An Ecosystem Approach to Water and Food Security

Recognizing the multiple functions of agroecosystems and the many services they provide is essential to fostering an integrated ecosystem approach to natural resources management, agricultural production, and food security. The services provided by natural and agroecosystems can be optimized through appropriate land use planning that takes into account the limits of each ecosystem's carrying capacity. Thus food production can be made more sustainable; more productive by producing more food, services, and benefits per unit of land and water ; more resilient to climate change and other shocks; and more compatible with sustaining other ecosystems with their functions and services.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for

Cross-sectoral integration

• Enabling environment

• Institutional roles

• Management instruments

Waterfor

people

Waterfor

food

Waterfor

nature

Waterfor

industryand

otheruses

EquityResilience

Environmentalsustainability

Cultural services

Regulatory services

Provisioning services(separate or combined)

(bathing and drinking)

Supporting services

Key recommendations Recognize and value ecosystem services Manage agroecosystems within diverse landscapes together with forests, wetlands and other natural and human-made ecosystems Manage all sources of rain, runoff and underground water in an integrated matter Select appropriate multipurpose infrastructure and operation to allow for integration of crop (food, feed, fuel), livestock and fish production Mobilize social organization and collective action Facilitate intersectoral collaboration

Supporting servicesProvisioning services Regulatory services Cultural services

Integrated feed management strategies

Water management

Restocking

Integration into other production systems

Multifunctional landscapes where we manage water and land to enhance

ecosystem services for sustainable and increased food security

UNEP

IWMI is amember of

Consortiumand leadsthe:

1

2

3

4

Stuart Bunting

Sajal Sthapit

Ecosystem Services

Water for agroecosystems

Agroecosystems for Water

Supporting services, e.g.- Soil formation

Provisioning services, e.g.- Food- Wood & Fiber- Freshwater- Energy

Regulatory services, e.g.- Flood regulation- Climate regulation - Water purification

Cultural services, e.g.- Recreational- Aesthetic- Educational- Spiritual

References

An ecosystem services approach to water and food security

Acknowledgements

Conservancy), Elaine Solowey (Arava Institute for Environmental Studies) and others.