ABSTRACT
Floodplain wetlands are sites of extraordinary biodiversity that are sensitive to long-term ecological effects of dams and water diversions. Several ecological processes and interactions among a wide range of species are triggered when water arrives in a floodplain wetland. Wetlands are among the most productive of environments. The WETwin project, funded by the European Commission under FP7, aimed to enhance the role of wetlands in integrated water resource management. The WETwin project focus was to prepare management plans for each case study. Major environmental and livelihood problems were identified in each case study of the WETwin project following the DSIR approach. The DSIR methodology applied during the WETwin project evaluated that the main impacts on the habitat and ecosystem services of the Abras de Mantequilla wetland are caused by two main activities: agriculture and water allocation projects. This chapter also presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.
