Healthy Rivers

Key Dimension 4 Environmental Water Security To restore healthy rivers and ecosystems Healthy rivers provide valuable services to economy and society. Asia's rivers suffer from the pressures of pollution, insufficient environmental flows, watershed deterioration, and increasing population. Environmental Water Security by Subregion (population-weighted) World 60% of the world's population lives in Asla, which has the lowost per capita availability of freshwater. Index Central and West Asla 01.9 East Asla -02.0 Pacific -03.5 Asia and South Asla 01.0 the Pacific Southeast Asla -024 80% of Asia's rivers are in poor health, jeopardizing economies and the quality of life. $1.75 trillion in ecosystem services per year aro threatened. Advanced Economies -023 Challenges Improving river health requires integrated water resources management (WRM). South Asia This region has the lowest environmental water 150% of irrigated area in Central Asia is salt-affected, waterlogged, or both security, posing huge challenges for Uncoordinated Water resources development (hydropower, impoundments, flood control, diversions, etc.) negatively affect half of Asia's rivers. sustainable development. Actions to be Taken Accelerating the process of WRM with all basin stakeholders will increase the return on public investment in Water storage, productivity, and conservation. Vision Public investment, market-based approaches, and support from the private sector can reduce pollution and finance the restoration of healthy rivers. $1 invested in a river restoration program can return more than $4 in benefits. Societies can enjoy environmental water security when they successfully manage their water resources and services to restore healthy rivers and ecosystems.