Can Trees Help Put Water Back Into the Soil?

Abstract

Just to the south of the Amazon, there is a vast and biodiverse savanna that scientists believe is under even greater threat, called the Cerrado. Scientists want to understand how the plants that live in the Cerrado affect the rainfall that enters the ground to recharge the aquifer. Many of these plants are trees that capture rainwater and drain it down their bark-covered branches and trunks. This water, called stemflow, may be one way to recharge the aquifer, if the branches and bark of the trees are the right size and shape. This article will introduce the common plant species of the Cerrado, describe how they affect the way rainfall enters the ground, and discuss how bark and branches may help conserve water.