Repercussions of deforestation on precipitation in Western Karnataka, India

Abstract

Present investigation involving 28 stations of Western Karnataka and one of Kerala produces at least some evidence of the impact of deforestation on declining trends of rainfall and rainy days. Twelve climatic parameters have been chosen; 6 of annual rainfall, 6 of rainy days (see Table 1). As a rule higher the deforested area, larger is the number of climatic criteria showing diminishing trend of rainfall-rainy days. Exceptions are the coastal stations where the humidity due to the proximity of the sea seems to compensate for the loss of forest cover. The potential evergreen forest belt appears to be subject to decreasing trend in higher number of criteria because of reduction of forest area than the zone of deciduous forest. Introduction of deciduous trees in the evergreen forests do not seem to affect the precipitation pattern. Generally, the rainy days are more prone to decline than the rainfall.