The Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda on Environmental Flows (2018)

Arthington, Angela; Bhaduri, Anik; Bunn, Stuart E.; Jackson, Sue; Tharme, Rebecca E.; Tickner, David; Young, Bill; Acreman, Mike; Baker, Natalie; Capon, Samantha J.; Horne, Avril; Kendy, Eloise; McClain, Michael E.; Poff, N. LeRoy; Richter, Brian; Ward, Selina

doi:10.3389/fenvs.2018.00045

Cited by 300 publications

(230 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The hydrological regime is a defining feature, governing channel structure and connectivity, substrate characteristics, and aquatic habitat features important to invertebrates and fish as shelter, sources of food, and spawning sites. The need for integrated management of water resources to sustain flowing, standing, and groundwater‐dependent ecosystems is recognized in frameworks such as environmental flow management (Arthington et al., ), Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM), and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Aquatic habitats typically interface with a riparian or littoral zone where stands of semi‐aquatic and terrestrial vegetation regulate shading and water temperature, channel stability, and supplies of nutrients and organic matter to aquatic food webs (Naiman et al, ).…”

Section: Lessons To Enhance Protected Area Effectivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity: a novel systematic review distils eight lessons for effective conservation

Acreman

Hughes

Arthington

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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Protected areas are a global cornerstone of biodiversity conservation and restoration. Yet freshwater biodiversity is continuing to decline rapidly. To date there has been no formal review of the effectiveness of protected areas for conserving or restoring biodiversity in rivers, lakes, and wetlands. We present the first assessment using a systematic review of the published scientific evidence of the effectiveness of freshwater protected areas. Systematic searches returned 2,586 separate publications, of which 44 provided quantitative evidence comprising 75 case studies. Of these, 38 reported positive, 25 neutral, and 12 negative outcomes for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Analysis revealed variable relationships between conservation effectiveness and factors such as taxa assessed, protected area size and characteristics, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area category, and ecoregion. Lack of effectiveness was attributed to many anthropogenic factors, including fishing (often with a lack of law enforcement), water management (abstraction, dams, and flow regulation), habitat degradation, and invasive non‐native species. Drawing on the review and wider literature we distil eight lessons to enhance the effectiveness of protected areas for freshwater biodiversity conservation. We urge policymakers, protected area managers, and those who fund them to invest in well‐designed research and monitoring programs and publication of evidence of protected area effectiveness.

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Section: Lessons To Enhance Protected Area Effectivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity: a novel systematic review distils eight lessons for effective conservation

Acreman

Hughes

Arthington

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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“…Giving second priority to ecosystems in water allocation decisions requires that Tanzania estimate the environmental water needs-also known as environmental flows-for all major rivers. According to the internationally-accepted, revised Brisbane Declaration [5], the term environmental flow refers to: the quantity, timing, and quality of freshwater flows and levels necessary to sustain aquatic ecosystems which, in turn, support human cultures, economies, sustainable livelihoods, and well-being [45]. In this century, Tanzania is among a growing list of countries that have increased geographic coverage of environmental flow assessments, and in-country capacity to complete them [46,47].…”

Section: Framework For River Conservation and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving Rivers and Their Biodiversity in Tanzania

Seeteram

Hyera²,

Kaaya

et al. 2019

Water

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The United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) is rich in freshwater resources and biodiversity. In this article, we highlight the importance of Tanzanian rivers and make a case for the conservation of the freshwater and terrestrial species that rely on these rivers. We provide an overview of current knowledge on Tanzanian rivers and discuss progress towards implementation of the National Water Policy (2002) and Water Management Act (2009), two legislative instruments that have motivated environmental flow assessments on at least six major rivers and offer legal backing for river conservation. We examine major challenges that pose significant threats to water security for river ecosystems and humans in Tanzania, among those: (1) human population growth, (2) agricultural expansion, (3) river flow alterations, (4) industrialization, (5) introduced species, and (6) climate change. We conclude by offering recommendations for future river conservation efforts in Tanzania.

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“…Those interested in environmental flows also increasingly recognize the importance and complexity of relationships between humans and freshwater bodies. According to the renewed Brisbane Declaration of 2018, the term environmental flows refers to: the quantity, timing, and quality of freshwater flows and levels necessary to sustain aquatic ecosystems which, in turn, support human cultures, economies, sustainable livelihoods, and well-being (Arthington et al, 2018; Box 1). Environmental flow assessment-also sometimes referred to as environmental water allocation or environmental water management-is a critical step in establishing a societally-acceptable threshold between water available for off-channel BOX 1 THE BRISBANE DECLARATION AND GLOBAL ACTION AGENDA ON ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS (2018) In 2018, scientists, river conservationists, and water managers revisited the Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda of 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2019

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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.This article is categorized under:Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and AwarenessHuman Water > Water GovernanceHuman Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

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The Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda on Environmental Flows (2018)

Cited by 300 publications

References 67 publications

Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity: a novel systematic review distils eight lessons for effective conservation

Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity: a novel systematic review distils eight lessons for effective conservation

Conserving Rivers and Their Biodiversity in Tanzania

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

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