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@article{Mirchi:2014:10.1002/2013WR015128,
author = {Mirchi, A and Watkins, DW and Huckins, CJ and Madani, K and Hjorth, P},
doi = {10.1002/2013WR015128},
journal = {Water Resources Research},
pages = {7515--7526},
title = {Water resources management in a homogenizing world: Averting the Growth and Underinvestment trajectory},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015128},
volume = {50},
year = {2014}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Biotic homogenization, a de facto symptom of a global biodiversity crisis, underscores theurgency of reforming water resources management to focus on the health and viability of ecosystems.Global population and economic growth, coupled with inadequate investment in maintenance of ecologicalsystems, threaten to degrade environmental integrity and ecosystem services that support the global socioeconomicsystem, indicative of a system governed by the Growth and Underinvestment (G&U) archetype.Water resources management is linked to biotic homogenization and degradation of system integritythrough alteration of water systems, ecosystem dynamics, and composition of the biota. Consistent withthe G&U archetype, water resources planning primarily treats ecological considerations as exogenous constraintsrather than integral, dynamic, and responsive parts of the system. It is essential that the ecologicalconsiderations be made objectives of water resources development plans to facilitate the analysis of feedbacksand potential trade-offs between socioeconomic gains and ecological losses. We call for expediting ashift to ecosystem-based management of water resources, which requires a better understanding of thedynamics and links between water resources management actions, ecological side-effects, and associatedlong-term ramifications for sustainability. To address existing knowledge gaps, models that include dynamicsand estimated thresholds for regime shifts or ecosystem degradation need to be developed. Policy leversfor implementation of ecosystem-based water resources management include shifting away fromgrowth-oriented supply management, better demand management, increased public awareness, and institutionalreform that promotes adaptive and transdisciplinary management approaches.
AU - Mirchi,A
AU - Watkins,DW
AU - Huckins,CJ
AU - Madani,K
AU - Hjorth,P
DO - 10.1002/2013WR015128
EP - 7526
PY - 2014///
SN - 1944-7973
SP - 7515
TI - Water resources management in a homogenizing world: Averting the Growth and Underinvestment trajectory
T2 - Water Resources Research
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015128
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/26366
VL - 50
ER -
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