Water Ecosystem Services: Potential and Challenge for Water Resource Management

Abstract

Ecosystem services are goods and services provided by ecosystems for human well-being. This study canvasses the literature to identify knowledge areas and understand concepts relevant to addressing water ecosystem services. The potentialities and challenges of this approach applied to the planning and management of water resources were also discussed. The study addressed relevant topics such as ecosystem services, eco-hydrological processes, climate change, land use, ecosystem-based adaptation, biophysical modeling, economic valuation, and integrated water resources management. The ecosystem services-based approach has practical applications in water resource management; however, this study has identified knowledge gaps that should be addressed to ensure its effectiveness. Further research is in order to: 1) understand the synergic effects of multiple water resource drivers, 2) identify the ecohydrological processes of natural ecosystems and how restoration can enhance water ecosystem services and mitigate climate change, 3) expand knowledge of and validation in the use of biophysical models, 4) intensify the integration of biophysical assessment and economic valuation, and 5) include all dimensions of ecosystem service values to increase user and stakeholder participation in water resource management.