Ecohydrology for sustainability; 2011

Ecohydrology for sustainability

International Hydrological Programme Division of Water Sciences

UNESCO’s IHP Ecohydrology Programme is focused on an integrated understanding

of biological and hydrological processes at a catchment scale in order to create a

scientific basis for a socially acceptable, cost-effective and systemic approach to the

sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The Ecohydrology Programme

REGULATION

BIOTA

HYDROLOGY

DUAL REGULATIONRegulation of biota by altering

hydrology and regulation ofhydrology by shaping biota

HARMONIZATIONof ecohydrological measures

with necessary hydrotechnicalinfrastructure

INTEGRATIONof various regulations acting in asynergistic way to stabilize and

improve the quality of waterresources

THE AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

ARE TO:

� advance the integration of social,ecological and hydrologicalresearch; and

� generate outcomes that enablethe development of effectivepolicies and practices.

THE CONCEPT OF THE

PROGRAMME IS TO:

Enhance the designation of waterboth as an abiotic resource and as aservice, delivered by ecosystemprocesses; identify, quantify andimprove the critical linkages forenvironmental sustainability.

� Ecological and hydrologicalunderstanding can be used toenhance the overall integrity ofecosystems by a process of dualregulation.

� Dual regulation is a two wayprocess whereby establishednutriment cycling, fluvial andenergy flow, modify biota andbiota simultaneously regulateflows.

� Integration of socioeconomicand cultural considerations intothe process will enhance thedynamic relationships betweenhydrological, social andecological systems.

ECOHYDROLOGY PRINCIPLES

The ecohydrology theory is basedupon the assumption thatsustainable water resourcesmanagement can be achieved by:

� Reversing degradation andregulating the evolutionarily-established processes of waterand nutrient circulation andenergy flows at a catchmentscale;

� Enhancing the carrying capacityof ecosystems against humanimpact (resilience, robustness,biodiversity, ecosystem services)for societies;

� Using the water biota interplay aswater management tools.

Key principles of ecohydrology

© Zalewski ERCE, Poland

2

The mission

The Ecohydrology Programme (EHP) has been

formulated as a key theme of the Seventh Phase

(2008-2013) of the International Hydrological

Programme's (IHP) action oriented and policy relevant

knowledge generation, sharing and technical capacity

building. This theme is contributing to a better

understanding of water as both an abiotic resource

and as a service delivered by ecosystems. The EHP

aims to exemplify trans-disciplinary, cost-effective

solutions to water related issues in a variety of

ecosystems and climatic zones.

Epol Falls, Davao City, Philippines.© Ruth Gamboa

Pasture irrigation in higher rainfall areas © Dick Pasfield

3

How we work

DEMONSTRATION

The Programme has developedcriteria to recognize sites wheresustainable, innovative andtransdisciplinary watermanagement practices based onecohydrology principles areimplemented. At the same time, thenew Demonstration Projects callwas launched in 2010 to identifyopportunities to demonstrate theapplication of the ecohydrologyapproach to solve issuessurrounding water, environmentand people. These sites are beingfeatured in scientific research andtraining activities under theprogramme.

GENDER AND SOCIAL CULTURAL

BIODIVERSITY

The Programme is aiming to bridgethe gap between the hydrology,social and ecological/environmentalsciences by exploring communitycultural values and in so doingreframe the policy discourse inlanguage that is more appropriateto the purpose of engaging the‘grass-roots’ community in the eco-social action planning processes asa basis for social change.

INTEGRATION AND UPSCALING

We are investigating the keyintersections between socio-economic sciences and the

hydrological/ecological cycles. Indeveloping ecohydrology from itscore beliefs and principles, usingthe systems approach, there hasbeen a conscious effort to assimilatenew paradigms and critical thinkinginto it. The strategy for enhancingecohydrology science includes:

� Understanding the past efforts� Integrating various disciplines� Harmonising societies priorities

by increasing the carryingcapacity of an ecosystem

� The formulation of a vision forsustainable water ecosystem.

MODELLING AND VISUALIZATION

The Programme is working on toolsto inform and support watermanagers and planners in makingintegrated water resourcemanagement decisions using theecohydrology approach. This effortis aiming to cross boundariesbetween disciplines such as watersystems, economics and socialscience to promote integration todevelop software tools for solvingreal problems.

© Luis Chicharo

Demonstration projects

Pressures

Impacts

Degradation

Development of EH solutions

In situ implementation

Ecohydrology

demonstration

site

Dissemination

STAKEH

OLD

ERS

ECO

HYD

ROLO

GY

K

K

K

K

K

K

K

Ecohydrology demosites ‘role’

4

EDUCATION AND CAPACITY

BUILDING

The Education and Capacity Buildingin Ecohydrology includes develop -ment of a modular curriculum ofacademic courses and practitionertrainings to enhance ecohydrologyknowledge and implementation onthe ground. The Erasmus MundusMaster of Science in Ecohydrology is agood example of their approach.More information about this activityis at www.ecohyd.org

Education and

capacity building

Social sciences

Coastal zones

Monitoring and impact

of global change

Social systems

Ecological systems

Hydrologicalsystems

RESEARCH

EDUCATION

IMPLEMENTATION

Community information day for the East Kimberley Reference © Dick Pasfield

5

http://www.ecohyd.org

The main purpose of a network of Demonstration Projects is to showcase how

to identify, quantify and improve the critical interrelationships between water,

biota and social systems for sustainable water management, following the

principles of the concept of UNESCO’s IHP Ecohydrology Programme.

Demonstration Projects Network

The Ecohydrology concept should

operate in Demonstration Projects

at four levels:

1 Information (monitoring,collecting of empirical data,defining interactions andhydrology-biota-societyfeedbacks),

2 Knowledge (defining patterns,describing and explainingprocesses),

3 Wisdom (ability to formulatepolicy, principles for action,problem solving by systemsolutions, stakeholdersinvolvement, education,implementation),

4 Cooperation for solving problems(willingness of differentstakeholders to effectivelycontribute actively to theimplementation of theEcohydrology approach in thedemonstration site – this willensure cooperation among allsectors and the achievement ofthe demonstration site goals).

Legend:

UNESCO HQ

UNESCO-IHE Institute

WWAP

Water related Institutes and Centres

UNESCO’s Regional and Cluster Offices

Water-related Chairs

© UNESCO IHP Library

6

There are three key objectives of

this network:

1 Synthesize knowledge gaps foraddressing ecohydrologicalissues related to waterecosystems under pressure.

2 Showcase how better knowledgeof the biological and hydrologicalinterrelationships in aquaticecosystems can promote thelong term sustainable carryingcapacity of ecosystems and thuscontribute to more cost-effectiveand environmental-friendlywater management.

3 Demonstrate systems solutionsand technology transferopportunities through North-South and South-South linkagesby working closely with theUNESCO IHP Water Family (shown below).

UNESCO-IHP Water family

7

Global reference projects

Show best practice in EH principles (dual regulation, integration) and serve as a

model for other projects.

Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: C

lass

ifica

tio

n a

nd

de

fin

itio

n

8

Ecohydrology based urban water

management and city planning

for human health and sustainable

development. City of Lodz, POLAND

Quality of life and health in citiesbecomes more and more criticalnowadays, due to increasing humanand urban populations, aging waterinfrastructure, decreasing resourcesand their quality and super-imposing global changes.According to the ecohydrologytheory, cities are considered asecological systems, wherefundamental processes such as

water circulation, matter and energyflow are extremely intense.Regulating interrelations amongthem following the ecohydrologyprinciples, can reduce environ mentaldegradation, provide affordablecost-efficient solutions to waterissues, enhance the capacity ofecosystems against human impactand assure ecosystem services.

Such an approach has been testedin Lodz, Poland. Transdisciplinaryresearch provided a basis fordeveloping and implementingecohydrological system solutions

for water resources management.These included a number ofintervention related to rehab -ilitation of an urban river (figurebelow) and closing nutrient cyclesby re-using of sewage sludge as afertiliser for production of greenenergy for the City. Creation of theLodz Learning Alliance (multi -stakeholders platform) empoweredimplementation and upscaling ofinnovative solutions to the city scale(“blue-green network”).

Key contact: Dr Iwona Wagner

Email: [email protected]

DemonstrationProject onEcohydrology –interventions in theSokołowka rivervalley. Thedevelopment andimplementation wassupported by the EUSWITCH Project(GOCE018530) andthe City of LodzOffice. Part of theinterventions is abottom-up privateinitiative resultingfrom thedissemination ofknowledge andknow-how throughthe Lodz LearningAlliance.Wagner, I., Zalewski, M. 2011. System solutions inurban water management:The Lodz (Poland)perspective. [In] Howe, C., & Mitchell C. (eds.). WaterSensitive Cities. IWAPublishing, London. 231-245

mailto:[email protected]

Development and implementation

of the Ecohydrology concept for

reduction cyanobacterial blooms

in a man-made reservoir. Pilica

River Catchment, POLAND

The demonstration project on thePilica address four spatial levels: theriver, its catchment, the floodplains,and a lowland reservoir. The mainactivities will focus on: Continuationof the research and implementationof hydrobiomanipulation;Continuation of the research ofenhancing the absorbance capacityof floodplain nutrients andpollutants; Identification of hot-spotsfor eutrophication in the Pilicacatchment; Enhancing the potentialfor nutrient assimilation, throughbiodiversity and productivity in smallrivers and streams, by creating anintermediate complexity ofland/water ecotones; Cooperationwith ILTER and LTER Europe;

Establishment of Multi-StakeholderPlatform; Education at national andinternational level based on theeducational sites for ecohydrologicaltechnologies existing already in theField Station of the UL; and,dissemination of the result andinformation about the project.

Key contact: Prof. Maciej Zalewski


Sustainable estuarine zone

management for control of

eutrophication, toxic blooms,

invasive species and conservation

of biodiversity. Guadiana estuary,

PORTUGAL

The Guadiana estuary and adjacentcoastal area in southeast of Portugalestablishes the border betweenPortugal and Spain and is includedin the Guadiana HELP basin. TheGuadiana estuary is affected by a

Regulationof environmentalprocesses towardharmonization ofecosystem potentialand social needs -ECOHYDROLOGY

Restorationof ecology

Protection of nature

Exploitation of nature

Conquest of nature

Believe in unlimited nature potenital

System approach based on transdisciplinary sciencetoward enhancement of ecosystem carrying capacity (water, biodiversity, resilience, ecosystem services for society)by:• using ecosystem processess as management tools &• dual regulation

Understanding ofecological successionIncreasing number ofevidences of the declineof cultural and aestheticvalues of nature

Increasingconsciousness of thedecline of ecosystemservices

Recognition ofstructure of nature(Linnaeus)Consciousness ofdecline of biodiversity

Industrial Era

Evolution of relations between

man and environment

© M. Zalewski

large dam – the Alqueva dam – thatmodified the hydrological regimeand ecological functioning of theestuary and adjacent coastal area.Associated with the dam there isalso an increase in the irrigationarea at the basin, withconsequences to nutrients andpesticides loads.

The area is dominated byMediterranean and climate changescenarios predict increasing andlong lasting droughts for this area.The objective of the Guadianademosite is to develop anddemonstrate the approaches basedon the Ecohydrology dualregulation concept that can beimplemented to sustain theecological functioning of theGuadiana estuary and coastal area.

Key contact: Prof. Dr Luis Chícharo


9



Operational Projects

Improving land use policy at Lacar Lake

Watershed based on an Ecohydrological

approach. San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén,

ARGENTINA.

The major point for Lacar Demosite (LDS) is thesustainable management of a representative basinof Andean Patagonian region where the mainproblem is the impact of land transformation onwater quality and environmental services. The aimof the LDS is the reduction of soil erosion, themitigation of floods in urban areas and theimprovement of ecosystem services, based onEcohydrological ideas and principles, and usingphytotechnologies. Advances are presented forLDS showing that regulation of surface hydrology(water runoff; nutrients and sediments loads) atthe watershed scale, through land use, vegetationcover and phytotechnologies, improve the aquaticecological processes and the ecosystems services(water quality, landscape aesthetic values).

Key contact: Prof. Marcelo Gaviňo


Management of regional water resources

linking with managing of wetland

biodiversity in the suburban area of

metropolitan Beijing, CHINA

In this demo project, the suburbs of metropolitanBeijing with a key water eco-system protectionfunction has been selected as the study locationwhich experiences period of drought annually.Researchers will develop a regionally spatial andtemporal distributed eco-hydrology modelintegrated water cycle process model and wetlandvegetation response model that will simulate theregional environmental change of the past 30years under various impacts of climate,agricultural, and ecology.

The objective of the research is to reveal theprocess and mechanism of regional hydrologicalchanges over a 30-year scale in this area. The demotopic is an interdisciplinary showing for hydrologyand ecology, and integration with modernInformation technology. It will enrich and perfectthe eco-hydrology theory. It is of great significance

to establish a regional sustainable developmentpattern for balance of regional development andprotection of aquatic natural resources withscientific water resources management.

Key contact: Prof. Demin Zhou


P4

Practical

Professionals

Politicians Public

Inclusion of people as co-managers © Marcelo Gaviňo

Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: O

pe

rati

on

al p

roje

cts

10

Wild Duck Lake Wetland(WDLW), Beijing China.Continuous droughtand excessivegroundwaterwithdrawal, greatlydegradate theecosystem. © Demin Zhou



Ecohydrological analyses in the lowland river

catchment Kielstau, GERMANY, for

sustainable water resources management and

education in rural landscapes

Ecohydrological river basin models, hydraulicmodels and GIS-based approaches were used toassess the catchment water balance and nutrientloads, to model the stream channel processes andto depict the influence of abiotic changes on thehabitat quality. This catchment is used to focus themonitoring and modelling strategies on sustainablewater resources management according to theecohydrology concepts. Ecohydrological measuresconcern improving water quality, reducing erosion,demonstrating effects of land-use andmanagement practices on water and nutrientbalance at a catchments scale and the optimizationof aquatic habitats. The Kielstau catchment is usedas an education and demonstration site for threeinternational master courses at CAU Kiel.

Key contacts: Prof. Dr Nicola Fohrer

Email: [email protected] Britta Schmalz


Field work in Germany © Fohrer, N. and B. Schmalz, 2010

Species set forHSC3

Hydraulic model results

HSC1HSC2

HSC3

Comparethe modelledspecies setwith thevalidatingdataset

Take n sample from thespecies set

Validation

n is the number of all sampled species present in HSC3 of generating datasets

Modelling example for HSC3

© Fohrer, N. and Kiesel, J., 2011

Watershed management in Northeast CHINA:

hydrological processes, vegetation

optimization and sustainability

This demonstration project will monitor andinvestigate the changes of eco-hydrologicalprocesses, discharge of catchments, vegetationrestoration, soil quality improvement, as well associal and economic benefits throughintegration of soil and water conservationpractices at a typical watershed in NortheastChina. The objectives are to identify how the

anthropogenic activities, especially agriculturalpractices affect water circulation, topsoilremoval, transport and deposition, andstakeholders, and to demonstrate the best soiland water management to achieve sustainablewater use, food security, ecological protection,and optimized functions of ecosystem services atcatchment scale in farming area of NortheastChina.

Key contact: Prof. Xiaobing Liu


11





Flowers destined forEuropean supermarkets– the largest ecosystemservice from Naivasha© David Harper

A floating mat of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), one of the many alien species which hasreduced the services from the Naivasha ecosystem © David Harper

Natural Naivasha afterpapyrus re-growth,Kenya © David Harper

An initiative to move the Naivasha Basin

towards sustainable use: Payment for

Ecosystem Services from the European

supermarket buyers of flowers from Lake

Naivasha, KENYA.

Lake Naivasha’s waters (together with thoseflowing in and out by rivers and groundwater)are not “fit-for-purpose”. The entire basin has toomany users, taking too much water, with theresult that the lake is shrinking. It is shallower,warmer, full of sediment and low in oxygen. Theindustry that is the most visible, horticulture onthe lake shores, receives the most blame for thelake’s state. However, that industry is only partlyto blame – a succession of alien introductionsand arrivals have wrecked havoc with theecosystem.

The favoured customers – supermarkets – of thehorticultural industry are highly susceptible tocriticism regarding the sustainability of theirsuppliers. Part, but only part, of this criticism hasbeen addressed by growers seeking “Fair Trade”status with partner supermarkets promoting it.

Now, two European supermarkets, from Germanyand Switzerland, have provided support forwetland ecosystem restoration, communitycapacity building about sustainable water useand the development of intervention methods toachieve ‘water friendly farming’ The next twoyears will see the original ecohydro logicalrestoration proposals developed under the EYHprogramme in 2004 implemented and tested.

Key contact: Dr David M. Harper


12


especially in ecosystems like the Trasimeno lake.This project is strictly linked to the principles andgoals of ecohydrology in fact it foresees to effectthe Tiber basin ecosystem starting from theevaluation and regulation of the instream flows.This project integrates the communicative anddivulgate aspects that can boost the finaloutreach. More over, the support of theUniversity can guarantee a didactic outcome forall stakeholders.

Key contact: Prof. Stefano Casadei


Sustainable water resources management

plans in the Tiber river basin for environment

protection, minimum instream flows

regulation and the Trasimeno Lake ecosystem

preservation. ITALY

The analysis of the Tiber river basin pointed outhow, during the last 20 years, there has beenindiscriminate and irrational use of the waterresources at the basin scale. What in the past wasjust a feeling, was brought up by severedroughts. This situation is also worsened if theissue of water quality is taken into consideration

Integrated Catchment Management of

Putrajaya Lake and Wetland, MALAYSIA

Putrajaya lake and wetland catchment arelocated in Putrajaya Federal Territory within theLangat River Basin area of Malaysia. Themanagement, planning, approval, monitoringand enforcement jurisdiction over all landdevelopment and human activities in thiscatchment area authorized by the PutrajayaCorporation. The Lake is an urban lake, createdright in the middle of Putrajaya, the newlydeveloped Government Administrative

Center of Malaysia, which was planned to bedeveloped into a “City in a Garden” with the 600hectares Putrajaya Lake and Wetland as its focalpoint. It is a largest constructed wetland in thetropics and one of the constructed wetlands andlake of national importance in Malaysia. It is anintegrated lake and wetland catchmentsmanagement system and needs a serious andsystematic management approach and control inorder to sustain the catchment area of Putrajaya.

Key contact: Dr Rahmah Elfithri


Upper Tiber River in July 1996, Italy © Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia

13



Evolving Projects

Ecohydrology in action: Addressing changing

hydrology, ecological condition and community

attitudes to water at the Ord River, WESTERN

AUSTRALIA

Nearly 100 years ago Australia’s leaders envisaged alarge dam in the vast, remote and largely unpopulatedKimberley region. 70 years later the Ord River Damwas built, creating Australia´s largest man-madereservoir. But visions of unlimited water for irrigationhave not eventuated. Instead, new community valuesemerged and development is now more balanced

with other objectives, including environmentalconservation, recognising indigenous culture, eco-tourism and social equity. The relationship betweenwater and the ecosystems it supports is critical, notonly to water managers but to future social andeconomic development in the region. This projectaims to capture lessons about the opportunities andchallenges of applying the principles of Ecohydrologyin a rapidly changing catchment.

Key contact: Prof. Jeff Camkin


Developing fit-for-purpose tools to address

complex social, ecological and economic

issues in water planning, AUSTRALIA

Critical water reforms in Australia are implementedmainly through catchment-based water plans. Thisproject worked with communities andgovernment to take up the challenges posed bythe planning process in South Australia,Queensland and the Northern Territory withinvastly different hydrological, ecological, social andcultural contexts. Priority challenges that wereaddressed included building communityconfidence in the planning process; providingeffective method ologies for identifying Indigenousvalues in water; and integrating socio-economic,

cultural and ecological considerations in waterallocation decisions. Amongst the tools developedwere participatory groundwater visualisationmodels addressing specific community needs,rated by participants to be ‘best-practice’ forcommunity consultation. Innovative agent-basedmodels that identified environmental, social andeconomic values in wetlands provided visualmethods that were highly regarded. Rigorousevaluation of these tools provides confidence tothose considering their use. Reports, practicalguides and information on tools used elsewherecan be found at www.waterplanning.org.au

Key contact: A/Prof. Poh-Ling Tan


Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: E

volv

ing

pro

jec

ts

Hydro powergenerated at the OrdDam lake Argyle © Dick

Pasfield

14


http://www.waterplanning.org.au


Ecohydrology of Western Sydney AUSTRALIA

– developing solutions for environmental-

friendly water management in peri-urban

landscapes

Western Sydney, with 1.8 million people, isexpected to grow significantly over the next 20years with the addition of another half a millionpeople. This growth is expected to have asignificant impact on the existing limited waterresources, and environment in the region. Policymakers require catchment management

guidelines based on multidisciplinary researchand involvement of communities if this level ofgrowth is to be achieved keeping in viewpredicted climatic changes, without an ecologicaldisaster occurring. In this demonstration site theprinciples of ecohydrology will be evaluated,which will bridge the knowledge gaps betweeneconomic growth and the hydrologic function ofrivers and waterways.

Key contact: A/Prof. Basant Maheshwari


Integration of eco-hydrological processes

demonstration research in Heihe River

Basin, Northwest of CHINA

This project will focus on the typical landscapesin inland basin of China--Heihe river basin, andwill establish scientific observations -test, data-simulation research platform, as well as to revealthe eco-hydrology system interactive ofprocesses and mechanisms in inland river basin,to promote comprehensive analysis and

prediction capability for the evolution of inlandriver basin water - ecological - economic system.Also, it is contemplated to develop a mechanismfrom farmer to local government that providesscientific basis and technical support for theinland river basin water security, ecologicalsecurity and sustainable development.

Key contact: Prof. Honglang Xiao


Peri-Urban interestactivities © Basant

Maheshwari

15



Linkage of wetland ecology and hydrology with the

support of information techniques for assessing the

degraded inland fresh water wetland habitat in

Sanjiang Plain, Northeast CHINA

One key objective of this research is for presenting themarsh wetland degradation occurred within the study area in the past 30 years. Furthermore, the integrated eco-hydrological analysis is done for a betterunderstanding of the moisture characteristics of the

Study of irrigation management practices and impacts of

soil salinization in Manas River Valley, Northwest CHINA

The irrigated area of Manas River Valley in Northwest China isan example of the successful reclamation of massive landaffected by shallow ground water levels and salinization. Todetermine the effect of irrigation management practices onsoil salinization, soil profiles representing various soil typeswere sampled.

Key contact: Prof. Fenghua Zhang


Evolving Projects

wetland plant habitats, from which we can predict thepossible ecological consequence caused by a hydrologicalalteration.

Ultimately a better assessment of wetlands and their wiseruse can be approached for the purpose of the maintenance,health and repair of damaged ecosystems in the future.

Key contact: Prof. Demin Zhou


Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: E

volv

ing

pro

jec

ts

16

The airship-based system for wetland classification and mapping

J The aerial photographysystem © Demin Zhou

L The airship © Demin Zhou



A methodology to estimate compensatory

runoff in COSTA RICA, RANA-ICE study

The RANA-ICE methodology is a combination of“look up”, discussion-based approaches andbiological response modeling and can becharacterized as a hybrid methodology combiningthe “best” of existing methods, The methodologyintegrates hydrological, biological, and socio-economic information, related to river sectionswhere the impact of hydropower developments is

envisaged. Natural hydrological patterns are studiedfirst and different water use demands are identified,including those of the ecosystem, to determine aminimum acceptable flow satisfying these demands.These demands are used as constraints and areevaluated against different flow regulation scenariosto recommend the environmental flow pattern thatprovides a sustainable use of water resources.

Key contact: Anny Chaves


Central American Integration under the

Trifinio Plan: Study of integrated management

of natural capital in El Salvador, GUATEMALA

and HONDURAS

The problems facing the region are: loss of forestand productivity, high rate erosion andsedimentation, flooding, landslides, reducedcarrying capacity of the aquifers that feed thetrinational basin, land use change, landscapefragmentation, water pollution problems. In this

sense it is of crucial importance to identify morepotential resources such as: the flora, fauna andwater for sustainable management and promotecommunity organization with a clear socialorientation. The integrated management of theregion is a responsibility shared by the threecountries, becoming an example in CentralAmerican integration process.

Key contact: Dr Anabella Handal Silva


Field trip work by experts © Any Chaves

17



Development of advanced ecohydrology tools

for the sustainable management of coastal

wetlands: The case of Nestos River lagoons.

GREECE

The project attempts to develop anecohydrology tool, aiming to aid any coastallagoon manager to improve the environmentalconditions of the lagoon system. Improvementof flushing characteristics inside the lagoon isachieved by the appropriate design of the

lagoon’s tidal inlet, controlling the exchangeprocesses of the system with the open sea. Thisecohydrology tool will be applied in the NestosRiver coastal lagoons, to assess the changesneeded to improve water, salt and nutrient fluxeswith the open sea, leading ultimately inenvironmental and fishery exploitationimprovement.

Key contact: Dr Georgios Sylaios


Evolving Projects

Mangrove rehabilitation in the estuarine mudflats near the mouth of the Davao river, Philippines. Localcommunities have reported that the rehabilitated mangroves have dual benefits; they have helped to filterplastic wastes, thereby reduce pressures on corals reefs, and the mangroves have improved the habitat forlocal fish stocks. © Declan Hearne

Improved ecosystem management to control

euthrophication at the Saguling reservoir and

relevant hydro-meteorological disasters by

wetland construction and river flow

regulation. West Java Province. INDONESIA

Interrelated activities are proposed with a basisof ecohydrological approach. Basically it is theidentification and reinvention of nature’scapacity for self purification and rehabilitation. A wetland construction and river waterregulation will be set up at the demo site. The

demo site promotes improved natural capacityof the ecosystem in delivering its ecosystemservices, controlling eutrophication, regulatinghydrology and reducing sensitivity of thehydrological system from seasonal and extremeclimate variability. Social assessment will beconducted for improved people participation inthe planning and implementation of the project,and improved governance system.

Key contact: Dr. Heru Santoso


Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: E

volv

ing

pro

jec

ts

18



Adaptive water management in response to

hydro-climatic change effects on ecosystem

services and biodiversity of the Swedish

Norrström drainage basin. SWEDEN

The overall aim of the research is (i) to study theecological and evolutionary responses ofwaterrelated ecosystem services and biodiversityto hydro-climatic and land use changes, and (ii) toassess the capacity within societal organizationsat both the national and international level to deal

with such ecological and evolutionary responses.The particular strength of the proposal is its cross-disciplinary structure, connected to amultidisciplinary strength of research atcombined landscape and drainage-basin levels.Research will focus on spatial processes and howto connect social and ecological processesbetween different spatial and temporal scales.

Key contact: Prof. Georgia Destouni


Swedish Norrstrom Drainage Basin: Panorama photo of Riddarfjärden © Lars Aronsson

Integrating watershed management activities

with the protection of coastal coral reef

ecosystems in MICRONESIA

The high islands of Palau and the FederatedStates of Micronesia have been experiencing thedegradation of coastal coral reefs of ecological,economic and cultural value largely due to land-based activities within adjacent watersheds.Initial efforts have demonstrated that science caninform communities on the effects of poor landuse practices on their coastal resources, and thatlocal stewardship efforts in mangrove andwetland protection, as well as improved methodsfor reducing erosion and sedimentation, canreverse the trend from degradation to recovery.The proposed project will support efforts toimprove prevention and mitigation activities, andmonitor their efficacy, while building localcapacity to address coastal resource stewardshipin a culturally appropriate manner.

Key contact: Prof. Robert H. Richmond


Understanding ecohydrological connectivity

in multiple catchments to conserve

groundwater, protect surface water and

contain risks in a globalizing city. PHILIPPINES

At present, whatever lean set of ecohydrologicalinformation the city has, those information hasbeen used extensively to support some keyenvironment-related policies. Two examples arethe ban on aerial spraying and the no-touch‘policy’ in Tamugan River. But validation of someof the findings and more information remains tobe accomplished. Thus, this project aims toconduct a comprehensive assessment of theinteractions of the hydro-ecosystems across theeight river basins.

Key contact: Dr Ruth Gamboa


19




Assessing performance of ETP (Effluent

Treatment Plant) using Duck weeds and

activated sludge management system and

sustainably managing limnology to develop

hydro ecological regime. BANGLADESH

The ETP project will be constructed usingactivated sludge management system andduckweed based system at Hajir Bazar of ValukaUpazilla, district of Mymensingh adjacent to FMYearn dying Company Ltd to use the treated waterfor irrigation purposes and make the rivers and

water bodies in the area. The organic fertilizerfrom eco-friendly sludge management processwill be used for duck weed production and itsapplication to agricultural fields for increased cropyields. The planned Environmental managementCommittee under the project (deals with hydro-ecological conservation) will do the regularmonitoring and observation of the demonstrationand hydroecological flora and fauna.

Key contact: Engr. Mohammad Hasanuzzaman


Emerging Projects

Redgums © Ian Overton

Restoration of Victoria Pond: Restoring

wetland habitat in historic George Town,

Great Exuma for sustainable management to

control eutrophication and enhance near

shore fish habitat. BAHAMAS

Victoria Pond is the centre of historic GeorgeTown; providing natural beauty, and waterfrontaccess. The Pond has suffered from the lack ofcoordinated management and poor coastaldevelopment practices, and is now polluted and

overgrown with invasive plants. The Pond isclogged with trash and presents a public healththreat with rats, mosquitoes, and leaching of rawsewage. Local residents wish to participate inenvironmental stewardship. Public-privatepartnerships can restore the island landscape toenhance tourism, fisheries and quality of life inthe settlement.

Key contact: John A. Bowleg


Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: E

me

rgin

g p

roje

cts

20



Stakeholders’ opinion in Ethiopia © Getachew Tikubet

The BioFarm Strategy

Model farmer selected by community

Model farmer trains10 more

Farmers

BackStoppingand

Supervision

Demonstration Model

The BioFarm Strategy

Result training & adoption of bio-farming by 100,000 farmers © Getachew Tikubet

Integrated Water Resources Management as

tool to control impact of small-scale

diamond mining operations in selected

communities in the Eastern Region of GHANA

The proposal aims at getting all stakeholders, viz.the Government through technical and financialsupport for small-scale diamond miners; theDistrict Assembly through the monitoring andevaluation of diamond mining activities; and,sourcing of funds to rehabilitate the environment

Capacity Building in Ecohydrology and

promotion of eco-farming practices at YEHA

Institute Farmers’ Academy, ETHIOPIA

Through capacity building in Ecohydrology andthe promotion of eco-farming practices, it willimprove living conditions for the ruralpopulation and to care for the environment.� Demonstration sites on eco-farming which

utilise biotechnologies for cleaningwater resources.

� Objective is to provide training for sustainablelivelihoods and care for local environment.Provide practical training for needs of smallscale farmers.

� Training farmers, ‘learning by doing’. Catalystapproach by bringing forward model farmersas role models.

� Supported by Biovision, Switzerland.

Key contact: Dr Getachew Tikubet


through organized activities with the help ofidentifiable groups (such as societal and churchgroups) in the communities.

Key contact: Dr. Joseph Addo Ampofo


21



Caring for Cikapundung River by Reforestation,

fetiver plantation, biopores, relocation of

squatter, settlements along the River banks,

long storage, communal septic tank and eco-

technology to treatment grey water and effluent

of communal septic tank for sustainable water

supply for Bandung City. INDONESIA.

The management of the basin in the upstreamwill be important through reforestation whichwill insure the availlability of water, nurturingwater springs for agricultural lands, coolingdown the heat in climate change situation byabsorbing carbon discharge, and providingalternative livelihood to displace farmers byengaging in apiary, orchid nursery or livestockbreeding.

Key contact: Ratna Hidayat, Researcher


Study of avian community during wetland

restoration of Zhalong Nature Reserve in

CHINA

Zhalong wetland has still in the status of lack ofwater, and environment disturbance still exist,irrigation plays only a certain degree of positiverole, wetland restoration is a long term work.

Key contact: Dr Zou Hongfei


Rehabilitation of Balagunan Watershed to

restore biodiversity and flood control in

Carmen, Davao del Norte. PHILIPPINES

In this demo project, the reforestation is badlyneeded to restore back the forest vegetation inthe upland areas and communities of Sto. Tomas,Davao del Norte. The denudation of the forestarea in Balagunan, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Nortecontributed a lot of problems especially periodicfloodings in the lower areas particularly atCarmen, Davao del Norte. This will surely affectnot only human beings but also the biota livingalong streams and coastal/marine areas due tosituation and pollution by destroying estuariesand marine habitats.

Key contact: Rogelio C. Montero

Mobile Phone: 0920-310-9131

Restoration of Fluvial Territory in the lower

reaches of Aragón and Arga rivers (Navarra-

Spain), as a means to increase biodiversity

and reduce flood risk and damages. SPAIN

This project aims to significantly enhance thebiodiversity of the Lower Reaches of Aragon andArga Rivers, area of greater population density ofEuropean mink (Mustela lutreola) in WesternEurope, by working on the species’ conservationstatus improvement and restoring the fluvialecosystems that the species depends on. Theimplementation of the Fluvial Territory concept isproposed as a way to preserve the biodiversity,obtain the Good Ecological Status and successfullycombine it with the people’s interests in the area.The recovery and improvement of the potentialhabitat of European mink in the Fluvial Territory,will guarantee the preservation of the species inthe area and promote as source of individuals torecover the neighbouring populations.

Key contact: Josu Elso


Sustainable estuarine zone management for

control of eutrophication, toxic blooms and

conservation of biodiversity in the Kaštela

Bay. CROATIA, Adriatic Sea

This project foresees comprehensive solution inthe next decades that will assure unhindereddevelopment of the tourism and general economy,through realization of main project objectives: theprotection and preservation of water quality; thecreation of conditions for safe development ofeconomy; and the maintenance and improvementof achieved level of environment protection.

Key contact: Prof. Dr Ivona Marasović


Emerging Projects

Diff

ere

nt

pro

jec

ts w

ith

in t

he

ne

two

rk: E

me

rgin

g p

roje

cts

Typha Angustifolia as amedia of Eco-technology© Ratna Hidayat

The Vallacuera floodplain © Josu Elso

22






Argentina, China, Germany, Italy, Kenya and Malaysia

Evolving Projects

Australia, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala and Honduras, Indonesia, Micronesia, Philippines and Sweden

Emerging Projects

Bahamas, Croatia, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Philippines, Spain

Drafted by Shahbaz KHAN, TCHADIE Alain Michel and Carolina LLOVERA with the initial inputs from Violetta PRISTEL / UNESCO-IHP, 2011

Demonstration Projects Network

Geographical location of UNESCO-IHP Ecohydrology ProgrammeDemonstration Projects

Global Reference Projects

Poland and Portugal

Ghana

Argentina

Costa Rica

Bahamas

Guatemala-El Salvador-Honduras

Ethiopia

Kenya

Bangladesh

China

Sweden

Greece

Croatia

PolandGermany

Portugal Spain Italy

Philippines

Indonesia

Australia

Malaysia

Micronesia

23

CONTACT INFORMATION:

INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL PROGRAMME (IHP)

UNESCO/Division of Water Sciences (SC/HYD)1 rue Miollis75732 Paris Cedex 15FranceTel: (+33) 1 45 68 45 69Fax: (+33) 1 45 68 58 11Email: [email protected]/water/ihp/

Global Ecohydrology Network

www.facebook.com/UNESCOEcohydrologyForum IHP/Ecohydrology/2011/1


http://www.unesco.org/water/ihp

http://www.facebook.com/UNESCOEcohydrologyForum

Documents

Ecohydrology for sustainability; 2011