Ecology of Threatened Semi-Arid Wetlands

Ecology of Threatened Semi-Arid Wetlands PDF Author: Salvador Sánchez-Carrillo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9048191815
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
Playing a critical role in both influencing climate change and mitigating its impacts, the world’s diverse wetlands have become one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems as unsustainable land-use practices coupled with irrational use of water have already resulted in large-scale wetlands loss and degradation. To develop sound management and conservation schemes to assure wetlands sustainability in the long term requires long-term understanding of wetlands ecology. Yet until now, long-term interdisciplinary research into these systems has been limited to only a few systems from tropical or temperate climates (such as the Florida Everglades, and Czech biosphere reserve). This new book adds to the existing wetlands literature, providing a unique reference in basic and applied Mediterranean wetland ecology, based on results from long-term interdisciplinary research at the RAMSAR and UNESCO Biosphere site, of Las Tablas de Daimiel, Spain. Dating back to the early 1990s the research highlights changes in the biotic and abiotic environment in response to cumulative anthropogenic stressors, and provide guidance on applying this understand to sound management and conservation. With particular relevance to researchers dealing with semi-arid wetlands in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, as well as to resource managers, the book discusses the complexity of the interacting abiotic and biotic environment across different spatial and temporal scales and across various levels of biological hierarchy is highlighted, and reveals how management based on poor knowledge causes more damage than repair. The book will be of interest to researchers interested in freshwater ecology, hydrobotany, hydrology, geology, biogeochemistry, landscape ecology and environmental management.

Ecology of Threatened Semi-Arid Wetlands

Ecology of Threatened Semi-Arid Wetlands PDF Author: Salvador Sánchez-Carrillo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9048191815
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
Playing a critical role in both influencing climate change and mitigating its impacts, the world’s diverse wetlands have become one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems as unsustainable land-use practices coupled with irrational use of water have already resulted in large-scale wetlands loss and degradation. To develop sound management and conservation schemes to assure wetlands sustainability in the long term requires long-term understanding of wetlands ecology. Yet until now, long-term interdisciplinary research into these systems has been limited to only a few systems from tropical or temperate climates (such as the Florida Everglades, and Czech biosphere reserve). This new book adds to the existing wetlands literature, providing a unique reference in basic and applied Mediterranean wetland ecology, based on results from long-term interdisciplinary research at the RAMSAR and UNESCO Biosphere site, of Las Tablas de Daimiel, Spain. Dating back to the early 1990s the research highlights changes in the biotic and abiotic environment in response to cumulative anthropogenic stressors, and provide guidance on applying this understand to sound management and conservation. With particular relevance to researchers dealing with semi-arid wetlands in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, as well as to resource managers, the book discusses the complexity of the interacting abiotic and biotic environment across different spatial and temporal scales and across various levels of biological hierarchy is highlighted, and reveals how management based on poor knowledge causes more damage than repair. The book will be of interest to researchers interested in freshwater ecology, hydrobotany, hydrology, geology, biogeochemistry, landscape ecology and environmental management.

Studies on Water Management Issues

Studies on Water Management Issues PDF Author: Muthukrishnavellaisamy Kumarasamy
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9533079614
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
This book shares knowledge gained through water management related research. It describes a broad range of approaches and technologies, of which have been developed and used by researchers for managing water resource problems. This multidisciplinary book covers water management issues under surface water management, groundwater management, water quality management, and water resource planning management subtopics. The main objective of this book is to enable a better understanding of these perspectives relating to water management practices. This book is expected to be useful to researchers, policy-makers, and non-governmental organizations working on water related projects in countries worldwide.

Impacts of Climate on Renewable Groundwater Resources and/or Stream-Aquifer Interactions

Impacts of Climate on Renewable Groundwater Resources and/or Stream-Aquifer Interactions PDF Author: Francisco Javier Alcalá
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3036513574
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
The book collects seven original contributions in the field of climate and underlying human influences on renewable groundwater resources and/or stream–aquifer interactions. The first contribution introduces the following six ones into the overall framework of the topic. The second contribution assesses the impact of climate change scenarios on land subsidence related to groundwater level depletion in detrital aquifers. The third contribution studies the patterns of river infiltration and the associated controlling factors by using a combination of field investigations and modeling techniques. The fourth contribution introduces a method to improve the modeling of streamflow in high-permeability bedrock basins receiving interbasin groundwater flow. The fifth contribution discusses the role of resilience of hydrogeological systems affected by either climate and/or anthropic actions in order to understand how anticipating negative changes and preserving its services. The sixth contribution analyzes the water balance of wetlands, which are systems highly sensitive to climate change and human action. The seventh contribution identifies groundwater bodies with low vulnerability to pumping to be used as potential buffer values for sustainable conjunctive use management during droughts.

Flooding and Environmental Challenges for Venice and Its Lagoon

Flooding and Environmental Challenges for Venice and Its Lagoon PDF Author: C. A. Fletcher
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521840460
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 742

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Book Description
A technical volume exploring the prospects for decreasing the level of flooding in and around Venice.

Protected Areas and Regional Development in Europe

Protected Areas and Regional Development in Europe PDF Author: Ingo Mose
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317074432
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
While originally created as reserves for beautiful landscapes and endangered species, protected areas in Europe were subsequently used as a means to preserve whole ecosystems, with restrictions on human activities and impacts. More recently, protected areas are also being considered as instruments for regional development, particularly in marginal regions facing severe economic and socio-cultural problems. Contrary to previous conservation-focused policies, new approaches aim to blend conservation and development functions, making protected areas real 'living landscapes' and integrating activities such as agriculture, forestry, handicrafts, tourism and education with the conservation and sustainability aspects. The past decade has seen a marked increase in these innovative and dynamic types of protected areas. However, the policies of individual European countries are very varied. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between protected areas and regional development policies, both in theory and practice. Illustrated with a wide range of case studies from across Europe, it compares the different concepts, strategies and instruments being used. In conclusion, it suggests the most innovative and successful ways to use protected areas for regeneration and sustainable regional development.

Functional Assessment of Wetlands

Functional Assessment of Wetlands PDF Author: E. Maltby
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 184569516X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 707

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Book Description
Wetlands perform functions that deliver benefits to society, often referred to as ecosystem services. These ecosystem services include water supply, flood regulation, water purification, climate regulation, biodiversity, agriculture (e.g. grazing land), and amenity. A functional approach to wetland assessment enables a holistic view to be taken of the wide range of services wetlands can provide. The functional assessment procedures (FAPs) in this volume translate best available scientific knowledge into reasonable predictions of how component parts of wetlands function in different landscape contexts. They can be used to indicate the potential and priorities for management options in such areas as flood control, pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation.Functional assessment enables the user to predict the functioning of a wetland area without the need for comprehensive and expensive empirical research The FAPs therefore provide a methodology that can be used by both experts and non-experts to assess wetland functioning relatively rapidly. The volume includes an electronic version of the FAPs on CD which automates aspects of the assessment once the initial recording stage is completed. It is anticipated that the FAPs will be used by a range of individuals or organisations concerned with wetland management who wish to gain a better understanding of the processes, functions, services or benefits and potential of the wetlands for which they have responsibility. - Provides a systematic methodology to evaluate how wetlands function - Allows non-experts to assess wetland functioning rapidly and cost-effectively - Automates aspects of the functional assessment through the accompanying CD-ROM

Groundwater Intensive Use

Groundwater Intensive Use PDF Author: Andrés Sahuquillo
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780415364447
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 422

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Book Description
Intensive use of groundwater has resolved the demand for drinking water and, through irrigation, has contributed to the eradication of malnourishment in many developing countries. The spectacular worldwide increase in groundwater use in the last decades, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, has been a silent revolution carried out by millions of small farmers. In some instances, groundwater abstraction has caused problems of quality degradation, excessive drawdown of groundwater levels, land subsidence, reduction of spring and baseflows or degradation of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Most of these problems could be anticipated, mitigated, or even avoided with more active water agencies, adequate regulations and users’ participation in management. Groundwater Intensive Use contains a selection of papers presented at a symposium held in December 2002 in Valencia, Spain. It constitutes a step forward in creating a greater worldwide awareness of the relevance of groundwater in water resources policy. The book presents new ideas and accounts of recent advances in technical, economic, legal, administrative and political issues. It addresses groundwater development to ecosystems sustainability, through different or complementary approaches. A wide series of case studies from North and South America, Europe, South Asia and North and Sub-Saharan Africa cover the various issues. These case studies represent countries with a wide diversity of social circumstances, from areas in which development is emerging, to communities with a long history of successful groundwater use.

Sticks and carrots

Sticks and carrots PDF Author: Closas, Alvar
Publisher: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
ISBN: 9290908599
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 46

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Book Description


Re-thinking Water and Food Security

Re-thinking Water and Food Security PDF Author: Luis Martinez-Cortina
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0203829824
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 377

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Book Description
This book provides an overview, by leading world experts, on key issues in global water and food security. The book is divided in a series of over-arching themes and sections. The first part of the book provides an overview of water and food security. The second and third sections look at global trade and virtual water trade, and provide some

The Adaptive Water Resource Management Handbook

The Adaptive Water Resource Management Handbook PDF Author: Jaroslav Mysiak
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134039506
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
The complexity of current water resource management poses many challenges. Water managers need to solve a range of interrelated water dilemmas, such as balancing water quantity and quality, flooding, drought, maintaining biodiversity and ecological functions and services, in a context where human beliefs, actions and values play a central role. Furthermore, the growing uncertainties of global climate change and the long term implications of management actions make the problems even more difficult. This book explains the benefits, outcomes and lessons learned from adaptive water management (AWM). In essence AWM is a way of responding to uncertainty by designing policy measures which are provisional and incremental, subject to subsequent modification in response to environmental change and other variables. Included are illustrative case studies from seven river basins from across Europe, West Asia and Africa: the Elbe, Rhine, Guadiana, Tisza, Orange, Nile and Amudarya. These exemplify the key challenges of adaptive water management, especially when rivers cross national boundaries, creating additional problems of governance.