•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Analysis of major watershed basins in a global vision provides a crucial information on sustainable management of water resource throughout the Earth. In this review, a globally significant watersheds were reviewed including the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia), Yangtze River basin (Asia), Volga River Basin (Europe), Nile River Basin (Africa), Hudson Bay Watershed & Mississippi Basin (Canada/North America), and the Amazon Basin (South America). A detailed overview was performed on emphasizing climate, agriculture, hydrology, groundwater, and ecological aspects of the watershed basins, providing holistic knowledge in terms of their environmental and socio-economic impacts. This review explores the challenges which are encountered by these watershed basins, involving over-allocation of water, loss of biodiversity because of water deficiency, deforestation, and advancement of hydroelectric power. Also, it examines the fundamental strategies for sustainable management of water, including climate adaptation, improvement of water quality control, and incorporation of ecosystem health principles. The result of review suggests that future research should emphasize advancing basin management, with specific attention to the Mississippi and Nile basins, to balance human demands with sustainability of ecology. Further, the review presents critical insights and guidelines for protecting these essential watersheds basins, supporting additional effective decision-making and sustainable management practices that can certify their long-term sustainability in the face of growing environmental impacts.

Download

Included in

Engineering Commons

Share

COinS