Groundwater

Though various studies and scientific assessments highlight the contribution of the forestry sector in terms of various ecosystem services, not much work has been initiated on the valuation of and the accounting for the ecological functions of forest ecosystems. In this monograph, the missing contributions of forests have been accounted for and monetized for 2002/03 in terms of the following ecological benefits: prevention of soil erosion, augmentation of groundwater, and flood control.

La importancia de las aguas subterráneas en el desarrollo social y económico suele ser ignorada debido a que es un recurso oculto. Decisores de los gobiernos, inversionistas o productores locales on frecuencia subestiman el valor de las aguas subterráneas en la economía y para el desarrollo económico, ya que asumen que los manantiales y pozos, de los cuales dependen, continuarán abasteciéndolos con agua dulce de alta calidad para siempre.

The world increasingly relies on groundwater resources for drinking water and the provision of food for a growing population. The utilization of aquifer systems also extends beyond freshwater supply to include other resources such as heat extraction and the storage and disposal of substances. This volume is unique in focusing exclusively on conflicts over groundwater and aquifers.

Freshwater Reviews is a peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to enhancing the understanding of inland waters. The content of review papers is primarily biological but papers covering limnology, policy and socio-economic aspects of fresh waters are acceptable if they are relevant to our understanding or management of fresh water biology.

The importance of groundwater in social and economic development is easily overlooked. Its value in the economy and in economic development is frequently underestimated when policy makers in governments, business investors or local farmers and communities assume that the springs, wells and boreholes they rely on will continue to supply high quality freshwater, forever. Where these mistaken assumptions continue, the benefits of groundwater for development will be lost.

In an increasingly crowded world reconciling environmental ‘conservation’ with the ‘sustainable use’ of natural resources is now our greatest challenge. Nature conservation has traditionally focused on protecting iconic and important areas of biodiversity from human exploitation through the establishment of National Parks and World Heritage Areas.

To help shape a research programme proposed by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), this report seeks to highlight some of the critical issues facing water ecosystem services in Africa, South Asia and Latin America and makes recommendations on the research that is needed to fill the current gaps in knowledge and practice.