Headwaters Control And Use

Publisher Description

The vulnerability of water resources due to climate change and human activities is globally increasing. The phenomenon of hydrological change is complicated because of the combinations and interactions between natural climate fluctuation, global warming and human activities including changes in land utilization. The impact areas of hydrological changes are also not only within the basin, but reach to the ocean through coastal water exchanges. This book presents contributions focused on integrated water management from headwater to the ocean in a time of climate change and increasing population.

These proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Environmental Reconstruction in Headwater Areas" provide a landmark in the evolution of a distinctive movement, perhaps an emerging new philosophy, within the practice of headwater management. The Headwater Control movement traces its history back to the First International Conference on Headwater Control, Prague, 1989. Throughout this brief history, Headwater Control has remained a typical environment movement 'ad hocracy'. At its meetings, for every convert to the multidisciplinary, integrative, practical, interventionist, and above-all 'green' ideals of the group, there have been several delegates who have found the whole concept both new and slightly incomprehensible. One reason for this has been the Headwater Control practice of trying to bring together scientists, practitioners, policy-makers and non-government environmentalist organisations. The group's larger meetings have always been federal gatherings. Sponsorship has been shared with invited participation from associations representing hydrological science, soil conservation, erosion control, forestry, environmental activism and so forth. These delegations may have included fellow travellers in the work to protect headwater environments, but their main concerns have not necessarily coincided with the Headwater Control group's prescriptions for the environmental regeneration of headwater regions. The Liberec Workshop, whose proceedings are distilled into this volume, provided a first opportunity for the scattered supporters of Headwater Control to talk among themselves and fmd out to what degree there really is a shared vision of the way forward in headwater management, restoration and protection.

This set of papers presents a description of the synthesis of hydrological problems and various environmental implications and management strategies for different highland and headwater regions of the world. Regions covered include the Himalayas, Russian mountains, Amazonia, and upland Wales.