Groundwater dependent ecosystems : the challenge of balanced assessment and adequate conservation

Abstract

Groundwater plays an integral role in sustaining certain types of aquatic, terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, and the associated landscapes, both in humid and arid climatic regions. It is thus a key factor in efforts to maintain the ecological integrity of some key ecosystems. This paper looks at why an integrated vision of groundwater and ecosystems are needed. The paper also summarizes what the main systems are: natural discharge, wetland ecosystems, groundwater discharge, discharge of groundwater flow systems, and semi-arid and humid terrestrial ecosystems. The paper then discusses various ways on how to protect groundwater dependent ecosystems and how to assess such ecosystems. The final section of the paper focuses on legal arrangements to facilitate groundwater environmental functions.