Water-dependent ecosystems
September 2008
Water-dependent ecosystems include wetlands, floodplains, riparian areas, estuaries and springs. They provide many important services including provision of good quality water for irrigation and domestic use, habitat for fish and other aquatic fauna and flora, removal of wastes and contaminants, and aesthetic, cultural and recreational benefits. Without adequate and timely water these ecosystems lose their capacity to provide such services. In some cases, the losses may be irreversible; in others, they may be difficult and costly to reverse. Under current conditions, many significant water-dependent ecosystems are under threat.
Future directions for water-dependent ecosystems
The Commission has adopted the following six priorities to guide future work involving the management of water-dependent ecosystems:
- Help develop and implement national guidelines and procedures for determining environmentally sustainable levels of extraction of water.
- Pursue an agreed national inventory of over-allocated water systems together with commitments by governments to return them to sustainable levels of extraction.
- Improve the security of environmental water.
- Support more effective management of environmental water.
- Strengthen the role of adaptive management of environmental water.
- Implement the Framework for the Assessment of River and Wetland Health.
By pursuing these priorities, the Commission will play its part in promoting the enduring objective of the National Water Initiative to manage water-dependent ecosystems to best effect. We urge the parties to the National Water Initiative Agreement to do likewise.
Position statement for download
Water-dependent ecosystems - National Water Commission position. (275KB)