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Research work on the influence of global warming on forests predicts a rise in air temperature and changes in precipitation for a large part of Europe. Climate change has been forecast to increase runoff and nutrient leaching from the boreal catchments. Windiness, cloudiness and more frequent extreme-weather events are expected in the temperate region. The Mediterranean region is expected to suffer considerable impacts because of increased drought conditions. The need to understand and control the hydrological role of forests is rising, especially in upper watershed areas (headwaters), where forest expansion and stocking may result in water scarcity downstream. However, observations and studies of natural processes related to the water cycle suggest that forests and water are interrelated in complex ways. Therefore, forests should not be defined and treated as mere consumers of water significantly influencing runoff, but also as natural filters and reservoirs. Forest management systems and operations will have to be adapted to changes in forest composition and distribution within new water and disturbance regimes. Water protection measures like buffer zones and sedimentation ponds will gain in importance, and in general, a new water-yield or water-saving silviculture will play an important role in future forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]