Scope

This Impact Area promotes enhanced understanding of whole-ecosystem functioning in the context of the broader environment and its effects on water resources, and supports the development and application of good environmental governance systems. Activities within this Impact Area contribute to sustainable water resources management that meets the changing needs of society, by combining:

• Our understanding of good governance principles; with
• Our knowledge of environmental components (atmospheric, marine, terrestrial, aquatic, subterranean) and processes within the hydrological cycle.

The primary focus of the Impact Area will continue to be integrated into existing and new insights generated by research within and between the KSAs and by other institutions working in related fields. Although this Impact Area is characterised by integrating research at a high/meta-data analysis level, it is recognised that such research is only possible on the assumption that we have a sound foundation of appropriate basic research (and data) in place.

Objectives

The objective of the Impact Area is to contribute to achieving a situation where our governance systems and our understanding of environmental processes and functioning within the hydrological cycle are aligned to support sustainable water management that meets the needs of society.

Budget Allocation

The funding for research projects in this Impact Area is supported by the individual water-centred KSAs.