1. Water is finite and vulnerable resource
Water is finite and vulnerable resource
The principle recalls the need for a holistic approach to management, recognizing all the characteristics of the hydrological cycle and its interaction with other natural resources and ecosystems.
The statement also recognizes that water is required for many different purposes, functions and services; holistic management, therefore, has to involve consideration of the demands placed on the resources and the threats to it. Holistic management not only involves the management of natural systems; it also necessitates coordination between the range of human activities which create the demands for water, determine land uses and generate water borne waste products. Creating a water sensitive political economy requires coordinated policy making at all levels (from national ministries to local government or community – based institutions). There is also a need for mechanisms which ensure that economic sector decision makers take water costs and sustainability into account when making production and consumption choices. The development of an institutional framework capable of integrating human systems – economic, social and political – represents a considerable challenge.