Valdir De Cicco,Francisco Carlos Soriano Arcova,Maurício Ranzini,João Batista Amaro dos Santos, Instituto Florestal de São Paulo, Divisão de Dasonomia - Seção de Engenharia Florestal, valdircicco@if.sp.gov.br
Abstract. The Forestry Institute of São Paulo State has been studying forest-water relationship in the Eng. Agr. Walter Emmerich Forest Hydrology Laboratory (LHFEAWE), located in the Serra do Mar State Park – Cunha Sector, since 1980, aiming to develop studies of hydrological processes related to the quantity and quality of water. The Laboratory is situated along the headwaters of the Paraibuna river, tributary of the Paraíba do Sul. Three experimental watersheds named A, B and D are being monitored through continuous records of precipitation and streamflow through a rain gauges and water stage since 1991, 1987 and 1982, respectively. This article summarizes the most relevant results of research related to quantitative hydrological processes such as water balance, interception and runoff total, direct and basic. Thus, it is expected to contribute to the understanding of relations between the Atlantic Rain Forest and water resources. The losses are reduced through evapotranspiration and soil permeability promote the recharge of reservoirs, therefore, these watersheds with forest of Atlantic Rain Forest, characterized as conservative as the consumption of water. It appears that the evapotranspiration for the watersheds show a positive trend, probably associated with natural regeneration process. The research developed in the Forest Hydrology Laboratory are providing knowledge of hydrological processes in the Atlantic Rain Forest and could thus contribute to making decisions regarding management of water resources and environmental risks. This region should be viewed as strategic to the water supply to the Paraíba Valley, North Coast and Rio de Janeiro.
Palavras-chave: Balanço hídrico, interceptação, Mata Atlântica.