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Thirsty Planet

Strategies for Sustainable Water Management

Constance Elizabeth Hunt

Hard Bound Book (6¼” x 9¼”) : Pages : 318

2007 Edition : ISBN -81-7188-549-7

Price : Rs. 895.00 (for sale in South Asia only)

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ABOUT THE BOOK :

	By 2025 nearly 2 billion people will live in regions experiencing absolute water scarcity. In the face of this emerging crisis, how should the planet's water be used and managed? Current international policy sees nature competing with human uses of water. Hunt takes issue with this perspective. She suggests that nature is the source of water and only by making the conservation of nature an absolute priority will we have the water we need in future for human use. It is essential, therefore, to manage water in ways that maintain the water cycle and the ecosystems that support it. THIRSTY PLANET looks at the complexity of the problem. It provides a wide array of ideas, information, case studies and ecological knowledge - often from remote corners of the developing world - that could provide an alternative vision for water use and management at this critical time. Essential and compelling reading for students on courses related to water resource management and development, for water managers and decision makers, and for non-specialists with an interest in global water issues.

	'Constance Hunt does a valuable service by providing a concise and readable primer on the task of preserving the freshwater ecosystems on which we all depend. Thirsty Planet is required reading for anyone interested in learning what tools we have available to meet one of the greatest challenges to humanity and nature in the 21st century.' KATHRYN S FULLER (President, World Wildlife Fund) 'This is a tremendous book for anyone taking a serious look at global water problems. Constance Hunt exposes the powerful forces that have damaged rivers and watersheds and impaired the ability of natural ecosystems to supply clean water. She shows that the big water companies are using their power for a dramatic takeover of public water resources for private profit without thought of sustainability for the long term.' BRENT BLACKWELDER (President, Friends of the Earth) This book is a valuable addition to works on global water issues and the painstaking research involved is obvious. — Down To Earth

	ABOUT THE AUTHOR :

Constance Elizabeth Hunt is a biologist and environmentalist with considerable experience in international policy and global campaigns for water management and conservation. She is the recipient of awards from the National Research Council, US Department of Agriculture and US Army Corps of Engineers for outstanding work in the field of water resources management.

She has held a variety of posts. As Senior Adviser to the WWF’s International Living Waters Campaign (1999–2001), she was responsible for basin-scale conservation for the Niger and Mekong rivers and for working with the WWF network on international water policy issues. Before this (1993–1999) she was Senior Programme Officer and Director of Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation for the WWF, managing policy and field projects for sustainable river and wetland management in the US and internationally. She has also served with the World Water Council. She is currently a Senior Adviser with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Dams and Development Project, where she facilitates global dialogues on the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams.

She is the author/editor of two books on conservation, and of numerous articles on sustainable water resources development.

CONTENTS IN DETAIL :

List of Figures and Tables

Glossary

Introduction

1.	Riding the Water Cycle: Water Cycle Dynamics and Freshwater Ecosystems
	Water Cycle Mechanics Non-living Components of the Water Cycle The Living Components of the Water Cycle Completing the Cycle The Value of the Water Cycle and Freshwater Ecosystems Internal Ecosystem Dynamics Services Rendered Freshwater Ecosystem Values Conclusion

2.	Spiralling Towards a Crisis: Water Use and Growing Shortages
	Water’s Role in Human Civilization Water Use in Ancient Times Water Availability and Use in Modern Times A Global Water Crisis? Supply Side Solutions: Stretching the Water Cycle Conclusion

3.	To Feed the World: Food Supply and the Water Cycle
	Status and Trends in Global Food Production Status of the Rate of Growth in Food Production How Much Water Will We Need for Food? Green Revolution Technologies and Their Repercussions Irrigation Artificial Fertilizers Pesticides Declines in Wild Fisheries How to Keep Food Growing and Water Flowing Sustainable Agriculture, or Agroecology Wild Fisheries Conclusion

4.	A Thirsty Planet: Water Supply and Sanitation in a Water-short World
	Water Paucity and Plenty: The Great Divide Sources of Scarcity Inefficient Water Use Hydrological Alterations Desertification Pollutants Pathogens Improving Our Performance Water Conservation Pollution Prevention Environmental Monitoring and the Use of Bio-indicators Restoring Landscape Functions Using Locally Appropriate Technologies Wastewater Recycling and Re-use Conclusion

5.	When It Rains, It Pours: Water Management for Flood Damage Reduction
	The Nature and History of Floods Increasing Flood Hazards Increasing Vulnerability The Flood Control Concept Levees and Polders Channelization Dams Shifts Towards a Holistic Approach to Flood Management Adaptation Non-structural Flood Damage Reduction Flood Damage Reduction through Ecosystem Restoration Adaptive Management Conclusion

6.	Arteries of Commerce: Inland Waterways and the Water Cycle
	Building the Water Highways The Birth of Inland Navigation Current Status of Inland Navigation Systems Effects of Inland Waterway Construction and Operation on the Water Cycle Inland Waterway Construction Inland Waterway Operation and Maintenance Navigating Gently Making Better Use of Information Improving Intermodal Interfaces Improving Barge Design for Environmental Compatibility Watershed and Channel Management to Reduce Siltation Maintaining Natural Flow Regimes in Navigable Rivers Maintaining ‘Environmental Windows’ Making Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Conclusion

7.	A Warmer World: The Interrelationships Between Global Warming and the Water Cycle
	The Nature of the Greenhouse Effect Effects of Global Warming on the Water Cycle, Aquatic Ecosystems and People Climatic Changes Changes in Aquatic Ecosystems Likely Effects of Global Warming on Human Water Uses Pseudo-solutions Hydropower: No Net Loss of Greenhouse Gases Nuclear Energy: No Net Gain of Environmental Protection Carbon Sequestration: Breaking Even and Paying for it New Generation Increasing Energy Efficiency Investing in Renewable Resources Conclusion

8.	When the Water Cycle Breaks Down: The Potential for Restoration
	Freshwater Ecosystems on the Brink Protection Maintaining Ecological Processes Restoration Restoring Processes Contemporary Principles of Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Restoration of Specific Aquatic Ecosystem Types Understanding the Limits Conclusion

9.	Avenues of Governance: Institutional Options for Protecting the Water Cycle
	Binding Agreements: Treaties The Ramsar Convention The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses Non-binding Agreements The World Commission on Dams The World Water Vision Free Trade and Market Forces GATT, GATS and the WTO The World Bank and International Monetary Fund Markets and Pricing Conclusion

	Index

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