3 INCLUDING ECOSYSTEMS INRIVER/LAKE BASINMANAGEMENT PLANS
THEHANDBOOK FORMANAGEMENT
ANDRESTORATIONOF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS INRIVERAND LAKE BASINS
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3 Including ecosystems inRiver/Lake Basinmanagement plans
Efficient basinmanagement requires amultiannual management plan. This should be
devised and implemented on the basis of a diagnosis of the basin’s water resources and
territory taking into account any probable changes.
3.1. Ecosystem considerations in basin planning processes
The planning process comprises the following steps:
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Carry out a basin characterization - a diagnosis, made not only in the sense of the
hydrographic basin (including groundwater), but considering the basin as a territory
involving interaction between the activities that develop there, the water resources
and aquatic environment.
It is important that the diagnosis phase should be carried out in a participative way, in
particular to ensure that environmental aspects are integrated right from the start of
the process (“major issues”).
Several methods and tools can be used for basin diagnosis; a special approach uses
“Water footprints”;
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KEYPOINTS:
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A basinmanagement plan should include a strategy andmeasures relating to
aquatic ecosystems.
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Ecosystems conservation and restoration should be analyzed in linewith the
social and economic dimensions.
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The basin’s “ecology” dimension needs to be crossedwith all of the
objectives and themes covered by the plan.
This Asian Development Bank (together with GWP, UNESCO, WWF) publication gives advice on
how to prepare a basinmanagement plan. The authors list 10 basic rules to respect when
devising a basin plan:
Rule 1:
Fully understand the basin and how it functions;
Rule 2:
Start preparing the plan even if your knowledge of the basin is not complete;
Rule 3:
Rank the challenges and take an iterative approach in several phases
to reach long-term targets;
Rule 4:
Allow for adaptations to account for changing circumstances;
Rule 5:
Accept the fact that drawing up a basin plan is intrinsically iterative and chaotic;
Rule 6:
Draw up pertinent, consistent thematic plans;
Rule 7:
Tackle problems at the appropriate level using local plans within the basin plan;
Rule 8:
Involve stakeholders to strengthen institutional relations;
Rule 9:
Constantly focus on the plan’s implementation;
Rule 10:
Select themethod that best corresponds to the basin’s requirements.
More information:
Box 7: River Basin planning - Principles, procedures and approaches for strategic basin planning
