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Watershed protection: Capturing the benefits of nature's water supply services

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  • Sandra L. Postel
  • Barton H. Thompson

Abstract

Healthy watersheds provide valuable services to society, including the supply and purification of fresh water. Because these natural ecosystem services lie outside the traditional domain of commercial markets, they are undervalued and underprotected. With population and development pressures leading to the rapid modification of watershed lands, valuable hydrological services are being lost, which poses risks to the quality and cost of drinking water and the reliability of water supplies. Increasing the scale and scope of programmes to protect hydrological services requires policies that harmonize land uses in watersheds with the provision of these important natural services. This article summarizes key attributes of hydrological services and their economic benefits; presents a spectrum of institutional mechanisms for safeguarding those services; discusses programmes in Quito (Ecuador), Costa Rica and New York City; and offers some lessons learned and recommendations for achieving higher levels of watershed protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra L. Postel & Barton H. Thompson, 2005. "Watershed protection: Capturing the benefits of nature's water supply services," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 29(2), pages 98-108, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:29:y:2005:i:2:p:98-108
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2005.00119.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Cristini, Hélène & Kauppinen-Räisänen, Hannele, 2020. "Managing the transformation of the global commons into luxuries for all," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 467-473.
    2. Elizabeth A. Obeng & Kwame A. Oduro & Beatrice D. Obiri, 2024. "Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Predicting US Residents’ Willingness to Pay to Restore Degraded Tropical Rainforest Watersheds," Journal of Sustainable Development, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(6), pages 1-62, July.
    3. Rubbi, Fabio, 2025. "Ecosystem services demand in social-ecological systems: towards a typology of assessment approaches," FEEM Working Papers 386092, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    4. Křeček, Josef & Haigh, Martin, 2019. "Land use policy in headwater catchments," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 410-414.
    5. Zheng, Bofu & Guo, Qinghai & Wei, Yuansong & Deng, Hongbing & Ma, Keming & Liu, Junxin & Zhao, Jingzhu & Zhang, Xingshan & Zhao, Yu, 2008. "Water source protection and industrial development in the Shandong Peninsula, China from 1995 to 2004: A case study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(8), pages 1065-1076.
    6. Křeček, Josef & Palán, Ladislav & Stuchlík, Evžen, 2019. "Impacts of land use policy on the recovery of mountain catchments from acidification," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 439-448.
    7. Agung Budi Supangat & Tyas Mutiara Basuki & Yonky Indrajaya & Ogi Setiawan & Nining Wahyuningrum & Purwanto & Pamungkas Buana Putra & Endang Savitri & Dewi Retna Indrawati & Diah Auliyani & Ryke Nandi, 2023. "Sustainable Management for Healthy and Productive Watersheds in Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-34, October.
    8. Kumar, Suresh & Madhu, M & Singh, Ranjay K & Kaushal, Rajesh & Jyotiprava Dash, Ch. & Gowda, Hombe H.C. & Barla, GW, 2024. "Changes in the value of ecosystem services due to watershed development in India’s Eastern Ghats and incentives for better stewardship," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Lalisa Duguma & Esther Kamwilu & Peter A Minang & Judith Nzyoka & Kennedy Muthee, 2020. "Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Bioenergy and the Need for Regenerative Supply Options for Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-22, October.
    10. George Mitri & Georgy Nasrallah & Manal Nader, 2021. "Spatial distribution and landscape impact analysis of quarries and waste dumpsites," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12302-12325, August.
    11. Rasmussen, Laura Vang & Fold, Niels & Olesen, Rasmus Skov & Shackleton, Sheona, 2021. "Socio-economic outcomes of ecological infrastructure investments," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    12. Veronica Relano & Maria Lourdes Deng Palomares & Daniel Pauly, 2021. "Comparing the Performance of Four Very Large Marine Protected Areas with Different Levels of Protection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    13. Dong, Xiaobin & Wang, Xiaowan & Wei, Hejie & Fu, Bojie & Wang, Jijun & Uriarte-Ruiz, Michelle, 2021. "Trade-offs between local farmers' demand for ecosystem services and ecological restoration of the Loess Plateau, China," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    14. Nehra, Arpita & Baker, Justin S. & Caldwell, Peter V. & Martin, Katherine L. & Warziniack, Travis W. & Manner, Richard H. & Mihiar, Christopher M. & Frey, Gregory E. & Costanza, Jennifer K., 2025. "The potential impact of forest loss on drinking water treatment costs in the southeastern U.S," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    15. Fabio Rubbi, 2025. "Ecosystem services demand in social-ecological systems: towards a typology of assessment approaches," Working Papers 2025.33, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

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