Where the Water Flows

Water underpins biodiversity and ecological resilience, economic performance, social stability and yet it is rarely managed as the interconnected system it is. At the global scale, water is a holistic system, flowing through the atmosphere, soils, rivers, wetlands, aquifers, and glaciers. At a regional level, water is transboundary, with microclimates and any associated disruptions affecting whole regions. Water is also a local issue, where the availability of water often exerts a strong impact on livelihoods. Economic activity on the other hand puts pressure on local and regional water systems. Climate change is now destabilizing this hydrological cycle. These shifts will have profound regional and local impacts.

This report, Where the Water Flows, discusses why the water cycle must be protected through and governance reforms and investments in nature, landscape conservation and water-related infrastructure. The findings of this report point to a strategic shift away from fragmented water responses toward systemic water resilience.