Environmental Flows - Planning for Environmental Water Allocation - Water Policy Briefing - Issue 15 - October 2005

Water Policy Briefing Series - Issue 15 - October 2005

New research shows that, in many parts of the world, not enough water is being left in rivers to sustain the valuable environmental services that they provide to society. This is jeopardizing species that depend on fresh water—as well as the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, and downstream communities and water users.
Tools have now been developed to help planners establish the water needs of specific environments, even when little data is available. But policymakers need to recognize the urgent need to allocate water to satisfy environmental demands.