Beyond the Source
A report showing environmental, economic and community benefits of source water protection. Healthy source watersheds act as natural infrastructure, supplying cities with clean water and supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, food security and well-being. As urban demand grows, protecting these vital areas is key to water security and sustainable development for communities and nature globally, driving long-term resilience.
Subject Tags
- Climate impacts
- Climate resilience
- Climate mitigation
Healthy source watersheds are vital natural infrastructure for nearly all cities around the world. They collect, store and filter water and provide benefits for biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food security, and human health and well-being. Today, an estimated 1.7 billion people living in the world’s largest cities depend on water flowing from source watersheds sometimes located hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers away.
By 2050, those urban source watersheds will be tapped by up to two-thirds of the global population though they represent one-third of the Earth’s land surface. Cities—as hubs for employment, services and investment—will clearly be the drivers of economic growth. To grow sustainably, cities will need to play an active role in protecting the water sources on which people and nature depend, but they can’t do it on their own. Source watersheds are a nexus for action for those working to build resilient cities, improve water security, drive sustainable development and create a stable climate.