Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

and Ecosystemsand Ecosystems

Elizabeth KhakaElizabeth KhakaUNEPUNEP // Division of Environmental Policy ImplementationDivision of Environmental Policy Implementation

Regional Conference for Southeast Asia on Rainwater Harvesting in IWRM: An Exchange of Practices and Learning

25-26 November, 2008

Flow

• IntroductionIntroduction• Ecosystems servicesEcosystems services• Contribution of ecosystemsContribution of ecosystems• Ecosystems degradationEcosystems degradation• RWH and ecosystemsRWH and ecosystems• UNEP ecosystems and RWH UNEP ecosystems and RWH

initiativeinitiative

Introduction

DefinitionDefinition

ecosystem- ‘a dynamic complex of ecosystem- ‘a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism plant, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a environment interacting as a functional unit. Humans are an functional unit. Humans are an integral part of ecosystems’. integral part of ecosystems’. CBDCBD

Introduction

• Ecosystems major source of Ecosystems major source of livelihood to billions livelihood to billions

• Dependency high in developing Dependency high in developing countriescountries

Ecosystems Services

Provisioning

Recreation

Regulating

Contribution of ecosystems

• Flood preventionFlood prevention– US$350 billion at 1994 US$350 billion at 1994

• Recreational valueRecreational value– US$304 billionUS$304 billion

• Reef habitatsReef habitats– US$375 billion US$375 billion

• Fisheries contributes 16-90% of global proteinFisheries contributes 16-90% of global protein

Contribution of ecosystems

• Malaysia mangroveMalaysia mangrovess– US$ US$ 35 million a year35 million a year

• Thailand coastal protectionThailand coastal protection– US$ US$ 165 million165 million

• Indonesia mangroves Indonesia mangroves – US$ US$ 86 million86 million

Ecosystems degradation

60% of ecosystem services (the benefits 60% of ecosystem services (the benefits people obtain from ecosystems) were heavily people obtain from ecosystems) were heavily degraded over the last 50 yearsdegraded over the last 50 years

(the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment)(the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment)

Especially aquatic ecosystems are declining Especially aquatic ecosystems are declining more rapidly than other ecosystems more rapidly than other ecosystems

Framework

Ecosystem ServicesProvisioning (e.g., food, water and fiber)Regulating (e.g., climate regulation and water)Cultural (e.g., spiritual and aesthetic)Supporting (e.g., soil formation)

Human Well-beingBasic material for a good lifeHealthGood Social RelationsSecurityFreedom of choice and action

Direct Drivers of ChangeChanges in land use Species introduction or removalTechnology adaptation and useExternal inputs (e.g., irrigation) Resource consumptionClimate changeNatural physical and biological drivers (e.g., volcanoes)

Indirect Drivers of ChangeDemographicEconomic (globalization, trade, market and policy framework)Sociopolitical (governance and institutional framework)Science and TechnologyCultural and Religious

Drivers of Ecosystem Degradation

Direct Drivers

• Climate ChangeClimate Change

– DesertificationDesertification– Frequent Droughts Frequent Droughts and Floodsand Floods

• Over-exploitationOver-exploitation

– GroundwaterGroundwater– Surface waterSurface water

• PollutionPollution

• Habitat ChangeHabitat Change

– UrbanizationUrbanization– Soil ErosionSoil Erosion– Large DamsLarge Dams

Indirect Drivers

• Economic DriversEconomic Drivers

– PovertyPoverty

• Sociopolitical DriversSociopolitical Drivers

– InsensibilityInsensibility of Water of Water

Resource LimitationResource Limitation

– Centralization of Water Centralization of Water

SupplySupply

Climate Change

DesertificationDesertification

•Maintaining flora-trees grassMaintaining flora-trees grass

Frequent Droughts and FloodsFrequent Droughts and Floods

•Mitigate floods -detainingMitigate floods -detaining

•Drought-detain flood waterDrought-detain flood water

Over-exploitation

Improve storageImprove storageGroundwater recharge Groundwater recharge • Individual and community structuresIndividual and community structures• Soil Soil

Reduce over exploitationReduce over exploitationIrrigationIrrigation• HouseholdHousehold• IndustrialIndustrial

Pollution

Pollutant DischargesPollutant Discharges

• Retaining and detaining urban runoff -reduces the potential Retaining and detaining urban runoff -reduces the potential

for pollutant discharges from overflowfor pollutant discharges from overflow

• Controlling non-point source of pollution is an important Controlling non-point source of pollution is an important

broader strategy for the protection of surface water quality in broader strategy for the protection of surface water quality in

urban areas. urban areas.

Habitat Change

UrbanizationUrbanization

• Prevents unban floodsPrevents unban floods• Groundwater rechargeGroundwater recharge

Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

• Reduce runoff Reduce runoff • Trees- vegetationTrees- vegetation

Large DamsLarge Dams

• Reduce reliance on water storage damsReduce reliance on water storage dams can be can be reducedreduced

Economic Drivers

PovertyPoverty• Improve production –agricultureImprove production –agriculture

• Catalyst for developmentCatalyst for development

• Improve access to water and sanitationImprove access to water and sanitation

• Reduce time for fetching water-girl child and schoolReduce time for fetching water-girl child and school

• Water for sanitationWater for sanitation

RWH for Ecosystem Services

ProvisioningProvisioningServicesServices

Fresh WaterFresh Water

FoodFood

TimberTimber

RWHRWH

RWH for Ecosystem Services

Water RegulationWater Regulation

Erosion RegulationErosion Regulation

Natural Hazard RegulationNatural Hazard Regulation

Water PurificationWater Purification

RegulatingRegulatingServicesServices

RWHRWH

RWH for Ecosystem Services

Water CyclingWater CyclingSupportingSupporting

ServicesServices

RWHRWH

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Contributes to ecosystems rehabilitation -Contributes to ecosystems rehabilitation -addresses drivers of ecosystem degradationaddresses drivers of ecosystem degradation

• Plays an important role in ecosystems and Plays an important role in ecosystems and human well beinghuman well being

• Link with ecosystems important to avoid over-Link with ecosystems important to avoid over-abstractionabstraction

• Plan RWH in IWRM.Plan RWH in IWRM.

• Awareness creationAwareness creation

UNEP Publication on RWH & ecosystems

Introduction and backgroundIntroduction and background 1a) Introduction, scope1a) Introduction, scope

1b) Background: rainwater harvesting the concept1b) Background: rainwater harvesting the concept

1c) Ecosystems framework and human wellbeing1c) Ecosystems framework and human wellbeing

RWH and catchment /watershed managementRWH and catchment /watershed management 2 a). RWH and surface water2 a). RWH and surface water

2 b). RWH and ground water recharge2 b). RWH and ground water recharge

RWH and agricultureRWH and agriculture 3 a). RWH and crop production3 a). RWH and crop production

3 b). RWH and livestock production3 b). RWH and livestock production

3 c). RWH and cash crop production (non food production)3 c). RWH and cash crop production (non food production)

UNEP Publication on RWH & ecosystems

RWH and forestry RWH and forestry 4 a). RWH and forests (incl. aspects on natural and plantation)4 a). RWH and forests (incl. aspects on natural and plantation)

4 b). RWH and agroforestry4 b). RWH and agroforestry

RWH for water supply in rural and urban areas RWH for water supply in rural and urban areas 5 a) RWH and domestic water supply in rural urban context5 a) RWH and domestic water supply in rural urban context

5 b) RWH and industry5 b) RWH and industry

RWH in the futureRWH in the future 7 a) climate change and adaptation: the role of RWH7 a) climate change and adaptation: the role of RWH

7 b) global drivers of change/ ecosystems degradation & water 7 b) global drivers of change/ ecosystems degradation & water stress stress

Conclusions and recommendationsConclusions and recommendations 8 a) Synthesis and discussions8 a) Synthesis and discussions

8 b) Policy implications: gaps and pot. ways ahead8 b) Policy implications: gaps and pot. ways ahead

Thank You