4.b. the global implications of water management

Question 1

the global management strategies to protect the water cycle

Answer 1

improving forestry techniques

water allocations for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses

drainage basin planning (including run-off, surface stores and groundwater)

Question 2

how improved forestry techniques help protect the water cycle

Answer 2

Unredd (united nations reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation)
-> provide funds to countries to increase their forest cover

UN is providing funding through the world bank to help fund planting new trees

Amazon region protected area (ARPA)
-> helping to protect forests in the amazon
good -> prevention is better than curing

Question 3

how water allocations for domestic, industrial and agricultural use help protect the water cycle

Answer 3

Farming:

Smart irrigation
rather than eyeballing -> use a technology to measure how much water crops need -> less wastage -> less water abstraction

GM crops
Genetically engineered crops to need less water > less water abstraction

Rainwater harvesting jars
Capture water from rainfall -> less water abstraction

Implementing strict water usage strategies e.g. Australia- Murray-Darling basin plan -> whole drainage basin is drying up due to too many users (urban residents, farmers, miners, environmentalists) -> too much water being extracted and the environment is suffering -> led to the government introducing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan -> allocates water limits to different users to reduce the negative impacts on the water cycle in this drainage basin

Question 4

how drainage basin planning, including run-off, surface stores and groundwater helps protect the water cycle

Answer 4

Manage the whole drainage basin -> treat as one system
- thinking about all the different users
- manage uses of users
- manage conflict between users
-> to reduce the environmental impacts

Making sure water is used sustainably

-> May introduce treaties e.g. Nile- Nile Basin Initiative
-> makes specific targets to be met
-> try to meet everyone’s needs without compromising the environment