Balancing Water for Humans and Nature: The New Approach in EcohydrologyBalancing Water for Humans and Nature, authored by two of the world's leading experts on water management, examines water flows - the 'blood stream' of both nature and society - in terms of the crucial links, balances, conflicts and trade-offs between human and environmental needs. The authors argue that a sustainable future depends fundamentally on our ability to manage these trade-offs and encourage long-term resilience. They advocate an ecohydrological approach to land/water/environmental problems and advance a strong, reasoned argument for viewing precipitation as the gross fresh water resource, ultimately responsible for sustaining all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem services.This book makes the most coherent and holistic argument to date for a new ecological approach to understanding and managing water resources for the benefit of all. Basing their analysis on per capita needs for an acceptable nutritional diet, the authors analyse predictions of the amounts of water needed for global food production by 2050 and identify potential sources. Drawing on small-scale experiences in Africa and Asia, they also cover the vulnerability of the semi-arid tropics through a simplified model of green and blue water scarcity components. |
Contents
Water The Bloodstream of the Biosphere | 3 |
Schematic illustration of links between the cyclic movement of fresh | 5 |
1 | 17 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Balancing Water for Humans and Nature: The New Approach in Ecohydrology Johan Rockstrom Limited preview - 2013 |
Balancing Water for Humans and Nature: The New Approach in Ecohydrology Johan Rockstrom Limited preview - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
agro-ecosystems aquatic ecosystems areas atmosphere average basin biomass blue water flow blue water withdrawals catchment cent challenge Chapter consumptive water diet downstream dry spells ecohydrological ecosystem services environmental estimated evaporative demand example Falkenmark farmers farming systems fertility Figure focus food production forests freshwater resources global grain green and blue Green Revolution green water flow green water productivity groundwater groundwater recharge human water hydroclimate hydrological cycle increase infiltration km³/year land degradation landscape linked m³/person/year meteorological droughts nutrients partitioning of rainfall partitioning point perspective pollution population growth potential evaporation productive green water rainfall partitioning rainfed agriculture rainy season reduce regions resilience result river Rockström semi-arid semi-arid savanna soil moisture sub-Saharan Africa surface runoff sustain t/ha terrestrial ecosystems transpiration tropical upstream vapour shift vegetation virtual water water availability water cycle water for food water harvesting water management water needs water scarcity water stress wetlands yield levels zone