The hydrology of three high-altitude forests in Central Himalaya, India: A reconnaissance study G. C. S. Negi  , H. C. Rikhari and S. C. Garkoti Ecology Laboratory, Botany Department, Kumaun University, Naini Tal-263 002, India Abstract: In this preliminary study the partitioning of rain-water into various components of the hydrological cycle in three high-altitude forests of contrasting tree physiognomies (namely, Aesculus indica, Quercus semecarpifolia and Abies pindrow) were studied in the Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve, Central Himalaya, India. The results are compared with the hydrological characteristics of low-altitude forests of this region. The study has indicated a significant role of tree physiognomy with regard to rainfall partitioning into the various components of the hydrological cycle. It is suggested that A. pindrow (an evergreen tree) should be considered superior to A. indica (a deciduous tree) with regard to soil and water conservation in this region. This work is of relevance to land management programmes pertaining to aorestation, logging and regeneration. # 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Hydrol. Process., Vol. 12, 343–350 (1998) KEY WORDS high-altitude forests; tree physiognomy; hydrology; soil and water conservation; interception; runo; erosion INTRODUCTION Forest vegetation plays an important role in the hydrological cycle by intercepting rainfall, reducing the velocity of raindrops, reducing runo and increasing water infiltration, and is therefore extremely important for soil and water conservation. Hydrological parameters, such as throughfall, stemflow, runo and interception loss, depend upon the amount and intensity of the rainfall, the density of the tree crowns and the branching pattern of trees (e.g. Ovington, 1954; Rutter, 1963; Raynolds and Henderson, 1967; Dunne et al., 1991). It is also implied that the relative proportions of throughfall and stem flow will depend on the species, and may be assessed by comparing amounts of throughfall and stemflow for dierent species growing in close proximity at the same site (Cape et al., 1991). In the Central Himalayan mountains in India, investigations of the hydrology of low-altitude forests (Pandey et al., 1983; Pathak et al., 1983, 1984; Mehra et al., 1985; Loshali and Singh, 1992) have demonstrated that Himalayan catchments are subsurface flow systems (with overland flow 51% for the gross rainfall), and therefore highly susceptible to deforestation and other practices that are quite common in the region (Singh and Singh, 1992). In this region of highly seasonal rainfall (mid-June to mid-September) and long spells of dry conditions (during the remaining part of the year), the seasonal distribution of stream flow assumes greater importance than the total annual water yield (Bruijnzeel and Bremmer, 1989). Therefore, forest vegetation that is conducive to peak flows (‘floods’) is undesirable, and forest management practices that lead to an increase in the dry season flows are most needed. Hitherto, the high-altitude forests, which cover the head- waters of many of the major river systems of the Indo-Gangetic plains could not be studied, mainly because of logistical problems. These mid- to high-altitude Himalayan forests are extensions of physiognomically defined CCC 0885–6087/98/020343–08$1750 Received 3 April 1996 # 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Accepted 28 February1997 HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, VOL. 12, 343–350 (1998)  Correspondence to: G. C. S. Negi at G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Post Box 92, Srinagar (Garhwal), Pin-246 174 (U.P.), India.