Articles | Volume 21, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3883-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3883-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
03 Sep 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 03 Sep 2024
| 03 Sep 2024
Global and regional hydrological impacts of global forest expansion
Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
James Weber
Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
now at: Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
Peter Lawrence
Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Stephanie Roe
World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA
Abigail L. S. Swann
Department of Atmospheric Science and Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Maria Val Martin
Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Unlocking varve details: high-resolution sampling via freeze-melt technique A. Ojala et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-025-00375-x
- Using point dendrometers to improve forest transpiration estimation accuracy at stand scales R. Bright et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110986
- Land carbon response to positive, zero, and negative CO2 emissions across Earth system models A. Swann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1237-2026
- Stand Height Increment from Two-Epoch Aerial Laser Scanning Data and Inventory Data P. Jaczewska et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25216606
- Can large-scale tree cover change negate climate change impacts on future water availability? F. Engel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1895-2025
- Assessing Earth system responses in mitigation scenarios with activity-driven simulation of carbon dioxide removal J. Schwinger et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1341-2026
- Análisis de tendencias e índices de extremos hidroclimáticos en el nordeste antioqueño a partir de registros históricos L. Marín-Zapata et al. https://doi.org/10.22430/22565337.3586
- Spatiotemporal variation of soil water and response patterns to key influencing factors in plantations on the Loess Plateau Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103835
- Historical trends and future changes in hydroclimate extremes using CMIP6 and SWAT + in the Awash Basin and Mojo catchment, Ethiopia D. Berhanu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-026-06508-0
- Organic aerosol enhances boreal forest photosynthesis under cumulus clouds E. Ezhova et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02539-z
- Storylines of climatic impact-drivers relevant for forests: La Plata Basin, a hotspot for land-based mitigation D. Rosales et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ae861d
- Responses of Hydrological Processes to Future Climate Variability and Agricultural Land Afforestation in a Humid River Basin Q. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.70276
- Land Use/Cover Change Reshapes Water Balance Components Across Spatial Scales in a Typical Humid Hilly Region Y. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15091735
- Forest Landscape Transformation in the Ecotonal Watershed of Central South Africa: Evidence from Remote Sensing and Asymmetric Land Change Analysis K. Hussien & Y. Woyessa https://doi.org/10.3390/f17010064
- Optimized afforestation reduces flood risk and limits water loss in Europe S. El Garroussi et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00057-3
- Forest favours conditions for convective precipitation in the Mediterranean Basin J. Theeuwen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6913-2025
- SWAT modelling and MCDM for spatial valuation in small hydropower planning I. Potić & D. Đorđević https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0908
- Exploring the combined effects of climate change and vegetation restoration on terrestrial water storage in China W. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103414
- Forest and bioenergy expansion amplifies climate warming by accelerating regional cloud loss N. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-14133-2026
- A global dust emission dataset for estimating dust radiative forcings in climate models D. Leung et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2311-2025
- On spatial scales of local aerosol production in boreal ecosystems E. Ezhova et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-13463-2026
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Unlocking varve details: high-resolution sampling via freeze-melt technique A. Ojala et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-025-00375-x
- Using point dendrometers to improve forest transpiration estimation accuracy at stand scales R. Bright et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110986
- Land carbon response to positive, zero, and negative CO2 emissions across Earth system models A. Swann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1237-2026
- Stand Height Increment from Two-Epoch Aerial Laser Scanning Data and Inventory Data P. Jaczewska et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25216606
- Can large-scale tree cover change negate climate change impacts on future water availability? F. Engel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1895-2025
- Assessing Earth system responses in mitigation scenarios with activity-driven simulation of carbon dioxide removal J. Schwinger et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1341-2026
- Análisis de tendencias e índices de extremos hidroclimáticos en el nordeste antioqueño a partir de registros históricos L. Marín-Zapata et al. https://doi.org/10.22430/22565337.3586
- Spatiotemporal variation of soil water and response patterns to key influencing factors in plantations on the Loess Plateau Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103835
- Historical trends and future changes in hydroclimate extremes using CMIP6 and SWAT + in the Awash Basin and Mojo catchment, Ethiopia D. Berhanu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-026-06508-0
- Organic aerosol enhances boreal forest photosynthesis under cumulus clouds E. Ezhova et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02539-z
- Storylines of climatic impact-drivers relevant for forests: La Plata Basin, a hotspot for land-based mitigation D. Rosales et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ae861d
- Responses of Hydrological Processes to Future Climate Variability and Agricultural Land Afforestation in a Humid River Basin Q. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.70276
- Land Use/Cover Change Reshapes Water Balance Components Across Spatial Scales in a Typical Humid Hilly Region Y. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15091735
- Forest Landscape Transformation in the Ecotonal Watershed of Central South Africa: Evidence from Remote Sensing and Asymmetric Land Change Analysis K. Hussien & Y. Woyessa https://doi.org/10.3390/f17010064
- Optimized afforestation reduces flood risk and limits water loss in Europe S. El Garroussi et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00057-3
- Forest favours conditions for convective precipitation in the Mediterranean Basin J. Theeuwen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6913-2025
- SWAT modelling and MCDM for spatial valuation in small hydropower planning I. Potić & D. Đorđević https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0908
- Exploring the combined effects of climate change and vegetation restoration on terrestrial water storage in China W. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103414
- Forest and bioenergy expansion amplifies climate warming by accelerating regional cloud loss N. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-14133-2026
- A global dust emission dataset for estimating dust radiative forcings in climate models D. Leung et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-2311-2025
- On spatial scales of local aerosol production in boreal ecosystems E. Ezhova et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-13463-2026
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 18 Oct 2026
Editorial statement
Large-scale afforestation and reforestation are today seen as an important global climate mitigation strategy. The study investigates the climate feedbacks from afforestation and reforestation with a focus on hydrodynamic processes. The study shows that feedbacks on precipitation and local temperature are more complex and that is important to look beyond carbon cycle feedbacks when it comes to the implementation of climate mitigation strategies.
Large-scale afforestation and reforestation are today seen as an important global climate...
Short summary
Tackling climate change by adding, restoring, or enhancing forests is gaining global support. However, it is important to investigate the broader implications of this. We used a computer model of the Earth to investigate a future where tree cover expanded as much as possible. We found that some tropical areas were cooler because of trees pumping water into the atmosphere, but this also led to soil and rivers drying. This is important because it might be harder to maintain forests as a result.
Tackling climate change by adding, restoring, or enhancing forests is gaining global support....
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