Managing Rivers: Ecohydrology an Effective Tool Under Changing Climate

Abstract

Rivers, their associated floodplains and wetlands are considered as the lifeline of millions. Globally these ecosystems are now considered as the most degraded, and losing species at a rate faster than the terrestrial and marine systems. Serious anthropogenic pressures and climate change are likely to intensify the degradation processes further. Hence, need of the hour is to develop a holistic management tool for protecting these freshwater ecosystems. Ecohydrology is a tool that integrates hydrology, geomorphology and biodiversity and forms a framework at catchment level for protecting the physical modification and biodiversity in rivers with the basic concept of environmental flows. Though the concept of environmental flows/ecological release for Indian rivers is recently introduced in national water policy, it further needs to be suitably incorporated in the climate adaptation strategies for an effective integrated water resources development and management programme.