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Water-Energy-Food for Policymakers: What does it mean?
This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to address the unsustainable nature of traditional approaches to meeting the increasing demand for water, energy, and food.
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Document type: Guide
Cattail Biomass in a Watershed-Based Bioeconomy
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail (Typha spp.) biomass in Manitoba, Canada, as a method for nutrient capture and the production of bioenergy and biocarbon. The project demonstrates that harvesting cattails from wetlands and water retention sites removes phosphorus and nitrogen from the watershed, reducing nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg while providing a sustainable feedstock for solid fuels and soil amendments.
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Document type: Report
Water-Energy-Food Security: New Challenges and New Solutions for Water Management
This report presents the proceedings of a May 2012 conference in Winnipeg, Canada, focused on the 'Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) security nexus'. The document explores the interdependencies between water, energy, and food systems, emphasizing the need for integrated governance, the use of Earth Observations for monitoring, and the potential of the bioeconomy to provide sustainable solutions for these linked risks.
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Document type: Report
Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note
This briefing note summarizes a sharing circle workshop held on February 17, 2011, in Bloodvein First Nation, Manitoba. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of First Nations peoples, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.
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Document type: Briefing
Ecological Goods and Services: A Review of Best Practice in Policy and Programing
This research paper reviews international and Canadian programming and research on ecological goods and services (EGS) to guide the development of EGS policy and management in Manitoba, specifically to support a comprehensive water resources plan for Lake Winnipeg.
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Document type: Research paper
Establishing a Foundation for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin
This report details the first phase of the 'Building Capacity for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin' initiative, a partnership between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC). The project aims to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to help municipalities and counties in the Red River Basin (RRB) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ecological infrastructure investments—such as restoring natural environments—compared to traditional 'hard' infrastructure for flood control and water quality management.
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Document type: Report
Water Quality Trading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin: A multi-level trading system architecture
The International Institute for Sustainable Development proposes a multi-level Water Quality Trading (WQT) system architecture for the Lake Winnipeg Basin to reduce phosphorus emissions and combat eutrophication.
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Document type: Report
Peak Phosphorus: Opportunity in the Making
This report examines the risks associated with "peak phosphorus"—the point when demand for rock phosphate exceeds supply—and its implications for global food security and water quality. It focuses on the Lake Winnipeg Basin as a case study for extreme eutrophication and proposes a transition toward phosphorus stewardship through nutrient recovery, recycling, and improved agricultural practices to reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers.
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Document type: Report
Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note: Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba
This briefing note summarizes a March 2011 sharing circle workshop facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba. The workshop explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of the community, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.
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Document type: Briefing
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.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Nature’s wealth
This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, with a specific focus on Manitoba, Canada. It details the services wetlands provide—such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration—while highlighting the severe loss of these ecosystems due to agriculture and urbanization. The document also explores innovative uses for cattails as bioenergy and discusses regional conservation and restoration initiatives.
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Document type: Report
Water
This fact sheet describes the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) approach to freshwater management, which integrates scientific research from the IISD Experimental Lakes Area with policy solutions for watershed management, bioeconomies, and international basin cooperation.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity: Manitoba
This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development details the economic impact and growth potential of the natural infrastructure sector in Manitoba and across the Canadian Prairies, highlighting its role in addressing water infrastructure gaps and increasing climate resilience.
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Document type: Fact sheet
A perspective from the water science community
This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines the water science community's perspective on the role of water in the green economy, emphasizing that water security is fundamental to food and energy production and requires integrated management to address climate and land-use change.
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Document type: Briefing
Water-Energy-Food for Policymakers: What does it mean?
This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, highlighting the need for integrated policy approaches to avoid unintended consequences when managing these three interdependent essentials. It details IISD's efforts to operationalize WEF security through watershed-based management in Canada and stakeholder engagement in Suriname.
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Document type: Briefing
Lower Winnipeg River Basin Discussion Sheet Series Sheet #4 | Water Quallity and Nutrient Loading
This briefing sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) summarizes water quality and nutrient loading in the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) based on data from 2018 and 2019. It details assessments of four monitoring sites, highlighting exceedances in total phosphorus and certain metals, and analyzes the river's role as a major nutrient contributor to Lake Winnipeg.
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This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing