Abstract

This study investigates the hydrological impact of afforested areas compared to grassland, focusing on soil moisture (SM), actual evapotranspiration (ETA), and plant health (NDVI) in the Tacuarembó River basin, Uruguay. Using remote sensing datasets, including SMAP and geeSEBAL-MODIS products, the research analyzes data from 2018 to 2022, a period marked by prolonged drought. Forested areas present low SM values and maintain higher ETA yearly, highlighting their increased water demand. Moreover, NDVI data suggest that forests are more resilient to water stress, while grasslands experience a significant decline in vegetation vigor. This highlights the substantial capacity of forests for soil water consumption. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding afforestation's impact on the hydrological cycle, particularly in regions susceptible to drought, and call for balanced forest management strategies to ensure water resource sustainability.