Indicator 2: The Status of Water Quality Within and From Forested Areas in Comparison to Reference Conditions
The regulation of water quality is among the most significant ecosystem services provided by forests, with changes in forest management practices affecting a variety of chemical, biological and hydro-morphological processes both locally and downstream. While changes in water quality have significant implications for the human health and economic security of local communities, such changes are also indications of ecosystem health, with wetland and riparian forest habitats among the most biologically diverse and productive forest ecosystems. At the same time, understanding the status of water quality is crucial to help rehabilitate or manage downstream ecosystems, including coastal ecosystems such as swamps, peatlands and mangroves.
The sub-indicators associated with indicator 2 may be used to monitor the extent to which changes in te forested landscape affect water quality, as well as the morphology of water bodies.