Virtual Conference Interaction of Water and Forests In celebration of the Water Day

The Water Programme of the Inter-American Network of Water Sciences (IANAS) and the International Institute of Ecology (IIE) in Brazil presented an International Virtual Conference on 22 March 2024 to Latin American academics and other global audiences, commemorating World Water Day and highlighting the theme of the interaction between water and forests. The conference aimed to showcase current research and information related to the topic.

Researchers from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Nicaragua, Argentina, the USA, Panama, and two European countries—Poland and Switzerland—participated. The dynamics of the interrelationship between water and forests in different ecosystems across the continent were examined, considering the increase in deforestation due to land-use changes that exacerbate the potential impacts of climate change, both in the future and in current trends observed recently.

The conference focused on projecting five key themes:

• Water and Forests in Ecosystems
• Impacts of Deforestation on the Water-Forest Relationship
• Interaction of Wetlands and Water
• Water, Forests, and Health
• Management and Methodology for Water-Forest Interaction and the Climate Cycle

Given the variety of geographical zones, ecosystems, and observed impacts causing environmental degradation, it was concluded that it is essential to adopt appropriate interdisciplinary research approaches, such as ecohydrology, and to promote reforestation adapted to specific ecosystems and forest types. These measures can help mitigate the effects of climate change on the climate cycle, including the acceleration of temperature increases, regional and local precipitation changes, and overall climate patterns.

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