2. Myanmar River Health Framework (MRHF) Ecosystem Services and River Livelihoods

3. What are ESs and why are they important? “the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life” Daily 1997 Walker and Salt 2006 “the combined actions of the species in an ecosystem that perform functions of value to society” Walker and Salt 2006 MEA 2005 “the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems” MEA 2005 Water Quality & Quantity Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Livelihood benefits They are People Focused and Defined

4. Categories of ESs MEA 2006 Provisioning Services Regulating Services Cultural Services Supporting Services Products obtained directly from ecosystems Benefits obtained from regulating ecosystem processes Material and non- material ecosystems benefits Aesthetic Spiritual Educational Recreational Climate regulation Flood regulation Disease regulation Water purification Food Fresh water Fuel Wood, Fiber, Medicine Services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services: Soil FormationNutrient CyclingPrimary production Photo: Tracy Baker, IWMIPhoto: Joseph King, TAMUS

5. ESs represent a direct link between people and ecosystems

6. Ultimately everyone depends on ESs but often it is the poorest who depend the most Ecosystem Services from rivers

7. Value of ESs ExamplesValue Mekong Capture Fishery (2.5 Mt)$1.5 billion Livelihoods – 2-3 million Food/nutritional security millions more That Luang wetland (Vientiane)Reduced flooding ($ 3.5M) Water purification ($ 1.7 M) Products(US$ 2.5M) Mangroves Thailand$12,000/ha Zambezi flood recession agriculture$36 million Nakivubo wetland, Uganda – waste water treatment $1 million New York – watershed protection/water treatment $5-6 billion

8. Rivers Supply many ESs and support many livelihoods But flow variability is a problem for hydropower, irrigation and water supply The challenge modify flows for socio-economic development BUT simultaneously maintain flows to sustain a range of ESs that also contribute to social and economic objectives

9. Balancing “working” basins Living and building “with nature” – optimizing benefits (equitable and sustainable) Balancing structural and non-structural measures Decisions made in a way that is different from the present Crops Hydropower Industrial Regulation of water balance Erosion control Climate regulation Soil formation Nutrient cycling Recreation Multifunctional “balanced” basin

10. How to incorporate ESs in water planning and management to achieve appropriate development “balance” (sustainable and equitable) To transform decisions … decision makers need clear and credible ESs information How?!

11. First step - knowledge What ecosystems exist ? Where within a basin ? How do they function ? What services do they provide ? How do they interact with built infrastructure ? Inventory Mapping Measuring & quantifying People Modeling Need to quantify as much as possible

12. Project partners Robyn Johnston Team leader Salween R.Johnston@cgiar.org Tarek Ketelsen Team leader Ayeyarwady tarek.ketelsen@icem.com.au Thank you