Natural Resource Management
Article 13 Report
12th February 2009
Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environmental protection – just a few of the terms currently being linked to global droughts, floods, fires and other climate related natural disasters occurring more and more across the globe.
With an increase in world population and urban development, heightened environmental risks and vulnerabilities are demanding long-term, sustainable management of natural resources. Natural Resource Management (NRM) involves managing complex and intertwined systems such as biodiversity, desertification, just to name a couple.
This month Article 13 is focussing on two of the issues surrounding
Natural Resource Management (NRM) and briefly explores the
technological and organisational responses from business to help combat
environmental degradation.
Water management
Water management refers to the sustainable management, governance and
utilisation of water resources, including rivers, lakes and estuaries,
coastal and marine waters; sewage treatment; and reservoir safety.
Water management is an issue of the global commons, which means it’s
outside national jurisdiction and there is an ever increasing battle
for access to fresh water resources. Initiatives must cross borders and
boundaries to make any real difference. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), partners with over 150 businesses and concentrates on
the potential risks associated with water scarcity and the strategic
importance for businesses to act responsibly. Businesses and
Institutions need to start acknowledging the interconnectedness of
water resources with many of the world’s major issues, including
climate change, energy, economic development, environmental health, and
social justice. For businesses to tackle the challenges surrounding the
depletion of water resources, there needs to be the following:
- Financial investment into a water supportive infrastructure.
- Partnerships with water management coalitions.
- Integrate water management systems into the business, in order to minimise environmental risks
So how are businesses managing water resources? Some examples include:
BAA: A water management scheme at Terminal 5 reduces BAA’s reliance on
mains water and economically harvests water from rainfall on campus and
boreholes on its own land
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1364).
AWG: “RiverCare” programme a community approach to involving
communities in cleaning up watercourses
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1314).
United Utilities: Establishment of a multi-partner sustainable water
catchment management programme to deliver improved water quantity and
quality. (http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1360)
Land management
Land management refers to the sustainable management and development of
land resources. Land management practices often include, conserving and
enhancing the natural environment, ensuring that industrial processes
do not exploit land resources and foster social and economic well
being. It is in a business’s and individual’s best interest to act
responsibly with land resources and manage them effectively. Poor land
management practices can lead to heightened environmental risks with a
rise in CO2 emissions and the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity
and plant diversity. Also businesses can be affected greatly through
poor land management, with high cleanup costs, consumer boycotts and
increased pressure from environmentalists and NGOs. Alternatively,
sustainable land management can have beneficial factors in terms of
climate change impacts, wildlife, biodiversity, social well-being,
social equity and help the bottom line; for example:
Wangari Maathai: “Promoting ecologically viable social, economic and
cultural development”
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1091).
For more information please contact Fiona Banyard on
fionab@article13.com or call 020 8840 4450. Please also see Article
13’s website www.article13.com
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