Human values and perceptions of water in arid landscapes

Human perceptions and values regarding water in arid landscapes are multi-f aceted. Water is valued for life sustaining and practical aspects such as d rinking, bathing, and cooking. Water is also one of the most important and most attractive visual elements of the landscape. Water has important effec ts on landforms through sedimentation and erosion, and on the types, quanti ties and distributions of vegetation, aquatic organisms, and wildlife. In a rid landscapes especially, there are a wide range of cultural, spiritual, a nd religious values related to water. Changes in water regimes and the asso ciated changes in landforms, vegetation and wildlife can have significant e ffects on many different types of human perceptions and values. Current pol icies for water management emphasize technical standards and legal regulati ons that address only a few of the relevant human values, primarily those i nvolving consumptive uses, More comprehensive water policies addressing the broader array of human perceptions, meanings and values related to water a re needed, especially in arid areas. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.