ecological use of groundwater christine colvin environmentek, csir, south africa iah
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding Dependency
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Vital characteristicsQuantity of water
Quality of water
Timing of water
Aquifers moderate water supply to the environment…
Aquifer Storage
Biogeochemical processes
Aquifers sustain environmental services
& livelihoods
Competition with people….
Who can dig
deepest & fastest?
Balance people’s
needs for water
and the
environment.
Understand consequences of actions..
Optimal beneficial use
Impacts of abstractions
Stakeholder trade-offs
Informed decisions
Urgent action required to..
Recognise groundwater dependent ecosystems Start understanding links Monitor ecological health Seek informed decisions Allocate groundwater to the environment