Forests play a central role in regulating water security, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. Yet, the combined impacts of climate change, altered hydrological regimes, and increasing human demands on water resources pose unprecedented challenges for sustainable forest-water management.

This symposium will explore the links between forest structure, soils, and hydrological processes across watersheds, emphasizing how forest management practices influence water quality, water quantity, and ecosystem services in changing climates. Key themes include the role of streams as sentinels of watershed health, the importance of riparian and wetland ecosystems, and the ecological significance of leaf litter and wood inputs in sustaining stream energy and habitat structure.

The symposium will also introduce the concept of a “safe operating space” for watershed health, providing a framework for sustainable forest management and restoration efforts where rural and urban water supplies depend on healthy ecosystems. By bringing together hydrologists, ecologists, and forest scientists, this event will foster interdisciplinary dialogue to advance science-based strategies for sustainable forest–water relationships worldwide.

About the Conveners

Brian Reid is Limnologist and Scientific Deputy Director at the Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Chile. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Montana and a B.Sc. in Biology from Cornell University. His research focuses on watershed biogeochemistry, river and lake metabolism, sediment dynamics in peri-glacial systems, and continuous monitoring applications for aquatic ecosystems, with a strong emphasis on river–forest interactions in temperate environments.

Paulo Moreno is a Forest Engineer and Research Scientist at CIEP, Chile. He earned his Master’s degree in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida and his Ph.D. in Marine Ecosystem Sciences from the University of Genoa, Italy. His research integrates forest inventory and modeling, mountain hydrology, silviculture, climate change impacts, and advanced applications of GIS and remote sensing for sustainable forest management in Patagonia.