Externe Publikationen

Quantifying well-being values of environmental flows for equitable decision-making: a case study of the Hamoun wetlands in Iran

Meijer, Karen / Sara Hajiamiri
Externe Publikationen (2007)

in: Journal of River Basin Management 5 (3), 223-233

Information

Construction of dams and reservoirs affects various groups of people. People who are often the losers from construction and operation of dams are the users of downstream ecosystems. To consider the needs of these people in water resources decision‐making, the relationships between water, ecosystem and human well‐being need to be assessed. This should lead to quantified criteria scores to support the decision‐maker. Current environmental flow assessment methods focus on the relationship between water and ecosystems, but leave a gap where quantifiable criteria on human well‐being are concerned.

This paper discusses an approach for quantifying the effect of changed flow regimes on human well‐being in an Integrated Water Resources Management study in Iran. The study shows the different effects on different groups of people, and in this way contributes to the consideration of social equity in decision‐making in Integrated Water Resources Management.