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The Essentials of Environmental Flows Environmental of Essentials The Flow The essentials of environmental flows Flow – the Essentials of Environmental Flows This guide offers practical advice for the implementation of environmental flows in the river basins of the world. It explains how to assess flow requirements, change the legal and financial framework, and involve stakeholders in negotiations. ‘Flow’ sets out a path from conflict over limited water resources and environmental degradation to a water management system that reduces poverty, ensures healthy rivers and shares water equitably. About IUCN IUCN-The World Conservation Union brings together States, government agencies, and a diver- se range of non-governmental organizations in a unique partnership. As a Union of members, IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. http: //www.iucn.org About the IUCN Water & Nature Initiative The IUCN Water and Nature Initiative is a 5-year action programme to demonstrate that ecosy- stem-based management and stakeholder participation will help to solve the water dilemma of IUCN today - bringing rivers back to life and maintaining the resource base for many. http: //www.waterandnature.org Edited by Megan Dyson, Ger Bergkamp and John Scanlon The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. This publication has been made possible in part by funding from the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of the Netherlands, and the Water & Nature Initiative. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Copyright: © 2003 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Dyson, M., Bergkamp, G., Scanlon, J. (eds). Flow. The Essentials of Environmental Flows. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xiv + 118 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0725-0 Design by: Melanie Kandelaars Editing by: Chris Spence, Elroy Bos Printed by: Atar Roto Presse SA, Vernier (Suisse) Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iucn.org IUCN Water & Nature Initiative Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland Switzerland Email: [email protected] http://www.waterandnature.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available The text of this book is printed on chlorine free paper ii Contents Key Messages . v Preface. xi Editors & Authors. xii Acknowledgements . xiii Chapter 1. Getting Started . 1 1.1 Introduction . 1 1.2 The Definition . 2 1.3 The Benefits . 3 1.4 The Reality . 5 1.5 The Trade-offs . 6 Chapter 2. Defining Water Requirements. 11 2.1 Introduction . 11 2.2 Defining objectives or negotiating scenarios . 12 2.3 Methods for defining flow requirements . 14 2.4 Holistic approaches and using experts . 20 2.5 Frameworks for flow assessment . 21 2.6 Choosing the right method . 25 2.7 Applying the methods and monitoring impacts . 28 Chapter 3. Modifying Water Infrastructure . 31 3.1 Infrastructure impacts and options. 31 3.2 Enhancing environmental flows with new water infrastructure . 35 3.3 Implementing environmental flows using existing water infrastructure. 39 3.4 Decommissioning infrastructure to restore environmental flows . 43 iii Chapter 4. Covering the Cost. 49 4.1 Assessing financing needs . 49 4.2 Effects on stakeholder groups . 52 4.3 Sources of finance . 53 4.4 The economic rationale . 61 4.5 Finding the right incentives . 67 4.6 Voluntary approaches. 69 4.7 Key questions . 70 Chapter 5. Creating a Policy and Legal Framework . 73 5.1 Defining the context . 73 5.2 International law and other instruments . 73 5.3 National policies and legislation . 79 5.4 Practical steps and challenges . 82 Chapter 6. Generating Political Momentum. 87 6.1 Be prepared! . 87 6.2 Convincing the community . 89 6.3 Communicating the right message . 93 6.4 Involving the interest groups . 95 6.5 Gathering support . ..
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