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The area of Zarati river sub basin belongs to important water recharge zones. There is, however, a need to restore the area, which has been susceptible to degradation. Action has been taken in a bottom-up manner, applying Participatory Rural Assessment. Important lessons can be drawn from this in terms of IWRM, as it sets a clear example of active participation of the communities and the local authorities. 

Kafue Flats are the vast open floodplain of the Kafue River, important for fishing, cattle grazing, sugar cane farming, and production of hydroelectric power. Increased human pressure is, however, threatening the ecosystem. Action was taken by WWF to create partnerships between different stakeholders. Furthermore, an IWRM plan has been initiated. This case illustrates how integrated planning can bring together stakeholders with diverse interests.  

In Costa Rica, action was taken to introduce water pricing to pay for services provided by forests in watershed areas. As a result, Costa Rica’s watershed owners are beginning to be rewarded for providing water, whether for drinking or for generating electricity. The main lesson is that initiatives that ensure local groups are included in the benefits of conservation are needed to involve them in helping to protect the water catchment areas.

Rural and peri-urban areas are often neglected when making infrastructure investments. However, these areas could gain from treatment of domestic wastewater through the construction of wetlands. In Bulgaria, the problem of wastewater treatment was addressed through the construction of a wetland for treating wastewater from domestic sources. The lesson learnt is the importance of community initiatives.  

Due to increased agricultural irrigation and large scale dam projects, and inappropriate land and water management practices, the water inflow to the Komadugu Yobe Basin has dramatically been reduced. Action has been taken to establish a legal and policy enabling environment, as well as to increase knowledge among the local communities to establish more sustainable behaviour. The main lesson learnt was that although a multi-stakeholder participatory approach is slow, it helped to mobilise partnership.

Water is not just part of the economy; it is embedded within the economy. Without water, the economy could not function. Thus water has the potential to lead the process of ‘greening’ the world’s economies. This is a Perspectives Paper, meant to incite a discussion on important issues related to water and development.

This report considers the current challenges of preserving ecosystems in two regions, the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), within the framework of the specific program of the Global Water Partnership. This report analyse current conditions of inland waters’ ecosystems and develops proposals on their preservation and protection against the increasing devastation processes.

This paper analyses the relations between human society, water resources and ecosystems. It aims to clarify why and how vital ecosystems have to be protected and to indicate how this effort can be better incorporated into IWRM practices. This is a Technical Background Paper, written by the GWP Technical Committee, a group of internationally recognised professionals in integrated water resources management.

This paper is a personal contribution from Ivan Cheret in support of IWRM as a means towards coordinating the development and management of water, land, and related resources to provide water security for all. It belongs to the series of Technical Technical Background Papers, written or endorsed by the GWP Technical Committee, a group of internationally recognised professionals in integrated water resources management.