Review of the Status and Use of Environmental Flows in the Asia-Pacific Region
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are the lead organizations for Theme C: Water For Development and Ecosystems of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit.
The main focus under Theme C will be to review key issues related to water for development and ecosystems including the drivers and status of degradation and main issues related to restoration.
The IUCN has identified a specific interest in reviewing the status and use of the environmental flows approach in the Asia-Pacific region including a needs assessment of on-going processes and tools, due to its active efforts in the development and implementation of this approach within wetland and water policy and management across the world. In particular we are interested in the application of e-flows and its inclusion in policy across the Asia-Pacific region.
Environmental flows (or e-flows) generally refers to water provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and their benefits where there are competing water uses. Environmental flows provide critical contributions to river health, economic development and poverty alleviation. They ensure the continued availability of the many benefits that healthy river and groundwater systems bring to society.
To assist in the review of environmental flows a survey on the status and use of environmental flows has been prepared for completion by policy makers and practitioners of water management in the region. The survey attempts to capture information on the current status and use of environmental flows across the Asia-Pacific region from the western highlands of the Himalayan plateau to the low-lying atolls of the central Pacific, and from the northern steppes of Mongolia to the southern coast of Australia and New Zealand.
RECYCLING OF URBAN WASTEWATER FOR FOOD PRODUCTION
Best Practice Example from Kolkata, India
The cities consume water but disposal of waste water has become a problem. There is growing awareness of recycling of wastewater for aquaculture for fish production and irrigation and utilisation of sludge for vegetable production. Throughout Asia in many cities sewage fed waste water is used with benefits of employment, improved environment, and food production. It is cost effective process. Kolkata, a megacity in India has the largest recycling district in the world. Kolkata metropolis is built on marshy land and there are many wetlands. There is indigenous technology of waste water treatment.