Integrated Management:
Where Freshwater Basins Meet Coastal Areas
An Invitation
Roundtable Discussion on Meeting Human and Environmental Needs through
Linking Integrated Management of Freshwater Basins with Downstream Coastal
Areas and their Ecosystems at the 5th World Water Forum
March 20, 2009, 14:30-16:30, Istanbul, Sub-session 3.3.2.1 (Sutluce Carpark room)
Coastal ecosystems are strongly influenced by land- Living on the Edge
based activities and pollution from all activities up-
ˇ Freshwater demand will significantly increase with
stream. Freshwater affects all aspects of ocean and coastal
rapidly increasing coastal development:
biological and physical characteristics, including pro-
ductivity, trophic balances, salinity, turbidity, and
ˇ Projected to affect 91% of all inhabited coasts
streams. At the same time, the dynamics of the coastal
by 2050
ecosystem may impact the sources of freshwater by in-
ˇ 15 of the 20 largest cities in the world are on
fluencing the water cycle, tidal movement, and intrusion
the coast
of salt water into coastal aquifers. The interface between
ˇ Coastal population densities are projected to
freshwater and marine systems generates some of the
increase from 77 people/km2 to 115 people/km2
most productive ecosystems on earth, including estuar-
by 2025
ies, deltas, and mangroves, which depend on the balance
ˇ The economic future of many countries is centered in
between the two systems. The threat of climate change
the coastal zone, where sensitive coastal areas, such as
could eventually break this balance, affecting both the
deltas and estuaries, coral reefs, low-lying coastal wet-
marine and freshwater systems, hence the urgent chal-
lands, small islands, and sand/gravel coastlines and
lenge of addressing this linkage through integrated man-
beaches, are more vulnerable to the combined impact
agement. The potential impact of not addressing this
of land-based pollution and climate change effects
issue in a timely manner may have catastrophic effects
on the global economy and on human and environ-
ˇ Upstream and downstream management and plan-
mental health.
ning are not connected; stakeholders in both areas are
not aware of their impact on each other
Although many international environmental fora have
alerted scientists and decision makers to the importance
Upstream to Downstream Impacts
of developing integrated tools to address the linkage of
freshwater and ocean and coastal management, these two
ˇ More than 80% of marine pollution originates from
communities remain fragmented, addressing their own
land-based sources
problems, speaking different languages, having separate
ˇ Nitrogen exports to the marine environment are pro-
budgets, duplicating many national-regional efforts, and
jected to increase at least 14% globally by 2030. In
disregarding each system's issues and potential joint so-
Southeast Asia more than 600,000 tons of nitrogen are
lutions.
discharged annually from the major rivers
ˇ Sedimentation has decreased in some areas due to re-
duced river flows as a result of terrestrial overuse for
agricultural irrigation, while increasing in other re-
gions as a result of coastal development and watershed
deforestation
ˇ Coastal wetlands and mangroves are declining rapidly,
typically by 50­90% in most regions in the past four
decades

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ˇ Climate change may alter ocean circulation patterns
importance of integration among decision makers and
and continental shelf processes crucial to coastal water
main stakeholders; 3) promoting demonstration projects
quality and nutrient cycling
and implementation of best management practices; and
4) prioritizing increased funding and capacity building.
The roundtable discussion, which is part of a session on
Management of freshwater and its impact on ocean and
Ecosystems for Water and Life-- Benefits Sharing for Regional
coastal areas is a cross-cutting issue (environmental, po-
Prosperity (Session 3.3.2), aims to provide a venue at the
litical, social, and economic) and must be a priority focus
5th World Water Forum where water users, practitioners,
of the 5th World Water Forum, and a permanent World
scientists, decision-makers, representatives of govern-
Water Council agenda item for future fora.
mental, non-governmental, and intergovernmental or-
ganizations, industry, media and other stakeholders in
The roundtable discussion is co-organized by the Global
integrated water resources management and coastal and
Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands, the U.S. National
ocean management can contribute their perspectives and
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Global Envi-
share their experiences on the following questions:
ronment Facility, UNDP, UNEP Global Programme of Ac-
tion for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
ˇ How can coastal and ocean management and inte-
Land-based Activities, Global Water Partnership, The Na-
grated water resources management be effectively
ture Conservancy, UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and En-
linked and integrated across all levels and sectors?
vironment,
and
the
American
Water
Resources
ˇ What positive and negative impacts (economic, social
Association, with the leadership of the Global Forum
and environmental) are there on ecosystem goods and
Working Group on Freshwater to Oceans
services from freshwater flows to ocean and coastal
(http://www.thew2o.net/events/freshwater/;
ecosystems?
http://www.globaloceans.org/freshwater/index.html).
ˇ How do these impacts affect different sectors (indus-
trial, agricultural, fisheries, tourism, transportation, en-
For more information about the roundtable and the work
ergy, environment)?
of the Global Forum on linking the management of
freshwater and oceans and coasts, please contact:
ˇ What are possible recommendations to promote and
ensure: 1) equitable sharing of water resources among
upstream and downstream users; 2) conservation of
Dr. Miriam C. Balgos
freshwater and marine ecosystems; and 3) sustainabil-
Program Coordinator
ity of multiple uses?
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy
Recommendations emanating from the 2008 Global Con-
University of Delaware, Robinson Hall 301
ference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands on closing the gap
Newark, Delaware 19716 USA
between freshwater and coastal management include: 1)
Tel: 1 (302) 831-8086; Fax: 1 (302) 831-3668
taking coordinated action at all levels (including local,
Email: mbalgos@udel.edu
national and international); 2) communicating the
ŠJ.Oliver

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