ROLE OF NATURAL AREAS IN RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT

Abstract

River systems in Canada, Saskatchewan included, are becoming more regulated as the century progresses. Sound management principles and practices are essential, not only for maintaining the river systems for human use and flood control, but also for maintenance of natural ecosystems. Natural areas are needed to maintain genetic diversity and ecosystem processes and to ensure sustainable resource utilization, without which both managed and natural ecosystems eventually must collapse. This would be followed by inevitable human trauma. The management practices must be couched in thorough knowledge of natural ecosystems. This paper addresses these issues, and recommends guidelines for ecologically sound management of terrestrial ecosystems which are influenced by rivers. The guidelines are tailored to meet goals which are realistic, based on the nature of river basins with existing water developments, and on the development potential of other river basins.