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Volume 17
Issue 24
10.3390/w17243461
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Effects of Forest Thinning on Water Yield and Runoff Components in Headwater Catchments of Japanese Cypress Plantation

by
Ibtisam Mohd Ghaus
1,*,
Nobuaki Tanaka
2,
Takanori Sato
3,
Moein Farahnak
4,
Yuya Otani
5,
Anand Nainar
6,
Mie Gomyo
7 and
Koichiro Kuraji
8
1
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo 113-8657, Japan
2
The University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forest, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Furano 079-1563, Japan
3
Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya 156-8502, Japan
4
Ecohydrology Research Institute, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Seto 489-0031, Japan
5
Faculty of International Studies, Setsunan University, Osaka 572-8508, Japan
6
Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88-400, Malaysia
7
Forest GX/DX Co-Creation Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo 113-8657, Japan
8
Executive Office, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo 113-8657, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2025, 17(24), 3461; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17243461
Submission received: 7 November 2025 / Revised: 30 November 2025 / Accepted: 3 December 2025 / Published: 5 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrology)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Forests play a key role in sustaining global water cycles by regulating precipitation partitioning, which in turn influences both water yield and ecosystem stability. Thinning is a silvicultural tool used to improve forest plantation productivity, but it is increasingly recognized as a means for water resource management. This study investigated hydrological changes following 40% thinning of tree density with contour-aligned log placement in paired headwater catchments of a Japanese cypress forest. Annual runoff in the treated catchment was 108.7 mm above the pre-thinning baseline in the thinning year (2020), followed by smaller increases of 99.7 mm, 43.7 mm, and 0.4 mm in 2021 to 2023, after which annual yields effectively returned to pre-thinning levels. Despite these temporary increases, peak discharge and storm quickflow metrics remained within the pre-thinning range. Flow duration curve analysis revealed a sustained enhancement of low-flow discharge and baseflow throughout the post-thinning period, indicating improved low-flow resilience without increased stormflow risk. These findings demonstrate that moderate thinning combined with contour felled logs can enhance water availability in plantation forests while maintaining flood protection. They also highlight the need for long-term, multi-site studies to test the persistence and generality of these low-flow benefits under varying forest and climate conditions.
Keywords: forest thinning; water yield changes; flow duration curve; runoff forest thinning; water yield changes; flow duration curve; runoff

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mohd Ghaus, I.; Tanaka, N.; Sato, T.; Farahnak, M.; Otani, Y.; Nainar, A.; Gomyo, M.; Kuraji, K. Effects of Forest Thinning on Water Yield and Runoff Components in Headwater Catchments of Japanese Cypress Plantation. Water 2025, 17, 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17243461

AMA Style

Mohd Ghaus I, Tanaka N, Sato T, Farahnak M, Otani Y, Nainar A, Gomyo M, Kuraji K. Effects of Forest Thinning on Water Yield and Runoff Components in Headwater Catchments of Japanese Cypress Plantation. Water. 2025; 17(24):3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17243461

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mohd Ghaus, Ibtisam, Nobuaki Tanaka, Takanori Sato, Moein Farahnak, Yuya Otani, Anand Nainar, Mie Gomyo, and Koichiro Kuraji. 2025. "Effects of Forest Thinning on Water Yield and Runoff Components in Headwater Catchments of Japanese Cypress Plantation" Water 17, no. 24: 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17243461

APA Style

Mohd Ghaus, I., Tanaka, N., Sato, T., Farahnak, M., Otani, Y., Nainar, A., Gomyo, M., & Kuraji, K. (2025). Effects of Forest Thinning on Water Yield and Runoff Components in Headwater Catchments of Japanese Cypress Plantation. Water, 17(24), 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17243461

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