Water sector investments have traditionally paid only
scant attention to one of the most important, and
productive, components of water infrastructure.
Ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, grasslands and
other natural habitats provide a wide array of services
which maintain water supplies, uphold water quality, and
guard against water-related hazards and disasters such
as pollution, storms, floods and droughts. Like built
infrastructure, ecosystems are a valuable part of the
stock of facilities, services and equipment that is needed
to deliver water. Timely investment in them can save
considerable costs - both for businesses and for society.
We have been working with the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Water and
Nature Initiative in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin
America and the Middle East to identify and pilot
economic and financial instruments that can assist
governments and the private sector to better value the
water services associated with natural ecosystems, factor
these figures into their accounts and decisions, and find
cost-effective ways of investing in sustainable ecosystem
management to deliver vital water services.
scant attention to one of the most important, and
productive, components of water infrastructure.
Ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, grasslands and
other natural habitats provide a wide array of services
which maintain water supplies, uphold water quality, and
guard against water-related hazards and disasters such
as pollution, storms, floods and droughts. Like built
infrastructure, ecosystems are a valuable part of the
stock of facilities, services and equipment that is needed
to deliver water. Timely investment in them can save
considerable costs - both for businesses and for society.
We have been working with the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Water and
Nature Initiative in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin
America and the Middle East to identify and pilot
economic and financial instruments that can assist
governments and the private sector to better value the
water services associated with natural ecosystems, factor
these figures into their accounts and decisions, and find
cost-effective ways of investing in sustainable ecosystem
management to deliver vital water services.
| investing in ecosystems as water infrastructure |
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© Environment Management Group 2012
