Handbook on Water Management - page 88

Example 43: Payment project for environmental services in the Tinkisso Basin (Guinea)
Upstream in the Tinkisso Basin, one of themain tributaries of the Niger River in the Republic
of Guinea, the degradation of ecosystems impacts on the wellbeing of inhabitants and
increases their vulnerability to climate change. In particular, the degradation of the catchment
area has resulted in excess silt at a small dam and reduced its electricity production.
The project aims to study the conditions for restoring the damwith the aim of re-establishing
electricity production for the benefit of the region’s inhabitants and economy. The objective is
to promote integratedmanagement of the basin by taking an ecosystem approach to reduce
the impact of climate change and increase the benefits for communities living up- and
downstream from the dam. The project is centred on a financial incentive approach to benefit
communities responsible for restoring and conserving environmental services in upstream
basins. The project should produce the following results:
n
The definition, with stakeholders, of the technical, environmental and socio-economic
conditions to restore the dam’s reservoir;
n
The definition of objectives and appropriate sustainablemanagement tools to ensure the
maintenance of environmental services;
n
The participation of dam user groups, members of the operating company, and technical
service agents in the decision-making process for managing the dam and the basin’s
ecosystems.
More information at:
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Example 44: Resource protection for Vittel water (France)
Themethodology employed involves three stages:
For 20 years, Agrivair, a subsidiary of Vittel SA in France, has been involved in a strategy to
protect water resources in the basin containing Vittel mineral water. This company provides
technical and financial support to operators that have signed contracts to protect the resource.
Themethod involves collaboration with stakeholders in the basin, especially farmers, and
voluntary participation;
At the end of the 1980s, the water springs were at risk of qualitative impairment, mainly due
to farming practices likely to increase the nitrate content in soils harbouring groundwater.
Following a research period, scientists recommended stopping the use of phytosanitary
products on the entire impluvium, rotating crops and composting animal droppings;
To fulfil itsmission, Agrivair employed a concerted protection policy that led to guaranteed
“zero pesticide” management of almost 10,000 hectares and 11 towns.
Farmers were accompanied through research, experiments and stakeholder participation;
The territory of Vittel is an example of beneficial interrelations between human activities and
the ecosystem. The ecological transition of the impluvium has reached a level of maturity that
means that Agrivair can now invest in new projects that closely connect the territory’s
economic and ecological development;
For farmers, the principle was to set up technical specifications aimed at “zero phytosanitary
products” while guaranteeingmodern, durable, profitable agriculture. A dialogue was put in
place between the farmers concerned and researchers to implement the new farmingmodel,
while finding solutions for farmers’ main problems;
In 20 years, 26 farms have adopted the new system, and 95% of farmland is now protected on
the basin containing the natural mineral spring. The work carried out received support from
public authorities and the FrenchWater Agency.
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ANDRESTORATIONOF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS INRIVERAND LAKE BASINS
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