Title: Irrigated agriculture and wildlife conservation: Conflict on a global scale
Authors: Lemly, A.D., Kingsford, R.T., & Thompson, J.R.
Journal: Environmental Management
Year: 2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002679910039
Species or groups: Chinook salmon, Largemouth bass, Common carp, Mosquitofish, Lahontan cutthroat trout, Canvasback ducks, Snow geese, Tundra swans, Redhead ducklings, Bald eagles, American white pelicans, Black-necked stilts, American avocets, Long-billed dowichers, White-faced ibis, egrets, river otter, mink, frogs, turtles, American curlew, muskrats, freshwater clams, aquatic snails, Straw-necked ibis, Glossy ibis, Australian white ibis, Intermediate egrets, Rufous night herons, Magpie geese, River red gums, Collibah woodland, water couch, reedbuck, Grey duiker, Red-fronted gazelle, warthog, bush pig, ferruginous duck, White-faced tree duck, Spur-winged geese, Knob-billed geese, cranes, storks, wild boar, deer, golden jackal, Eurasian spoonbill, Dalmatian pelican, Mute swan, American flamingo, Asian tiger
Other sources of evidence: NA
Abstract: The demand for water to support irrigated agriculture
has led to the demise of wetlands and their associated
wildlife for decades. This thirst for water is so pervasive
that many wetlands considered to be hemispheric reserves
for waterbirds have been heavily affected; for example, the
California and Nevada wetlands in North America, the Macquarie
Marshes in Australia, and the Aral Sea in central Asia.
These and other major wetlands have lost most of their historic
supplies of water and some have also experienced serious
impacts from contaminated subsurface irrigation drainage.
Now mere shadows of what they once were in terms of
biodiversity and wildlife production, many of the so-called
‘‘wetlands of international importance’’ are no longer the key
conservation strongholds they were in the past. The conflict
between irrigated agriculture and wildlife conservation has
reached a critical point on a global scale. Not only has local
wildlife suffered, including the extinction of highly insular
species, but a ripple effect has impacted migratory birds
worldwide. Human societies reliant on wetlands for their livelihoods
are also bearing the cost. Ironically, most of the degradation
of these key wetlands occurred during a period of
time when public environmental awareness and scientific
assertion of the need for wildlife conservation was at an alltime
high. However, designation of certain wetlands as ‘‘reserves
for wildlife’’ by international review boards has not
slowed their continued degradation. To reverse this trend,
land and water managers and policy makers must assess
the true economic costs of wetland loss and, depending on
the outcome of the assessment, use the information as a basis
for establishing legally enforceable water rights that protect
wetlands from agricultural development.
Assessment of reliability and robustness (CEESAT)
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Assessment of relevance to Canada (RASCAT)
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