DeforestationAndFloods

ThoughtStorms Wiki

Context : GreenPolitics

From 2005. I suspect this has been superseded ... but allegedly ...

Big floods not caused by deforestation : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4331472.stm

Actually, reading between the lines, what it says is that, yes, good forests absorb smaller floods, very large floods will overwhelm them. So, you can't blame the biggest floods on deforestation.

Main devastation due to people living in areas which are flood-prone.

OTOH, the number of floods is apparently increasing. Possibly due to people diverting watercourses.

Something a bit odd here :

  • the FAO/Cifor report cites evidence from Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, Thailand and the US showing that the frequency and extent of major floods has not changed over the last century or two, despite drastic reductions in forest cover. *

whereas, despite agreeing with the report,

  • Edmund Penning-Rowsell believes that there may be another factor - that the true frequency of floods is beginning to increase.*

Either the frequency is or isn't increasing. Which is it?

See also :

CategoryEnvironment

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