Ecohydrology and hydrogeological processes: groundwater–ecosystem interactions with special emphasis on abiotic processes

This paper presents a review on the integration of hydrological, ecological and hydrogeological processes into Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practice. These processes, for example, interact and take part in the process of creation of groundwater-related wetlands, which are an important part of the Earth's biodiversity. Tools for integrating water and ecosystems are presented, with emphasis on the hydrogeological aspects as often they are poorly considered. Recent pioneering projects (IGCP-604, UNESCO-IHP, GENESIS, and Groundwater Governance) developed models for the future integration of ecosystem health with groundwater exploitation. An IWRM approach where groundwater-related wetlands and the groundwater systems upon which they depend are included in conjunctive water management decisions can be an accepted and workable paradigm that will benefit present and future generations.