An integrated representation of the services provided by global water resources

摘要: Water is essential not only to maintain the livelihoods of human beings but also sustain ecosystems. Over last few decades several global assessments have reviewed current and future uses water, offered potential solutions a possible water crisis. However, these tended focus on supply rather than range demands for all services (including those ecosystems). In this paper, holistic view resources they provide presented, using Sankey diagrams as visualisation tool. These valuable addition spatial maps other assessments, track sources, uses, sinks resources. They facilitate comparison different services, highlight trade-offs amongst them. For example, reveal how increasing one service (crop production) can generate reduction in provision (e.g., ecosystem maintenance). The impacts efficiency improvements use are highlighted; soil evaporation from crop production through better farming practices, or results improved treatment re-use return flows leading delivery final sinks. This paper outlines measures needed ensure sustainable resource multiple competing future, emphasises that integrated management land achieve goal.