Government leaders slow to reserve water for environment

Abstract

Environmental water allocation Historically, infrastructure developments around the world have taken the requirements of downstream ecosystems (and often the people who depend on the services of these ecosystems) for granted. Examples abound in most countries, including South Africa, where the water needs of people have in the past been met to the detriment of aquatic plants and animals. “We have emerged from a century of building dams and other major watersource developments that have changed the limnological profile of the world,” notes Dr Jackie King of the Freshwater Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. “Most of the developed world now benefits in some way from the irrigated agriculture, hydropower generation, assured water supply, flood control, improved navigation and more brought about by these developments, and developing countries are increasingly seeking and achieving the same benefits.” Dr King was speaking at the 2009 International Conference on the Implementation of Environmental Water Allocations (IEWA) held in Port Elizabeth in February.

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