MOSCOW, November 18 (Sputnik) — Natural solutions like reforestation and improved farming practices could improve water quality for more than 700 million people worldwide, suggests a report by The Nature Conservancy, released Tuesday.
The report titled "Urban Water Blueprint: Mapping Conservation Solutions to the Global Water Challenge" made in partnership with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the International Water Association analyzes the state of water in more than 2,000 watersheds and 530 cities worldwide.
According to the report, the continuing growth of urban populations together with climate change and the long-term degradation of drinking watersheds "poses increasing risks to urban water supply with serious implications for the future health and well-being of urban residents." However, five key conservation strategies – forest protection, reforestation, agricultural best management practices, riparian (river bank habitats) restoration and forest fuel reduction – "could measurably improve the quality of water sources serving over 700 million people living in the 100 largest cities."
The study suggests that introducing better farming practices on just 0.2 percent of agricultural lands in city watersheds could improve water quality for 600 million people. Forest protection is the second most efficient practice that would benefit some 430 million urban residents. This strategy, however, requires conserving an area of about 41 million hectares. According to the study, investing in smart conservation practices could also save cities $890 million a year in treatment costs with one in four cities seeing a positive return on investments from watershed conservation.
Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy, an American nonprofit environmental organization now works in more than 35 countries across the world, employing more than 600 scientists. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, founded in 2005, comprises 69 megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
