IWRM guidelines at river basin level Part 1: principles
Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at the river basin level is an essential element to managing water resources more sustainably, leading to long-term social, economic and environmental benefits. Because water is managed locally, a river basin approach provides a practical framework, defined by geographical and hydrological characteristics, which facilitates implementation of IWRM by involving downstream and upstream basin wide issues as well as incorporating environmental and socio-economic aspects. This guidelines provides basic principles of IWRM mainly targeting policy-makers, and explains the benefits of IWRM at river basin level and the need to promote it at the policy level. It also proposes a spiral model of IWRM, which illustrates the evolving and dynamic nature of the IWRM process.