Rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management: Towards Water and Food Security through Adaptive Management

The document advocates for a transition toward a green economy in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region by rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to include the anthropo-hydrogeological cycle and non-conventional water resources. It highlights the role of virtual water trade, noting that the region was a net exporter of green virtual water and a net importer of blue virtual water between 1996 and 2005. The text emphasizes that achieving water security requires overcoming challenges related to resource-intensive economic growth and pollution through enhanced institutional communication, political will, and civil-society engagement across multiple levels of water governance.

• Modern Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) involves analyzing the anthropo-hydrogeological cycle and incorporating non-conventional resources, including water reuse, rainwater harvesting, conjunctive use, and virtual water trade.
• Between 1996 and 2005, the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region acted as a net exporter of green virtual water (141.5km3/yr), primarily from Brazil and Argentina, while acting as a net importer of blue virtual water (16.1km3/yr), primarily in Mexico.
• Water security in the LAC region is threatened by economic growth driven by intensive land and water use, which has led to increased pollution and loss of biodiversity. Addressing this requires strengthening stakeholder involvement and coordination across governance levels, from international spheres to irrigation districts, supported by political will and civil-society engagement.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management: Towards Water and Food Security through Adaptive Management. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/rethinking-integrated-water-resources-management-towards-water-and-food-security-through-adaptive-management/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management: Towards Water and Food Security through Adaptive Management. 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/rethinking-integrated-water-resources-management-towards-water-and-food-security-through-adaptive-management/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management: Towards Water and Food Security through Adaptive Management |date=16 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/rethinking-integrated-water-resources-management-towards-water-and-food-security-through-adaptive-management/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025rethinking, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Rethinking Integrated Water Resources Management: Towards Water and Food Security through Adaptive Management}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/rethinking-integrated-water-resources-management-towards-water-and-food-security-through-adaptive-management/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }