I’ve been playing around with the precipitation option on this world climate map:
https://openclimatemap.org/?variable=PRECIPITATION&resolution=5m&difference=true&month=4&yearRange=1970-2000&lat=43.209680&lon=-72.990417&zoom=10
I notice something. Areas that are mostly farmland around here have between a little less than 3, and 3.5in of precipitation monthly. Whereas in areas that are more deeply forested, precipitation goes up from 3.7 at the forest edge, to over 4in deep into the wilderness.
This is an area that would naturally be 98% forest if it were allowed to regrow.
They said it right, trees make water, not the other way around!