Integrating ecohydrology, water management, and watershed economy: case studies from Brazil

In this essay the authors discuss the integration of ecohydrology, water management practice and watershed economy as fundamentals for the new water governance paradigm. The “nature's software” - ecohydrological processes and resulting ecosystem services should be coupled with 'human hardware' in the form of civil and hydrotechnical engineering, ecological engineering and ecosystem biotechnologies in a template of hydrosocial cycle adapting to the global changes. The competent and adequate water governance requires as a priority water security for the human population and for ecosystem functioning. Three case studies from Brazil are presented in order to illustrate how this integration has been realized so far, and the benefits for ecosystems and economy are presented. The case studies are: the Lobo Broa reservoir project, the sustainable management of the Pantanal wetland, and the São Francisco River Basin Management Plan. The practical results of these conceptual approaches are discussed and future research needs are identified.