UCOWR Conference
June 18, 2014
Global Water Challenges
Through the Conservation Lens
Nonconventional Partnerships
Challenge: Manage water in a way that
meets global demand for food production,
strives to achieve access to water and
sanitation for all, provides sufficient energy, supports
robust economies and sustains healthy
freshwater ecosystems.
By 2030, global demand for water could outstrip
current accessible, reliable supply by 40%
Billion m3, 154 basins/regions
4 Source: Water Resources Group; based on IFPRI data
Existing
accessible,
reliable
supply
Agriculture
Industry
Municipal &
domestic
Existing withdrawals 2030 additional withdrawals
Basins
with
deficit
40
%
4,200
3,100
800
600
1,400
700
300
2,700
100
Basins
with
surplus
?
Environmental
needs
While only 15% of basins are water-scarce, these
basins contain 50% of cities over 100,000 people
Laowai blog 2011
Shutterstock
China Daily / Reuters
dornob
NASA
Social, Political & Economic Challenges
• Water and
sanitation access
• Governance
• Transboundary
waters
U.N. Water
Nile River
The Nature Conservancy
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
TNC Freshwater Strategies
• Protection and restoration
• Agricultural best management practices
• Hydropower by design
• Environmental flows
• Water funds
• Water markets
92%
2/3 in Corporate Supply Chains
Silver Creek, Idaho
Basic Water Fund Model
Water Users Watershed keepers $$
Use and growth Quality Watershed CLEAN, AMPLE
WATER
Agriculture BMPs & Water
Nature
Setting the Decision
Point Desired “Sustainable”
Condition
Current Condition
Defining OUTCOMES – Setting
Sustainable Agricultural Watershed Goals
Tools/Calculator
$ Cost
Wedge of Solutions
Lessons to Note
• Think big but start small
• Don’t re-invent the wheel.. but remember local conditions require locally relevant solutions
• Collaborative solutions exist in the overlap of objectives
• Complex understanding, simple communication
• Monitor, evaluate and adjust
Kari Vigerstol, P.E.