Product Description

By the year 2025, nearly 2 billion people will live in regions or countries with absolute water scarcity. Given this global water crisis, how should the planet's water be used and managed? Current international water policy sees nature competing with human use: the task for humanity is to divide the planet's water between human needs and protecting the environment. Hunt takes issue with this perspective. She suggests that nature is the source of water and only by making the conservation of nature an absolute priority will we have water in the future to apply to human uses. It is essential to manage water in ways that maintain the water cycle and the ecosystems that support it. This book looks at the complexity of the problem and provides a wide array of ideas, information, case studies and ecological knowledge - often from the remote corners of the developing world - that could provide an alternative vision for water use and mangement at this critical time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #562584 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
'Constance Hunt does a valuable service by providing a concise and readable primer on the task of preserving the freshwater ecosystems on which we all depend. Thirsty Planet is required reading for anyone interested in learning what tools we have available to meet one of the greatest challenges to humanity and nature in the 21st century.' - Kathryn S. Fuller, President, World Wildlife Fund 'This is a tremendous book for anyone taking a serious look at global water problems. Constance Hunt exposes the powerful forces that have damaged rivers and watersheds and impaired the ability of natural ecosystems to supply clean water. She shows that the big water companies are using their power for a dramatic takeover of public water resources for private profit without thought of sustainability for the long term.' - Brent Blackwelder, President, Friends of the Earth

Synopsis
By the year 2025, nearly 2 billion people will live in regions or countries with absolute water scarcity. Given this global water crisis, how should the planet's water be used and managed? Current international water policy sees nature competing with human use: the task for humanity is to divide the planet's water between human needs and protecting the environment. Hunt takes issue with this perspective. She suggests that nature is the source of water and only by making the conservation of nature an absolute priority will we have water in the future to apply to human uses. It is essential to manage water in ways that maintain the water cycle and the ecosystems that support it. This book looks at the complexity of the problem and provides a wide array of ideas, information, case studies and ecological knowledge - often from the remote corners of the developing world - that could provide an alternative vision for water use and mangement at this critical time.

About the Author
Constance Hunt is a biologist and environmentalist specialising in international policy and global campaigns for water management and conservation. She has advised the WWF for Nature - International Living Waters Campaign and managed WWF policy and field projects for sustainable river and wetland management . She is the author/editor of two books on conservation and many articles on sustainable water resources development.