management

4. Accelerating actions towards target 6.6

In the context of the 2030 Agenda, SDG target 6.6 asks countries to protect and restore their water-related ecosystems so that they can continue to provide goods and services to society and allow plant and animal species to remain in their natural habitat. The target does not quantify an intended physical area to be protected globally, nor does it specify a number of ecosystem types requiring protection. Given the complex and context-specific interactions between ecosystems and the pressures that cause above-normal variations in ecosystem extent, the scope and scale of their protection varies considerably within and between countries and must take into account localized contexts. As the data analysis within this report has shown, some countries and subregional areas are experiencing significant changes in ecosystem extent, across ecosystem types. Countries are encouraged to assess the global maps and regional trend charts, and access the data available on the Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer to determine where specific ecosystem changes are occurring in their country, and to act on this information to halt ecosystem loss and degradation where necessary.

4.1. Advancing integrated water resources management to achieve good ecosystem management

IWRM is one of the most effective means of ensuring the sustained provision of ecosystem goods and services, as it specifically tackles the challenge of balancing water needs for social and economic purposes, without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. IWRM involves a coordinated, multisectoral approach to actions being taken with respect to laws, policies and plans, institutions and stakeholder participation, management instruments and financing.

For ecosystem management to be effective, it is important to establish laws, policies and plans and ensure that there is adequate institutional capacity (including human and financial resources) to implement and enforce these at various levels (national to basin). Cross-sector coordination and stakeholder participation should also be effective (including the private sector) and there should be sufficient data and information-sharing and support systems for informed and inclusive decision-making, as well as sufficient funding, including innovative revenue funding and “valuing” of ecosystems and their role/function in order to tap into various

revenue streams (for example, for climate resilience, flood and drought mitigation, water security and water quality).

SDG indicator 6.5.1 monitors the degree of IWRM implementation and progress on target 6.5, and can therefore strongly support progress on target 6.6. Figure 33 shows the degree of implementation of management tools for freshwater ecosystems as reported under indicator 6.5.1. It shows that around 50 per cent of all countries consider their management tools as insufficient for effective ecosystem management, due to being either ad hoc projects or programmes with limited reach across ecosystem types found throughout their territories. Advancing water-related ecosystem management, and in turn supporting target 6.6, is a particularly high priority in these countries.

Figure 33. Development and implementation of management tools for freshwater ecosystems as reported under SDG indicator 6.5.1 (2020)

Sources: UNEP, 2021

The SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme assists governments in designing and implementing IWRM action plans as an entry point to accelerate progress towards the achievement of water-related SDGs and other development goals, in line with national priorities. The IWRM Acceleration Package20 is available to all countries to facilitate government-led multistakeholder processes to develop these action plans. The inclusion in this process of institutions with responsibility for protecting and restoring ecosystems will directly support action for target 6.6.

20 See https://www.gwp.org/en/sdg6support/consultations/where-we-need-to-go/acceleration-package/.