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Working Paper Linking Poverty Reduction and Water Management(2007) Soussan, John; Noel, Stacey; Harlin, Joakim; Schmidt, Susanne"This paper analyses the relationship between water management and poverty reduction. All aspects of poverty are considered: this is reflected in the analysis of water’s potential contribution to all of the MDGs, not just those that refer explicitly to water. The basic contention advanced, and supported through reference to a wide range of case studies, is that water management is a good investment: not only can it contribute to poverty reduction, but it can do so in ways that are affordable and, in many cases, generate wealth. This potential is often not understood: the political prominence of water issues is all too often not translated into investment priorities. In particular, water management actions are poorly represented in PRSPs and in other key development strategies intended to focus national efforts on poverty reduction and attaining the MDGs."Working Paper Land Use and Landscape Dynamics in Northern Thailand: Assessing Change in Three Upland Watersheds Since 1954(1994) Fox, Jefferson; Krummel, John; Yarnasarn, Sanay; Ekasingh, Methi; Podger, Nancy"The forests of Southeast Asia contain biologically diverse communities of vegetation and wildlife. These lands also support millions of tribal people who produce food and fiber for local and regional consumption. Today, traditional uses of forestland are being transformed by national market forces and changing national policies of landownership and land use. While tropical forest loss is recognized as a regional and global problem, little is known about the link between resource use at the local level and its effects on forest fragmentation and loss at the landscape scale. This study analyzed human-induced loss and fragmentation of tropical forests in three upland watersheds in northern Thailand between 1954 and 1992. During this 38-year period, forest cover declined, agricultural cover increased, population and population density grew, and agriculture changed from subsistence to cash crops. These changes resulted in forest fragmentation and loss, with implications for biological and cultural diversity, sustainable resource use, and the economic conditions of the region. By linking the outcome of individual land use decisions and measures of landscape fragmentation and change, we illustrate the hierarchy of temporal and spatial events that, in summation, result in global biome changes."Working Paper Irrigation Practices in Ethiopia: Characteristics of Selected Irrigation Schemes(2007) Girma, Michael M.; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele"This report is prepared based on a collaborative research project titled 'Impact of Irrigation on Poverty and Environment'. The overall project focuses on understanding the crucial role that water, in conjunction with other factors, needs to play to reduce poverty and food insecurity, while maintaining an environmental balance. The research promotes irrigation development that will enhance positive impacts such as poverty alleviation and minimize negative impacts such as environmental degradation. In this report, documentation and information for 12 irrigation systems totaling about 22 sites/schemes have been identified. The common characteristics of these schemes have been provided in this report, with a view of having comprehensive information on the selected case study sites based on rapid appraisal, secondary data and site visits."Working Paper Global Irrigated Area Mapping: Overview and Recommendations(2002) Droogers, Peter"This working paper gives an overview of the available global datasets on irrigated areas and an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses. From these analyses an outline on how to develop a global irrigated area map, based on a generic methodology, is be presented. Some examples are given for the area covering India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These countries offer a broad range of irrigated areas in different environmental settings, ranging from deserts to humid tropics."Working Paper Agriculture, Water, and Ecosystems(2007) Falkenmark, Malin; Galaz, Victor"Agriculture depends on ecosystem functions such as pollination. This means it is closely linked with the health of surrounding ecosystems and should be considered an agro-ecosystem. Crop production systems have been managed as though they were disconnected from the landscape in general. Since the complex systems that make up the landscape are interconnected, this approach threatens the processes that make agriculture sustainable. Past agricultural management has caused wide scale changes in land cover, stream-flow, and groundwater systems. This has undermined the processes that support ecosystems and the services that they provide. Agriculture will continue to be a key driver of ecosystem change in the future."Working Paper Water Markets in the Fordwah/Eastern Sadiqia Area: An Answer to Perceived Deficiencies in Canal Water Supplies?(1994) Strosser, Pierre; Kuper, Marcel"This paper presents the results of a study on water markets in the Fordwah/Eastern Sadiqia Area, Punjab, Pakistan. The study stresses and quantifies the importance of water markets in the area. A first attempt is made to evaluate the the impact of water markets on the quality of irrigation services."Working Paper Use and Protection of Coastal Resources(1996) Sandberg, Audun"This paper examines the interrelationship between the. competing uses of coastal resources and the institutional frameworks that shape this governing of such resources. These Institutions often have the character of layers, where for instance the local perceptions are rooted in institutions that governed traditional use, the contemporary legal framework is rooted In economic activities of the modern, age, while the Institutional dynamics is caused fey emerging Integrative activities, often activities that challenges the previous distinction between use and protection. "The paper uses Northern Norway as an example and carries out an analysis of us and protection of North-Norwegian coastal resources Ã?»s a dynamic blend of Non-EU institutional designs, local institutional structures and the institutional challenges from new activities like coastal recreational fishing, aqiiacititiir, conservation and habitat improvements sea ranching and sea cultivation. "In carrying out this analysis, the paper will link tills with other analysis in the EU Environment Programme and with lie ELOISE programmes on the Sand/ocean interface. The paper thus establishes grounds for comparing the institutional development in one part of Europe with the institutional development pertaining to coastal regions in other parts of Europe, e.g. the West Coast of Ireland."Working Paper The Governance and Management of Irrigation Systems: An Institutional Perspective(1993) Yan-Tang, Shui; Ostrom, Elinor"During the past three decades, massive resources have been invested by donor agencies and developing countries in technologically sophisticated, large-scale irrigation projects. Even though the planning processes for these projects rely on modern benefit-cost analysis, many projects that looked outstanding on paper have not fared well 'on the ground.' Costs have usually been higher than expected, and benefits have been lower. Cost recovery has often not proved feasible."Working Paper Gender in Lift Irrigation Schemes in East Gujarat, India(2001) Saini, Harmeet; Van Koppen, Barbara"A major drawback of India's agriculture, watershed development and irrigation strategy has been the neglect of relatively wetter catchment areas and the tribal people living therein. Investing in small-scale interventions for improved water control can produce a dramatic impact on the productivity and dependability of tribal livelihood systems."Working Paper Yellow River Comprehensive Assessment, Basin Features and Issues(2003) Zhu, Zhongping; Giordano, Mark; Cai, Ximing; Molden, David; Shangchi, Hong"A new report assessing the state of China's Yellow River could offer hope in providing much needed answers to the critical water management problems facing the countries 2nd longest river. The assessment carried out by researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC). The report was carried out as part of the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, an international research program. The findings are stark. They highlight the four major challenges currently facing the river as being increased water scarcity, degraded environment, massive soil conservation needs and constant flood threats."