Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 31 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts Strategic environmental assessment International environmental conventions Environmental flows Cumulative impacts Cultural assessments Health assessments Greenhouse gas emissions Mitigation measures Hydropower industry's approach What do ADB policies say? VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

Using environmental flows to meet ecosystem needs

Environmental flows are rapidly becoming an accepted feature of water resources planning where modification to a river's hydrological regime is envisaged. The challenge of implementation is highlighted by the Director General of IUCN -The World Conservation Union:

'Environmental flows' is an easy concept. It means enough water is left in our rivers, which is managed to ensure downstream environmental, social and economic benefits. Yet, pioneering efforts in South Africa, Australia, and the United States have shown that the process to establish them, especially when part of an integrated, management approach, poses great challenges.

Environmental flows requires the integration of a range of disciplines, including engineering, law, ecology, hydrology, political science and communication. It also requires negotiations between stakeholders to bridge the different interests that compete for the use of water, especially in those basins where competition is already fierce'.

(in preface to 'Flow: The essentials of environmental flows', IUCN, 2003)

For further information see:

• IUCN - Flow: The essentials of environmental flows'
• World Bank Working Papers
• WCD recommendations on environmental flows
• South African legislation - the ecological reserve
• Case studies

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