iroumé and Huber,
2002; Huber and Trecaman, 2003).
The quantity of water consumed by the plantations
is influenced mainly by the characteristics of the forest
cover, climatic conditions and soil water retention capac-
ity (Putuhena and Cordery, 2000; Sun et al., 2002; Huber
and Trecaman, 2002, 2003; Iroumé and Huber, 2002).
This last property has special importance in areas with
a Mediterranean climate and where precipitation deficits
are common during the dryer summer season (Huber and
Trecaman, 2000).
In Chile, although the forest sector accounts for 3Ð6%
of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 12Ð5% of total
exports (INFOR, 2003), afforestation with fast growing
exotic species has ended up being socially and politically
questionable because of the supposed impact on the
environment and water resources (Gross and Hajek,
1998; Hofstede et al., 1998; Toro and Gessel, 1999).
* Correspondence to: Andrés Iroumé, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Institute
of Forest Management, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567,
Valdivia, Chile. E-mail: airoume@uach.cl
with exotic species and Pinus radiata accounts for 77%
(INFOR, 2003). Most of the plantations are located in an
area covering both the eastern and western facing slopes
of the Coastal Mountain range and the Central Valley
of the country, between 30° and 41° south. The very
diverse soil and climatic conditions of this area influences
the development of the planted forests and affects the
water balance. Decreases in water production have been
reported in catchments afforested with Pinus radiata,
especially in the northern area of these plantations (Toro
and Gessel, 1999).
The objective of this research was to quantify the effect
of Pinus radiata plantations on the water balance in the
central-southern part of Chile. Canopy interception loss,
evapotranspiration and the amount of water percolating
were measured for Pinus radiata plantations approxi-
mately 15 years old and 800 trees ha
1 dense. The results
were compared with those obtained for shrub or grass
lands at the same study sites.
This study covers a wide latitudinal range and is the
first analysis of this type in Chile.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Study area
The location of the study sites (Palhuén, San Igna-
cio, Porvenir and Huape) and their long term termo-
pluviometric characteristics are presented in Table I and

Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

 EFFECT OF PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS ON WATER BALANCE IN CHILE 143

Table I. Study sites and characteristics

Name Altitude Soil type Pa Extent of dry Persistance of

(m.a.s.l.) (mm) seasona herbaceous
(month year
1 ) covera
(month year
1 )

Palhuén 250 Typic rhodoxeralf 1000 7 5

35° 060 S, 72° 000 W
San Ignacio 110 Dystric xeropsamment 1100 5 4
37° 140 S,72° 190 W
Porvenir 235 Typic rhodoxeralf 1200 4 10
37° 550 S,72° 250 W
Huape 20 Andic palehumult 2200 1 12
39° 480 S,73° 140 W
a Long-term mean annual precipitation, extent of dry season and persistence of herbaceous cover for the study sites.

Figures 1 and 2. The sites were selected taking into
account that ground slopes were lower than 2% and
groundwater tables were deeper than the tree root systems
depth.
A decrease in annual rainfall was observed from
south to north (Figure 1). The east–west distribution of
precipitation is influenced by the two mountain ranges:
the highest precipitations are registered on the western
slopes of the Coastal and Andes Mountains and the lowest
Figure 1. Location of study sites and isohyets map of the area
on the eastern slopes of the Coastal mountain range and
in the Central Valley (Figure 1).
Annual precipitation distribution corresponds to a
Mediterranean climate, characterized by a rain deficit in
the summer months, which is more intense in the sites of
lower latitude (northern area of planted forests). Palhuén,
San Ignacio and Porvenir have a warm temperate climate
with winter rains and a 4 to 7-months long dry period
while the climate in Huape is of a rainy temperate with
Mediterranean influence (Fuenzalida, 1971).
Palhuén is located 15 km to the south-east of Talca
city on the eastern aspect slopes of the Coastal mountain
range (Figure 1). Mean annual precipitation is 1000 mm,
75% concentrated in winter between May and August
(Figure 2). Mean annual temperature is 14Ð7 ° C, January
being the warmest month with a mean temperature of
19 ° C and July the coldest with 9 ° C (MOP, 1987). Soils
are fairly deep formed from meta-schist metamorphic
rocks or sedimentary rocks of mixed composition. They
have a loamy texture in the whole profile and available
soil water capacity of the first 3 m of the profile is
approximately 11% by volume (IREN, 1964).
San Ignacio is located south-east of Concepción city
in the Central Valley about 15 km east of the Coastal
mountain range (Figure 1). Mean annual precipitation is
1100 mm (MOP, 1987) and has a typical Mediterranean
seasonal distribution (Figure 2). Mean annual tempera-
ture is 14 ° C, January being the warmest month with
a mean temperature of 19 ° C and July the coldest with
8 ° C (Fuenzalida, 1971). Soils are moderately deep, very
rich in sands (above 93%), with very low clay content
and consequently, they show high infiltration rates, low
field capacity and available soil water capacity limited to
5% by volume (IREN, 1964). The soils originated from
modern andesitic and basaltic sands, and are distributed
throughout the area as alluvial plains with slopes lower
than 2%. These soils have a reduced natural productivity
due to their textural characteristics and limited content
of nitrogen and organic matter in the superficial layers
(Carrasco et al., 1993).
Porvenir is located in the Central Valley about 30 km
east of the Coastal mountain range (Figure 1). Mean
annual precipitation is 1200 mm (MOP, 1987) with

Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Hydrol. Process. 22, 142– 148 (2008)
DOI: 10.1002/hyp
144 A. HUBER, A. IROUMÉ AND J. BATHURST

20 400 20 400 capacity in the first 3 m is 28% by volume. Drainage is

1 2 slow, ranging from very slow to moderate (Bonelli and
Schlatter, 1995).
Temperature (°C)

15 300 15 300

Temperature (°C)
Finally, Huape is located on the eastern slopes of

Rainfall (mm)
Rainfall (mm)
the Coastal mountain range (Figure 1). Mean annual
10 200 10 200 temperature is 12 ° C, with January the warmest month
with a mean temperature of 17 ° C and July the coldest
5 100 5 100 with 7 ° C (Huber, 1970). Mean annual precipitation
is 2200 mm and presents a strong seasonal oscillation
(Figure 2). This area has loamy soils evolved from
0 0 0 0 modern volcanic ashes deposited on the metamorphic
20 400
complex of the Coastal mountain range (IREN, 1964).
20 400
They are deep soils and available soil water capacity in
3 4 the first 3 m is 26% by volume.
Temperature (°C)

Temperature (°C)

15 300 15 300

Rainfall (mm)
Rainfall (mm)

Vegetal cover characteristics and experimental plots at

10 200
5 100
0 0
JFMAMJJASOND
Figure 2. Long-term mean monthly temperature (in ° C) and precipitation
(in mm) in sites (1) Palhuén, (2) San Ignacio, (3) Porvenir and (4) Huape
a very marked seasonal distribution (Figure 2). Mean
annual temperature is 11 ° C, January being the warmest
month with a mean temperature of 16 ° C and June
the coldest with 7 ° C (Fuenzalida, 1971). This site has
red clayed soils derived from old piroclastic materials
deposited on very weathered volcanic conglomerates
forming a landscape of gentle to steep slopes (IREN,
1964). Soils are moderately deep and available soil water
10 200 the study sites
In this study, only Pinus radiata plantations aged
5 100 between 13 and 17 years old and with tree densities of
approximately 800 trees ha
1 (ranging from 700 to 833
0 0 trees ha
1 ) were considered (Table II). The homogeneity
JFMAMJJASOND of the forest plantations provides a consistent basis for
comparing the results between the different sites.
The main perennial grass and shrub species from the
unforested areas are described in Table II.
At each study site two experimental plots less than
150 m apart were installed. One of 100 ð 100 m was
considered under the Pinus radiata plantations and the
other, of 20 ð 20 m, in unforested terrains.
Ground cover in the plantation plots was calculated
from the horizontal projection of crown area. In the
unforested terrains, soil cover was determined at the
intersections of a 2Ð5 ð 2Ð5 cm grid from five 1 m2 plots
in each study area.

Table II. Study sites and characteristics of the unforested plots

Characteristics of the Pinus radiata plantation plots Characteristics of the unforested plots

Name of Reference Study Age Density Ground DBH Height Reference Species Study Soil
study plot year (year) (trees ha
1 ) cover (cm) (m) plot year cover
site (%) (%)

Palhuén 1a 2002 12 700 71 15Ð7 15Ð3 1 pr Acacia caven, Taraxacum 2002 20

officinale,
1a 2003 13 700 73 16Ð4 16Ð1 Holtus lanatus
San Ignacio 2a 1999 14 796 76 16Ð1 12Ð1 2 pr Pseudognaphalium 1999 15
luteoalbum,
2a 2000 15 796 78 16Ð8 13Ð6 Aira caryophyllea, Avena 2000 15
barbata,
2a 2001 16 796 89 17Ð4 14Ð3 Maihuenia poeppigii 2001 15
2b 1999 16 815 74 14Ð9 11Ð8
2b 2000 17 815 74 15Ð6 12Ð8
Porvenir 3a 1999 12 833 66 20Ð8 14Ð9 3 pr Holtus lanatus, Agrostis 1999 85
capillaris
3a 2000 13 833 66 21Ð4 15Ð6 2000 85
Huape 4a 1999 13 830 65 15Ð5 10Ð7 4 pr Holtus lanatus, Agrostis 1999 95
capillaris,
4a 2000 14 830 67 16Ð7 11Ð8 Agrostia castellana, 2000 95
Leontodon nudicalis

Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Hydrol. Process. 22, 142–148 (2008)
DOI: 10.1002/hyp
 EFFECT OF PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS ON WATER BALANCE IN CHILE
Study periods, instrumentation and data collection
The measurements occurred in 1999 and 2000 for all
sites (with an additional year in San Ignacio), except for
Palhuén where data collection was in 2002 and 2003
(Table II).
Net evapotranspiration (ETn D transpiration plus water
evaporated from soils) and total evapotranspiration
(ETt D net evapotranspiration plus canopy interception
loss) were determined through water balances using the
continuity equation (Feller, 1981):
ETn D P

I C W C Q C Per
1
ETt D ETn C I
2
where ETn is the net evapotranspiration (in mm), ETt is
the total evapotranspiration (in mm), P is the incoming
precipitation (in mm), I the canopy interception loss (in
mm), W represents the change in soil moisture (in
mm), Q representd the superficial runoff (in mm) and Per
the percolation (in mm). Incoming precipitation (P) was
registered in each site with two standard tipping bucket
rain gauges with data loggers located on open fields.
Superficial runoff (Q) was neglected considering that
infiltration rates exceed rainfall intensities and that all
the experimental plots were installed on terrains having
slopes lower than 2%.
The quantity of rainfall intercepted by the forest
canopy and then evaporated (canopy interception loss)
was calculated using the following equation:
I D P

TF C SF
3
where TF represents the throughfall (in mm) and SF the
stemflow (in mm).
Throughfall was measured in each forested plot using
one V-shaped metallic gutter 15 cm wide and 25 m long
and installed approximately 30 cm above ground level
with a longitudinal slope of 5%. Rainfall water reaching
the soil surface via tree stems was captured with rubber
collars sealed around the trunks of 15 trees in each plot.
Both throughfall and stemflow were routed to storage
tanks equipped with float-operated level recorders.
Precipitation, throughfall and stemflow were recorded
at 3-min intervals, with depth resolutions of 0Ð2 mm
(precipitation) and 0Ð24 mm (TF and SF).
Interception loss in the shrub and grass covers were
considered negligible in this study, based on Martı́nez
and Navarro (1996) and Schlosser et al. (1997) who
mention that interception loss in vegetation covers with
these characteristics are very small.
Soil water content was measured once a month at 3 m
deep in all the experimental plots using a Troxler 4300
neutron probe, calibrated in situ according to Brechtel
(1983). This level was defined considering that the
maximum depth reached by the roots of Pinus radiata in
the soils of the study sites varies between 1Ð8 and 2Ð3 m
(Molina, 1997; Sandoval, 1998; Ulloa, 2000; Maragaño,
2003). In the plantation plots measurements were carried
out using 15 access tubes located on and among the tree
Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
145
rows to minimize the errors associated with the uneven
distribution of soil water content (Huber and Trecaman,
2000). In the unforested plots three tubes were used for
soil water content measurements.
Percolation (Per) was considered equivalent to the
quantity of water flowing vertically through the prede-
fined depth of 3 m considering, as for soil water content
measurements, the maximum depth of the tree roots. In
each plot this water was collected using 30 ð 30 cm2
trays installed at a depth of 3 m and connected to one
storage tank. The storage tank was emptied once a month
to determine the percolated volume. In the plantation
and unforested plots, eight and four trays were installed,
respectively.
The significance of the differences of evapotranspira-
tion, interception loss and percolation data between plots
and sites were assessed using the t-statistic (Freese, 1984)
with a 95% level of confidence.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The percentage of rainfall accounted for by canopy inter-
ception loss in the Pinus radiata plantations increases
from south to north varying between 14 and 42% annual
precipitation (Table III). The pine canopies intercepted on
average 36–40% of the annual rainfall at the three sites
where rainfall was less then 1200 mm, while in Huape
only 15% of the mean rainfall (2081 mm) was inter-
cepted (Table III, Figure 3). Differences of interception
loss between the study sites were all statistically sig-
nificant (p  0Ð05). The latitudinal distribution of inter-
ception loss is attributable to the annual regime of the
precipitation and the climatic conditions that regulate
evaporation (Crockford and Richardson, 2000). Thus, the
afforestation with Pinus radiata reduced the quantity of
water reaching the ground surface, and this effect is more
important in areas with lower precipitation and in years
with rainfall deficits. The latitudinal distribution of inter-
ception loss in the study sites agrees with the findings
of Calder (1998) and Crockford and Richardson (2000),
who pointed out that the characteristics of the vegetation
covers are more relevant for the rainfall redistribution
components in areas with lower precipitation.
Net evapotranspiration in the plantation sites was
between 694 and 401 mm year
1 without showing any
latitudinal distribution (Table III). Mean net evapotran-
spiration was 656 mm year
1 in Huape, 563 mm year
1
in Porvenir, 429 mm year
1 in San Ignacio and 544 mm
year
1 in Palhuén (statistically significant differences at
p  0Ð05 level). In terms of percentage of mean annual
rainfall, mean annual net evapotranspiration increased
from south to north (32% in Huape, 47% in Porvenir and
55% in Palhuén), the exception was San Ignacio with
38% (Figure 3).
Due to this situation, plantations established in areas
with similar precipitation levels but on soils with higher
water retention capacity registered higher net evapotran-
spiration. In consequence, net evapotranspiration was
Hydrol. Process. 22, 142– 148 (2008)
DOI: 10.1002/hyp
146 A. HUBER, A. IROUMÉ AND J. BATHURST

Table III. Water balance in the plantation plots at the different study sites

Water balance (mm year
1 ) Water balance (% of P)

Site Reference Study year P TF SF I ETn Per TF SF I ETn Per

plot

Palhuén 1a 2002 1271 741 34 496 648 127 58 3 39 51 10

1a 2003 758 422 18 318 440 0 56 2 42 58 0
Mean 1015 581 26 407 544 64 57 3 40 55 5
San Ignacio 2a 1999 1133 682 60 391 422 320 60 5 35 37 28
2a 2000 1110 635 52 423 412 276 57 5 38 37 25
2a 2001 1214 702 74 438 475 301 58 6 36 39 25
Mean 2a 1152 673 62 417 436 299 58 5 36 38 26
2b 1999 1133 640 51 442 442 249 56 5 39 39 22
2b 2000 1110 616 51 443 401 267 55 5 40 36 24
Mean 2b 1122 628 51 442 421 258 56 5 39 38 23
Mean 2a–2b 1137 650 57 430 429 278 57 5 38 38 24
Porvenir 3a 1999 1090 652 62 376 544 170 60 6 34 50 16
3a 2000 1288 852 60 475 581 232 66 5 37 45 18
Mean 1189 752 61 426 563 201 63 5 36 47 17
Huape 4a 1999 1943 1595 33 315 618 1010 82 2 16 32 52
4a 2000 2219 1845 58 316 694 1209 83 3 14 31 54
Mean 2081 1720 45 316 656 1110 83 2 15 32 53

influenced by the quantity and distribution of annual rain-

Figure 3. Interception loss, net evapotranspiration, percolation and total
evapotranspiration (as percentage of total precipitation) for plantation and
grassland plots in sites (1) Palhuén, (2) San Ignacio, (3) Porvenir and
(4) Huape
fall reaching the ground surface and also by soil water
retention capacity.
Net evapotranspiration in the unforested plots (differ-
ences among sites were statistically significant as deter-
mined by the t-statistic at the 95% level) of the four study
sites are shown in Table IV and Figure 3. The latitudinal
distribution of this component of the water balance was
similar to that of the forest plantations.
ETn was surprisingly similar between unforested and
forested plots in Palhuén, San Ignacio and Porvenir,
although the differences were statistically significant
(p  0Ð05) for all these sites but it was not the case for
Porvenir. The exception was registered in Huape and can
be explained because the annual precipitation regime in
this site, allows the availability of water reserves in the
soils all year round to satisfy the requirements of the
trees. Under these conditions the forest plantation could
show its biggest transpiration potential.
As has already been mentioned, in the three less
rainy sites located more toward the north, ETn of the
different covers (both in plantation and unforested plots)
was relatively similar. The explanation for this is that
although in the unforested areas more water reaches
the soil surface (very low interception loss), the thinner
vegetation and less developed cover are exposed to
environmental conditions that restrict their transpiration
potential, especially in the Palhuén and San Ignacio sites
where the persistence of the herbaceous cover is less than
4–5 months (Table II). These results agree with those of
Huber and Trecaman (2000) and Sternberg et al. (2001)
who indicated that at the end of the summer season the
top 50 cm of the soil registered lower water content
underneath a thin herbaceous cover than in a Pinus
radiata plantation. According to Huber and Trecaman
(2000), the main differences in soil moisture pattern

Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Hydrol. Process. 22, 142–148 (2008)
DOI: 10.1002/hyp
 EFFECT OF PINUS RADIATA PLANTATIONS ON WATER BALANCE IN CHILE 147

Table IV. Water balance in the unforested plots at the different study sites

Water balance (mm year
1 ) Water balance (% of P)

Site Reference Study P ETn Per ETn Per

plot year

Palhuén 1pr 2002 1271 539 732 42 58

2003 758 421 337 56 44
Mean 1015 480 535 49 51
San Ignacio 2pr 1999 1133 397 736 35 65
2000 1110 377 733 34 66
2001 1214 376 838 31 69
Mean 1152 383 769 33 67
Porvenir 3pr 1999 1090 556 534 51 49
2000 1288 580 708 45 55
Mean 1189 568 621 48 52
Huape 4pr 1999 1943 311 1632 16 84
2000 2219 266 1953 12 88
Mean 2081 289 1792 14 86

between a Pinus radiata plantation and an unforested
site are the date in the year when the lowest soil water
content occurs and the depth over which this content is
registered.
Considering total evapotranspiration (Equation (2)),
water consumed by the plantations increased, in terms of
percentage of mean annual rainfall, from 47% in Huape
to 83% in Porvenir, 76% in San Ignacio and 95% in
Palhuén (Table III). In the Palhuén site, during the year
2003 total evapotranspiration was equal to precipitation.
The latitudinal distribution of percolation volumes
from all the study sites and covers is shown in Figure 3.
Due to the relative increment of canopy interception
loss and net evapotranspiration from south to north,
percolation registered an inverse latitudinal distribution
both in the planted and unforested plots (Tables III
and IV).
Under plantations, an average of 53% of the precipita-
tion contributed to groundwater recharge in Huape, while
in Palhuén this recharge only reached 5% (Figure 3). In
these sites percolation was 86 and 51% in the unforested
plots. Percolation was statistically different (p  0Ð05)
among sites and plots.
The plantation in Palhuén registered the lowest per-
colation rate averaging 5% of annual precipitation
(Figure 3, Table III). In the first year of study (2002),
with a precipitation of 1270 mm that exceeded by
270 mm the long-term average for the site, percolation
was 127 mm year
1 , or 10% of this year’s precipita-
tion. During the second year (2003) rainfall was 758 mm,
which is about 240 mm below the long-term annual pre-
cipitation for the site, and no percolation was registered
(Table III). In the unforested plot, percolation averaged
51% of the annual precipitation, which demonstrably sur-
passed that of the plantation. Consequently, in the area
of Palhuén the plantations of Pinus radiata can consider-
ably affect water availability since groundwater recharge
could be very low in years with less than the average
rainfall amount.
The percolation rate registered in San Ignacio is the
highest from all the study sites. This is again explained
by the lower water retention capacity of the sandy soils
in this site, which require a smaller amount of precipita-
tion to be saturated and facilitate percolation processes.
According to Huber and Trecaman (2002), under planta-
tions established on sandy soils percolation occurs earlier
in the year and is more important than for soils with
higher water retention capacity. In consequence, plan-
tations of Pinus radiata on sandy soils have a smaller
impact on groundwater recharge that in those established
in areas with similar climatic conditions but having loamy
or clayed soils. However, this situation diminishes the
quantity of available water for the trees, reducing growth
rates and the economic return of forestry plantations in
these sandy sites.
In Chile, the impact of Pinus radiata plantations on
water resources increases from south to north. The excep-
tion in this latitudinal distribution occurs in plantations
established on sandy soils, which have high infiltration
and low water retention capacity and permit significant
groundwater recharges.
CONCLUSIONS
Important differences in the components of the annual
water balance were registered between unforested and
Pinus radiata plantation environments. The effect of
plantation forestry on water resources is mainly due to
the high canopy interception loss and soil water retention
capacity of the soils. The biggest relative impacts of
Pinus radiata plantations on the different components of
water balance in Chile take place in the areas with the
lowest rainfall.
Water consumed by fast growing species in areas
where this resource is scarce is not considered by private
investors when deciding the location of planted forests or
by the government when allocating forest incentives. The
level of impact on water resources shown in this study

Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Hydrol. Process. 22, 142– 148 (2008)
DOI: 10.1002/hyp
148 A. HUBER, A. IROUMÉ AND J. BATHURST
suggests that the forestry sector should begin to consider
the cost of water in the economic evaluation of forestry
plantations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The data presented here correspond to the work from
different FONDECYT projects and the information was
collected with the help of Forestal Mininco, Forestal
Celco, Forestal Copihue and the Forest Research Centre
of Universidad Austral de Chile. The analysis of the data
and the preparation of this document were carried out
within the framework of the INCO-CT2004-510739 EPIC
FORCE Project.
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