Releasing the Pressure Water Resource Efficiencies and Gains for Ecosystem Services

United Nations Environment Programme ; Stockholm Environment Institute (2012)

This report uses various cases to illustrate how to broaden the concept of water productivity and ecosystem services. It suggests ways in which water productivity can be used for addressing more balanced water resource management, so as to achieve multiple benefits for local people. It complements the recent collaboration between UNEP-IWMI on the ecosystem services approach to water and food security and UNEP-Stockholm Environment Institute collaborations on rainwater harvesting. With future challenges in water supply affected by climate change, and increasing demand by population growth and development, water will be a critically restricted resource for a growing number of people. This report forms the next contribution to the important issue on how to enhance the productive use of water for multiple needs.