How deforestation could also affect the quality of the water we drink

The Harz Mountains in Germany lost 50% of its forest cover between 2015 and 2020 due to prolonged drought events. Photo: AFP

Forests play a key role in the water cycle. They filter and bind nutrients, a necessary condition for good water quality. The fewer nutrients there are in the water contained in reservoirs, the easier it is to treat for drinking.

But intense droughts and forest fires, exacerbated by climate change, lead to the death of trees, making them vulnerable to parasites and diseases.