Food security, energy concerns and the potential impacts of climate change (including floods and droughts) have brought dams back to the forefront of the development agenda. This report reviews the experience with displacement of affected people in West Africa over the last 40 years and examines mechanisms for distributing the benefits of dams more equitably and ensuring that affected people are better off.

Sécurité alimentaire, approvisionnements en énergie et impacts potentiels des changements climatiques (inondations et sécheresses) ont hissé les barrages aux plus hauts échelons de l’agenda du développement. Faire en sorte que les populations touchées par les barrages en soient les bénéficiaires directs promeut l’acceptation publique, réduit les risques assumés par les promoteurs et la possibilité de conflit à long terme entre les populations déplacées et les villages qui les accueillent.

This publication highlights the link between rain-water harvesting, ecosystems and human well being and draws the attention of readers to both the negative and positive aspects of using this technology and how the negative benefits can be minimized and positive capitalized.

Water resources management is increasingly interdisciplinary and must take into account complex socio-economic factors and environmental variables. This volume describes the 'system approach' and its application to contemporary water resources management, focusing on three main sets of tools: simulation, optimization and multi-objective analysis.

Examines the integrated management of water resources in urban settings, focusing on issues specific to arid and semi-arid regions. The urban water management system is considered here as two integrated processes: water supply management and water excess management. Case studies include: Mexico City, Mexico, Tucson, Arizona; Awash River Basin, Ethiopia; China; and Cairo, Egypt.

Marine litter is an ecological, economic, health and aesthetic problem. It is a complex and multi-dimensional challenge with significant implications for the marine and coastal environment, and human activities all over the world. The persistence of marine litter is the result of a lack of coordinated global and regional strategies, and deficiencies in the implementation and enforcement of existing programmes, regulations and standards at all levels – international, regional and national.

The main problem in North America is the location of water resources relative to large population centers where the majority of the freshwater drains away from the bulk of the population. Climate variability and change is a reality. It raises the impact on variability and availability within the continent, which is characterized by its different climatic regions.

The hydro-vulnerability of Europe is governed by the institutions created to resolve transboundary water issues in a cooperative manner that attempts to prevent potential conflict.

Despite the central role oceans play in the economic, environmental and social affairs of the planet's 6.7 billion inhabitants, significant gaps exist in our understanding and management of the complex processes at work from the global climate system, to the water cycle and circulation of nutrients, to changes affecting marine habitats. In addition, the vastness of the world's oceans
have for far too long been perceived as impervious and indestructible to human impact.

This handbook was conceived as a practical tool to be used by decision- makers and practitioners in both tourism sector and ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management).

The groundbreaking " Silver Bullet or Fools Gold " (2002) reviewed the state of markets for environmental services worldwide and their likely impacts on the poor. Here we present a follow up review on payments for watershed services initiatives in developing countries.

Oceans Governance in the Twenty-first Century analyses the development of national, regional and international initiatives and arrangements directed towards governance of the world's seas and oceans.  The authors examine those factors that shape oceans governance, as well as the supports and constraints affecting policy development and implementation.