Irrigated Agriculture and Wildlife Conservation: Conflict on a Global Scale.

摘要: / The demand for water to support irrigated agriculture has led the demise of wetlands and their associated wildlife decades. This thirst is so pervasive that many considered be hemispheric reserves waterbirds have been heavily affected; example, California Nevada in North America, Macquarie Marshes Australia, Aral Sea central Asia. These other major lost most historic supplies some also experienced serious impacts from contaminated subsurface irrigation drainage. Now mere shadows what they once were terms biodiversity production, so-called "wetlands international importance" are no longer key conservation strongholds past. conflict between reached a critical point on global scale. Not only local suffered, including extinction highly insular species, but ripple effect impacted migratory birds worldwide. Human societies reliant livelihoods bearing cost. Ironically, degradation these occurred during period time when public environmental awareness scientific assertion need was at an all-time high. However, designation certain as "reserves wildlife" by review boards not slowed continued degradation. To reverse this trend, land managers policy makers must assess true economic costs wetland loss and, depending outcome assessment, use information basis establishing legally enforceable rights protect agricultural development.