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Understanding rivers and their social relations: a critical step to advance environmental water management

Author

Listed:
  • Anderson, E. P.
  • Jackson, S.
  • Tharme, R. E.
  • Douglas, M.
  • Flotemersch, J. E.
  • Zwarteveen, M.
  • Lokgariwar, C.
  • Montoya, M.
  • Wali, A.
  • Tipa, G. T.
  • Jardine, T. D.
  • Olden, J. D.
  • Cheng, L.
  • Conallin, J.
  • Cosens, B.
  • Dickens, Chris
  • Garrick, D.
  • Groenfeldt, D.
  • Kabogo, J.
  • Roux, D. J.
  • Ruhi, A.
  • Arthington, A. H.

Abstract

River flows connect people, places, and other forms of life, inspiring and sustaining diverse cultural beliefs, values, and ways of life. The concept of environmental flows provides a framework for improving understanding of relationships between river flows and people, and for supporting those that are mutually beneficial. Nevertheless, most approaches to determining environmental flows remain grounded in the biophysical sciences. The newly revised Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda on Environmental Flows (2018) represents a new phase in environmental flow science and an opportunity to better consider the co-constitution of river flows, ecosystems, and society, and to more explicitly incorporate these relationships into river management. We synthesize understanding of relationships between people and rivers as conceived under the renewed definition of environmental flows. We present case studies from Honduras, India, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia that illustrate multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts where recognizing and meeting diverse flow needs of human populations was central to establishing environmental flow recommendations. We also review a small body of literature to highlight examples of the diversity and interdependencies of human-flow relationships—such as the linkages between river flow and human well-being, spiritual needs, cultural identity, and sense of place—that are typically overlooked when environmental flows are assessed and negotiated. Finally, we call for scientists and water managers to recognize the diversity of ways of knowing, relating to, and utilizing rivers, and to place this recognition at the center of future environmental flow assessments.

Suggested Citation

  • Anderson, E. P. & Jackson, S. & Tharme, R. E. & Douglas, M. & Flotemersch, J. E. & Zwarteveen, M. & Lokgariwar, C. & Montoya, M. & Wali, A. & Tipa, G. T. & Jardine, T. D. & Olden, J. D. & Cheng, L. & , 2019. "Understanding rivers and their social relations: a critical step to advance environmental water management," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 6(6):1-21..
  • Handle: RePEc:iwt:jounls:h049329
    DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1381
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hsiao-Hsien Lin & I.-Yun Chen & Chih-Hung Tseng & Yueh-Shiu Lee & Jao-Chuan Lin, 2022. "A Study of the Impact of River Improvement and Greening on Public Reassurance and the Urban Well-Being Index during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-28, March.
    2. Chen, Xiuzhi & Liu, Chang & van Oel, Pieter & Mergia Mekonnen, Mesfin & Thorp, Kelly R. & Yin, Tuo & Wang, Jinyan & Muhammad, Tahir & Li, Yunkai, 2022. "Water and carbon risks within hydropower development on national scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    3. Doug J. Booker & Ton H. Snelder, 2023. "Climate change and local anthropogenic activities have altered river flow regimes across Canterbury, New Zealand," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2657-2674, May.
    4. Aiping Pang & Fen Zhao & Chunhui Li & Yujun Yi, 2021. "Rethinking Environmental Flows for the Yellow River Estuary by Trading Off Crop Yield and Ecological Benefits," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, February.
    5. André Golgher & Marcos Callisto & Robert Hughes, 2023. "Improved Ecosystem Services and Environmental Gentrification after Rehabilitating Brazilian Urban Streams," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Buchs, Arnaud & Calvo-Mendieta, Iratxe & Petit, Olivier & Roman, Philippe, 2021. "Challenging the ecological economics of water: Social and political perspectives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    7. Stephen J. Déry & Marco A. Hernández-Henríquez & Tricia A. Stadnyk & Tara J. Troy, 2021. "Vanishing weekly hydropeaking cycles in American and Canadian rivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Leandra Merz & Di Yang & Vanessa Hull, 2020. "A Metacoupling Framework for Exploring Transboundary Watershed Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Lina Yousry & Yixin Cao & Bruno Marmiroli & Olivier Guerri & Guillaume Delaunay & Olivier Riquet & Karl Matthias Wantzen, 2022. "A Socio-Ecological Approach to Conserve and Manage Riverscapes in Designated Areas: Cases of the Loire River Valley and Dordogne Basin, France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-38, December.

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