4.Conclusions
The results of monitoring in the paired catchments showed that the
different forest management regimes mainly influenced the annual flow
and the hydrological regime of the streams. Mosaic management with
longer cycles (mean age between 10 and 16 years) showed better flow
stability and higher water quality, but water use similar to that
obtained with shorter cycles (between 5 - 7 years), indicating that this
management alternative may not be sufficient to increase downstream
water availability. In the short-cycle management, there were greater
effects on flow in the coppice management, indicating that this system
can aggravate conflicts for water use in regions with low water
availability.
Due to the short cycles used and the rapid response of fast-growing
plantations to water availability, only comparative studies with paired
catchments under the same environmental conditions seem capable of
explaining the effects of forest management on the hydrological regime
of streams.