The importance of balancing water for food and ecosystem needs was underscored at a recent conference, held from 31 January to 4 February in the Hague.

Organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands, the Water for Food and Ecosystems Conference was convened to identify successful processes that lead to best practices for achieving land and water development through integrated water resources management (IWRM) with an ecosystem approach. It also sought to make recommendations to governments and organizations in implementing actions on water for food and ecosystems. The Conference adopted its report, which contains recommendations for implementing IWRM. IISD Reporting Services’ coverage of this meeting.