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Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers

This seminar highlights the importance of ecosystem management in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and provides recommendations for promoting the understanding and benefits of ecosystem protection, restoration, and sustainable use. It addresses the complex problem of water management, including quality, quantity, sediments, natural disasters prevention, protection, and reduction. The seminar also emphasizes the legal, administrative, and knowledge-based dimensions in both national and transboundary contexts.

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Seminar on the role of ecosystems as water suppliers

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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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, ….)

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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)

  13. Challenges • Poverty reduction: show benefits for local population (economic and social development, reduction of environmental refugees) • Strike a balance between conservation and development • Practical implementation

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