Integrating ecohydrology, water management, and watershed
economy: case studies from Brazil
In this essay the authors discuss the integration of ecohydrology, water management
practice and watershed economy as fundamentals for the new water governance
paradigm. The ‘‘nature’s software’’ – ecohydrological processes and resulting ecosystem
services should be coupled with ‘human hardware’ in the form of civil and hydrotechnical
engineering, ecological engineering and ecosystem biotechnologies in a template of
hydrosocial cycle adapting to the global changes. The competent and adequate water
governance requires as a priority water security for the human population and for
ecosystem functioning. Three case studies from Brazil are presented in order to illustrate
how this integration has been realized so far, and the benefits for ecosystems and economy
are presented. The case studies are: the Lobo Broa reservoir project, the sustainable
management of the Pantanal wetland, and the Sa˜o Francisco River Basin Management
Plan. The practical results of these conceptual approaches are discussed and future
research needs are identified.
2016 European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.