Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes a watershed-scale bioeconomy that utilizes naturally occurring plant materials and agricultural by-products to create sustainable industries. By bundling tangible products (like bioenergy and bioplastics) with ecosystem services (such as nutrient recovery and carbon credits), IISD aims to improve water quality and rural economies. Examples include using cattails in the Lake Winnipeg region of Canada and common reeds at Wuliangsuhai Lake in China to remove excess nutrients from the environment while generating commercial revenue.

• IISD's approach to the bioeconomy focuses on a watershed scale to create synergies between natural systems, such as hydrology, and socioeconomic systems, such as agriculture. This holistic method bundles tangible end-products with environmental, social, and economic benefits, including carbon and methane credits, habitat improvement, flood and drought protection, and the recovery of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen to reduce algal blooms and reliance on mined rock phosphates.
• In the Lake Winnipeg region of Canada, IISD has researched the use of cattails (Typha spp.) as a raw material for a regional bioeconomy. Cattails are used to capture nitrogen and phosphorus from the watershed before they reach the lake. Developed products include biochar, biocomposites, building materials, solid and liquid fertilizers, and various forms of bioenergy such as pellets, cubes, biomethane, syngas, ethanol, and biocoal.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-bioeconomies-watershed-scale-brochure.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-bioeconomies-watershed-scale-brochure.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-bioeconomies-watershed-scale-brochure.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndbioeconomies, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-bioeconomies-watershed-scale-brochure.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }