Ecosystems based water management: From innovation to practice
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Ecosystem-based water management aims to sustain aquatic ecosystems and the humans that depend on them. It involves determining environmental flows by assessing the water quantity, timing, and quality needs of ecosystems. Managers set ecological targets and monitor indicators of ecosystem health. The UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to protect water-related ecosystems by 2020 through monitoring the extent, water quantity and quality of ecosystems. However, directly measuring ecosystem health and biodiversity is still in development. Implementing ecosystem-based management requires addressing gaps in monitoring habitat, sediments, and locally important variables.
Ecosystems based water management: From innovation to practice
- 1. Ecosystems based water management: From innovation to practice Dr. Chris Dickens IWMI c.dickens@cgiar.org ©Eddy Wymenga
- 2. ECOSYSTEM BASED WATER MANAGEMENT • –
- 5. Environmental flows describe the quantity, timing, and quality of freshwater flows and levels necessary to sustain aquatic ecosystems which, in turn, support human cultures, economies, livelihoods, and well- being. Brisbane declaration of environmental flows (2018)© pictures Gordon O’Brien
- 6. River conditions required to maintain Social and Ecological Endpoints PROBFLO a new e-flows framework – O’Brien et al. 2018 © pictures Gordon O’Brien
- 7. If you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get there (George Harrison – Beetles)
- 8. SETTING TARGETS – ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT CLASSES EMC Most likely ecological condition A (natural) Natural rivers with minor modification of in-stream and riparian habitat B (largely natural) Slightly modified and/or ecologically important rivers with largely intact biodiversity and habitats C (moderately modified or “fair” condition) The habitats and dynamics of the biota have been disturbed, but basic ecosystem functions are still intact. D (largely modified) Large changes in natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions have occurred. E (seriously modified) Modifications have reached a critical level and ecosystem has been completely modified with almost total loss of natural habitat and biota. In the worst case, the basic ecosystem functions have been destroyed .
- 9. Target values for biota, water quantity & quality B
- 10. Target values for water quantity and quality
- 11. Target values for water quantity and quality
- 12. 17 SDGs for people-planet-prosperity-peace-partnership 12
- 13. TARGET 6.6 WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEMS “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes” 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
- 14. SDG 6.6.1 PROGRESSIVE MONITORING Level 1 1. spatial extent of water-related ecosystems 2. water quality of lakes and artificial water bodies Level 2 3. quantity of water (discharge) in rivers and estuaries 4. water quality of rivers and lakes imported from SDG Indicator 6.3.2 5. quantity of groundwater within aquifers 6. Ecosystem health recommended but not required Indicator methods are available at www.sdg6monitoring.org
- 15. WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS MONITORED BY THE SDGS Biological Physical Chemical Spatial extent Water quantity Nutrients DO Conductivity pH Chlorophyll in lakes
- 16. WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS MONITORED BY THE SDGS Biological Physical Chemical Spatial extent Water quantity Nutrients DO Conductivity pH Chlorophyll in lakes Missing – Ecosystem health & biodiversity (planned but not yet implemented) Missing – Habitat structure Sediments Optional - Important local variables
- 18. THANK YOU!