The Natural Environment is of Great Importance in Water Security
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy
The importance of the natural environment in water security is very important. The natural environment is a set of systems that directly affect the quality and quantity of water. The importance of the natural environment in terms of water security can be addressed under main headings such as protecting water resources and water quality, regulating the climate, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance, and reducing disaster risks. The natural environment primarily plays a very important role in protecting and sustaining water resources. In this context, forests, wetlands and natural vegetation in our natural environment protect underground and surface water resources. These areas allow rainwater to filter into the soil. They also contribute to the protection of underground water levels and feed water basins. Thus, reducing the risk of drought.
The natural environment also has an important function in protecting water quality. The natural environment acts as a filter that prevents water pollution. In addition, forests and vegetation prevent erosion, so that soil does not mix with water. Wetlands can naturally filter pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals. Natural ecosystems support the healthy functioning of the water cycle, provide a balance between evaporation and precipitation, and affect the rain regime by creating microclimates. Aquatic ecosystems in the natural environment reduce the effects of extreme climate events such as drought and flood. A healthy natural environment supports aquatic ecosystems and provides home to millions of living organisms and plants. These organisms and plants are important for the continuity of the ecosystem and the renewal of water.
The natural environment also has an important function in protecting water quality. The natural environment acts as a filter that prevents water pollution. In addition, forests and vegetation prevent erosion, so that soil does not mix with water. Wetlands can naturally filter pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals. Natural ecosystems support the healthy functioning of the water cycle, provide a balance between evaporation and precipitation, and affect the rain regime by creating microclimates. Aquatic ecosystems in the natural environment reduce the effects of extreme climate events such as drought and flood. A healthy natural environment supports aquatic ecosystems and provides home to millions of living beings. These creatures are important for the continuity of the ecosystem and the renewal of water.
As long as the natural environment can remain free from the destructive effects of humanity, they also play an important role in reducing the effects of disasters such as floods and inundations. In addition, forests, which are one of the most important elements of the natural environment, absorb water and slow down surface flow. In addition, wetlands protect the settlements that humanity has created by occupying water basins by holding flood waters. In summary, it is not possible to provide sustainable water security without the natural environment. Therefore, deforestation, concreting and destruction of natural areas endanger both the quantity and quality of water in the long term. There is a very close relationship between natural environmental security and water security that feeds each other. This situation requires the implementation of water security and environmental security policies with an integrated understanding at the river basin scale.
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The Natural Environment is of Great Importance in Water Security
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy
The importance of the natural environment in water security is very important. The natural environment is a set of systems that directly affect the quality and quantity of water. The importance of the natural environment in terms of water security can be addressed under main headings such as protecting water resources and water quality, regulating the climate, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance, and reducing disaster risks. The natural environment primarily plays a very important role in protecting and sustaining water resources. In this context, forests, wetlands and natural vegetation in our natural environment protect underground and surface water resources. These areas allow rainwater to filter into the soil. They also contribute to the protection of underground water levels and feed water basins. Thus, reducing the risk of drought.
The natural environment also has an important function in protecting water quality. The natural environment acts as a filter that prevents water pollution. In addition, forests and vegetation prevent erosion, so that soil does not mix with water. Wetlands can naturally filter pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals. Natural ecosystems support the healthy functioning of the water cycle, provide a balance between evaporation and precipitation, and affect the rain regime by creating microclimates. Aquatic ecosystems in the natural environment reduce the effects of extreme climate events such as drought and flood. A healthy natural environment supports aquatic ecosystems and provides home to millions of living organisms and plants. These organisms and plants are important for the continuity of the ecosystem and the renewal of water.
The natural environment also has an important function in protecting water quality. The natural environment acts as a filter that prevents water pollution. In addition, forests and vegetation prevent erosion, so that soil does not mix with water. Wetlands can naturally filter pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals. Natural ecosystems support the healthy functioning of the water cycle, provide a balance between evaporation and precipitation, and affect the rain regime by creating microclimates. Aquatic ecosystems in the natural environment reduce the effects of extreme climate events such as drought and flood. A healthy natural environment supports aquatic ecosystems and provides home to millions of living beings. These creatures are important for the continuity of the ecosystem and the renewal of water.
As long as the natural environment can remain free from the destructive effects of humanity, they also play an important role in reducing the effects of disasters such as floods and inundations. In addition, forests, which are one of the most important elements of the natural environment, absorb water and slow down surface flow. In addition, wetlands protect the settlements that humanity has created by occupying water basins by holding flood waters. In summary, it is not possible to provide sustainable water security without the natural environment. Therefore, deforestation, concreting and destruction of natural areas endanger both the quantity and quality of water in the long term. There is a very close relationship between natural environmental security and water security that feeds each other. This situation requires the implementation of water security and environmental security policies with an integrated understanding at the river basin scale.
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