Impacts of land use and land cover change on surface runoff, discharge and low flows: Evidence from East Africa

•Field studies show that forest cover loss is accompanied by increases in surface runoff and stream discharge.•Trend analyses reveal that despite forest cover loss most of the watersheds show non-significant changes in discharge, peak flows and low flows.•Modeling studies show that forest cover loss increases annual discharges, surface runoff and peak flows increase while low flows decrease.•There are weak correlations between forest cover and runoff, mean discharge and peak discharge.•The variability in our results support the need for further long-term field monitoring to better understand catchment responses. East Africa. A review of catchment studies (n=37) conducted in East Africa evaluating the impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Changes (LULCC) on discharge, surface runoff, and low flows. Forest cover loss is accompanied by increased stream discharges and surface runoff. No significant difference in stream discharge is observed between bamboo and pine plantation catchments, and between cultivated and tea plantation catchments. Trend analyses show that despite forest cover loss, 63% of the watersheds show non-significant changes in annual discharges while 31% show increasing trends. Half of the watersheds show non-significant trends in wet season flows and low flows while 35% reveal decreasing trends in low flows. Modeling studies estimate that forest cover loss increases annual discharges and surface runoff by 16±5.5% and 45±14%, respectively. Peak flows increased by a mean of 10±2.8% while low flows decreased by a mean of 7±5.3%. Increased forest cover decreases annual discharges and surface runoff by 13±1.9% and 25±5%, respectively. Weak correlations between forest cover and runoff (r=0.42, p