Ecohydrology—the use of ecological and hydrological processes for sustainable management of water resources / Ecohydrologie—la prise en compte de processus écologiques et hydrologiques pour la gestion durable des ressources en eau
Open Access
- 1 October 2002
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Hydrological Sciences Journal
- Vol. 47 (5), 823-832
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02626660209492986
Abstract
The increasing human population and degradation of biological integrity of ecosystems has been expressed, to a great extent, as a decline in water resources, the most critical factor to achieve sustainable development. This is because overexploitation and degradation of the biotic structure alters ecosystem processes to the point at which the ecosystem ability to provide desired resources is seriously diminished. The progress in ecology during recent years has created a background for integration of ecology and hydrology. UNESCO, under the International Hydrological Programme IHP-V, has initiated and provided a framework for such an interdisciplinary effort. During the programme, the conceptual background and principles of the surficial processes of ecohydrology were defined: first, by integration and quantification of biological and hydrological processes at the basin scale; second, by the enhancement of basin ecosystem absorbing capacity against human impact; and third, by using ecosystem properties as a management tool. Those principles are targeted, not only to eliminate threats, but also to amplify the opportunities for sustainable development as far as the control and regulation of nutrients and water cycling at the basin scale become possible. According to Popper's philosophy, the predictive planning of the future cannot be generated by extrapolating from recently used solutions. The integration of environmental sciences should create not only new scientific disciplines, but also a new solution which can face new challenges-sustainable management of the biogeosphere.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Rapid Changes in Flowering Time in British PlantsScience, 2002
- Sustainable Watershed Management: An International Multi-Watershed Case StudyAMBIO, 2002
- Ecohydrology: A hydrologic perspective of climate‐soil‐vegetation dynamiesWater Resources Research, 2000
- Flood protection—sustainability IssuesHydrological Sciences Journal, 1999
- The serial discontinuity concept: Extending the model to floodplain riversRegulated Rivers: Research & Management, 1995
- Hydraulic Stream Ecology: Observed Patterns and Potential ApplicationsJournal of the North American Benthological Society, 1988
- Factors controlling primary production in a hypertrophic lake (Hartbeespoort Dam, South Africa)Journal of Plankton Research, 1984
- The Annual Pattern and Spatial Distribution of Aquatic Oxygen Metabolism in Boreal Forest WatershedsEcological Monographs, 1983
- The River Continuum ConceptCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 1980
- Diversity in Tropical Rain Forests and Coral ReefsScience, 1978