With reference to Bangladesh.

In this book the authors argue for a paradigm shift in the way African wetlands are considered. Current policies and wetland management are too frequently underpinned by a perspective that views agriculture simply as a threat and disregards its important contribution to livelihoods. In rural areas where people are entrenched in poverty, wetlands (in particular wetland agriculture) have a critical role to play in supporting and developing peoples' livelihoods. Furthermore, as populations rise and climate change takes grip they will be increasingly important. The authors argue that an approach to wetland management that is much more people focused is required. That is an approach that instead of being concerned primarily with environmental outcomes is centred on livelihood outcomes supported by the sustainable use of natural wetland resources. The authors stress the need for Integrated Water Resource Management and landscape approaches to ensure sustainable use of wetlands throughout a river catchment and the need for wetland management interventions to engage with a wide range of stakeholders. They also assess the feasibility of creating incentives and value in wetlands to support sustainable use. Drawing on nine empirical case studies, this book highlights the different ways in which sustainable use of wetlands has been sought, each case focusing on specific issues about wetlands, agriculture and livelihoods.

Wetlands are vital and valuable resources, both as rich and unique wildlife habitats, and for the functions they fulfil - providing flood and sediment control and coastal protection, as carbon sinks and pollution buffers, for their role in storing and recycling nutrients, as well as for their recreational value. Too often, however, their true value has been overlooked or underestimated and they have been mismanaged or destroyed as a result. This volume, commissioned by the OECD presents four case studies of the management policies of wetland environments in the UK, USA, France and Spain. They show how both markets and direct intervention have resulted in failure, severely reducing the amount of wetland and jeopardizing the remainder ,and they set out measures that will mitigate damage in the future .Turner and Jones have produced an essential work in the growing area of environmental economics. Originally published in 1991

The lack of sufficient access to clean water is a common problem faced by communities, efforts to alleviate poverty and gender inequality and improve economic growth in developing countries. While reforms have been implemented to manage water resources, these have taken little notice of how people use and manage their water and have had limited effect at the ground level. On the other hand, regulations developed within communities are livelihood-oriented and provide incentives for collective action but they can also be hierarchal, enforcing power and gender inequalities. This book shows how bringing together the strengths of community-based laws rooted in user participation and the formalized legal systems of the public sector, water management regimes will be more able to reach their goals.

These 16 papers and final recommendations provide up-to-date information and offer guidance on future wetlands development options.