Side event details

UNESCO’s IHP developed Ecohydrology as a transdisciplinary, scientific approach to achieve water quality improvement, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable development by reducing the pressure (impacts) to ecosystems at all scales – by using the holistic approach based on the understanding of water-biota interplay “Dual Regulation”, which can be translated into Nature based Solutions (NbS). Ecohydrology was first introduced in UNESCO since almost 30 years ago (in 1996), during the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) fifth phase IHP-V (1996-2001) “Hydrology and Water Resources Development in a Vulnerable Environment” as a new paradigm for the sustainable use of aquatic resources which could help solve the main problem of loss of ecological quality of water, at the basin scale. In 2006, during the IHP-VI (2002-2007) “Water Interaction: Systems at Risks and Social Challenges”, UNESCO established Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites with its first 10 demonstration sites in different parts of the globe, to identify opportunities to demonstrate the application of the ecohydrology approach to solve issues surrounding water, environment and people. In 2022, within the Ninth Phase IHP-IX (2022-2029) "Science for a water secure world in a changing environment”, UNESCO launched its first annual call for New Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites in order to promote Ecohydrology approach, stimulate action to implement NBS and disseminate the acquired information to UNESCO’s Member States and the general public, globally to all countries and regions in the world. UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites is currently consisting of 63 demonstration sites in 36 countries in the world. 7 of Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites are also RAMSAR sites where ecohydrology has been promoted for improving water management in those catchment areas. The challenges and way forwards in implementing Ecohydrology needs to be addressed to ensure sustainable management and implementation of Ecohydrology which led to the enhancement of catchment ecosystem health and sustainability potential, as well as bringing more support, expertise, collaborations and visibility in conducting of ecohydrology research.