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Water is key for both food and
the
environment
Photograph by Sanjini de Silva, IWMI
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The
rapidly expanding requirements of water for food production,
both in rainfed and irrigated agriculture, have entailed
very large water withdrawals, significant modification of
flow regimes, and degradation of water quality—all
with major implications for ecosystem health. Water, food,
and the environment form a nexus, an inextricable web. Actions
targeted at the local level and at a range of larger scales
are needed in order to reconcile the tradeoffs associated
with increased food production imperatives and growing recognition
of intrinsic environmental and biodiversity value as well
as the amenities provided by robustly functioning ecosystems.
The Water, Food, and Environment (WFE) Theme of the 4th
World Water Forum aims to bring together a range of stakeholders
to address the linkages between concepts and actions, and
between actions and outcomes. Discussion and debate based
on real evidence from basins around the world is needed
to build consensus on the way forward.
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| This
Website
This website and the
document on which it is based have been produced for the
4th World Water Forum to provide ‘KEY MESSAGES’
which reflect valuable information, insight and opportunity
for action within the framework of the water-food-environment
nexus. The information in the website and document are based
on the knowledge and experience of IWMI and a diversity
of partners.The formulation of many of the messages and
supporting evidence is derived from initial results of the
wide-ranging study undertaken by the Comprehensive Assessment
of Water Management in Agriculture.
The main aim is to present opportunities in the waterfood-
environment nexus, in terms of specific interventions or
intervention packages that have large potential net benefits
for society.
The website begins by SETTING THE STAGE by providing some
key facts about the current water situation and issues to
be considered for the future.The main body of the website
focuses on presenting KEY MESSAGES which are clustered into
three main categories:
| 1. |
CONTEXT MESSAGES
- these tell important facts and ideas about the current
and future water situation and its connection to agriculture
and the environment
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| 2. |
DRIVER
MESSAGES - these messages highlight
and explain relevant external forces, pressures, global
situations and contributing factors to the water situation
(current and future) and that influence (and will
influence) the water-food-environment relationship
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| 3. |
ACTION
MESSAGES - these messages reflect
the overall theme of the 4th World Water Forum in
which we attempt to identify, explain and promote
ACTIONS which can contribute to overcoming water-
foodenvironment issues and challenges.
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