12 March 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) have released a report titled “Releasing the Pressure: Water Resource Efficiencies and Gains for Ecosystem Services.” The report focuses on the need to recognize the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and forests, to improve livelihoods and meet rising water demands.

According to UNEP, as demand for water continues to increase, policymakers place more emphasis on water productivity and efficiency. The report urges policymakers and resource managers to shift from the traditional focus of “more crop per drop,” to a broader view including ecosystem services, taking into account water regulation and purification, pollination, erosion control and other ecosystem services performed by wetlands and forests. The report argues that such a balanced approach can improve human well-being, increase crop yields in a sustainable way, and support the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and equitable Green Economy.

The report outlines ten key messages on the nexus of water productivity, water flows in landscapes and ecosystem services, and illustrates them with case studies. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Releasing the Pressure: Water Resources Efficiencies and Gains for Ecosystem Services]