Forests reduce flooding

A longstanding debate in hydrological science is the degree to which forests actually limit downstream flooding.  Now a mega-study in Panama provides the strongest direct evidence to date that forests do indeed soak-up massive amounts of rainfall and then release it gradually over time.

Destructive floods cause billions of dollars of damage and likely kill thousands of people each year.  An earlier, global-scale statistical analysis suggested forests do indeed limit flooding and now the Panama experiment seems to seal the case.

The message is clear: retain forests to reduce floods

A torrent in the central Amazon