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Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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Page 1: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Page 2: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Ecosystems management is part of IWRM• Basic understanding of ecosystem approach is still

to be promoted– at all political levels – in all sectors

• Emphasize the related benefits of protection, sustainable use and restoration of ecosystems– water management (quality, quantity, sediments)– natural disasters prevention, protection and

reduction

Page 3: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Complex problem need to develop a wide range of technologies – Need to monitor– Need to develop assessment methods– Need to share experience across sectors

• Need for multidisciplinary coordination and cooperation

• Any action should be taken at basin level– Not forgetting groundwater– Not forgetting transboundary aspects– Impact on marine environment

Page 4: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimension in general

• New developments in legal regimes

(holistic approach to water management,

sustainable management of environment, ecosystem as legitimate water user, synergies between international water and environmental legal regimes, compliance mechanisms, ….)

Page 5: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimension in the national context (1)

• Need for appropriate legislation and support remains

• Need for a reduction of fragmentation between governmental institutions in ecosystems protection and sustainable use

• Updating of water laws (many EECCA countries) provides opportunity to include ecosystems

Page 6: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimensionin the national context (2)

• Issues to be regulated include:

Competence of ministries (also finance/capital investment)

Coordination between sectors/activities

Public information and participation

Role of water user associations

Provision of water rights

Page 7: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimensionin the national context (3)

• Issues to be regulated also include:

Coordinate funding for water management between the different competent authorities

Involve the private sector (hydropower, farmers and foresters), into financing

measures

Page 8: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimensionin the transboundary/international context (1)

• Opportunity to harmonize practice on ecosystems when updating/preparing bilateral and multilateral agreements

• Use MEAs (Ramsar, climate, biodiversity, ECE environmental conventions) and activities thereunder as tools for coherent water management; counteract/avoid further fragmentation

Page 9: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal and administrative dimensionin the transboundary/international context (2)

• Participate in activities of joint bodies (Danube, Black Sea, etc)

• GEF, World Bank, bilateral funding agreements, should be further used for the restoration of water-related ecosystems as well as to find options for their conservation and sustainable use

Page 10: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Importance of knowledge-based decision (I)– Valuation of ecosystems services (goods, water,

culture, landscape…)– Cost-benefit analysis conservation/development – SEA and EIA– Need for further research on ecosystems needs,

functions and services delivered – Ecosystems for climate change mitigation and

impact of climate change on functions of ecosystems

Page 11: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Importance of knowledge-based decision (II)

– Use of modern techniques and decision-making tools (GIS, remote sensing, inventories) as well as traditional knowledge

– Tailor-made information

– Free of charge information exchange (upstream-downstream, at national and transboundary levels, among all involved sectors)

Page 12: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Implementation tools

• Training and capacity building at all levels• Public participation, especially at local level

where action takes place (gender)• Use of economic tools such as payments for

ecosystems services • Upstream/downstream solidarity• Private sector involvement (economic

aspects and sharing of good practices)

Page 13: Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

– Poverty reduction: show benefits for local population (economic and social development, reduction of environmental refugees)

– Strike a balance between conservation and development

– Practical implementation

Challenges