Rainfall interception loss in unlogged and logged forest areas of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Rainfall interception losses were monitored for 12 months, and related to vegetation and rainfall characteristics at the BPK-ECTF research site (Wanariset Sangai) on the upper reaches of the Mentaya river, Central Kalimantan. The rainfall interception losses were quantified, based on the records of 55 selected rainfall events within the range of 8.5-135.5 mm in the unlogged forest, and 95 rainfall events in the logged-over area. Over a 6-month-period in 1 hectare of pristine, unlogged, natural, tropical rainforest, the total amount of rainfall interception loss was 251 mm or about 11% of total gross rainfall. In the logged forest, the total rainfall interception loss over 12 months was 219 mm, or 6% of gross rainfall. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.