Examine the costs and benefits for different stakeholders, for one recent integrated basin

management plan.

Whether it is in the form of a lake, a flowing river or in a plastic bottle, there is no denying the
importance of water in today's world. It is the source of life and ensures countless organisms and
animals can survive. Taking this into consideration, it is crucial to know how to manage the water
sustainably in a given area. One way this can be accomplished is by implementing an integrated
drainage basin management plan, which approaches the basin holistically. In this essay I will evaluate
the many costs and benefits that integrated basin management plans have on the effected stakeholders,
such as the local community, farmers and Indigenous people, by examining the Murray Darling Basin,
located in Australia.

Firstly, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan aims to significantly reduce the quantities of water allocated for
irrigation, by as much as 40%. This has the power to significantly impact farmers located in the area. By
having less available water for their crops, they will also produce smaller yield and consequently earn
much less. This is a notable cost for farmers, whose livelihoods depend on water from the Murray
Darling Basin.

The basin is home to countless species, which rely on it for shelter, food and water. Within it live 120
waterbird species and more than 50 native fish species. So much precious wildlife resides in the borders
of the basin, and by lowering the commercial use of water, more of it can be used to sustain all of the
animals and support natural processes. Additionally, it will support all the internationally recognized and
protected wetlands located in the basin, of which there are 16. Wetlands are a priceless type of land, as
they protect from storms and flooding. With the possibility for all the positive effects for the
environment, the plan is supported by local environmentalist groups, who see it as a benefit to their
surroundings.

Another stakeholder who is affected by this plan is the general population of Australia. More than 3
million Australians rely on the basin for drinking water. Not only will the plan reduce the amount of
water available to them, but it will also decrease the produce grown locally inside of the basin. Since
40% of Australia's agricultural produce is grown within the Murray-Darling Basin, this will have
significant costs for the population of the entire country.
Lastly, the last stakeholder I will be examining are Aboriginal Nations, who reside in the basin. The basin
is home to more than 50 First Nations. They have a profound spiritual attachment to the basin, for them
it is considered a sacred place. And as there are over 70,000 Indigenous people living in the basin, they
are a stakeholder with a lot of power. Additionally, over 50% also rely on the water from the basin for
fishing and hunting for their food. For them, the basin plan is a benefit.

In conclusion, the integrated drainage basin management plan of the Murray-Darling Basin brings along
several consequences, both good and bad. It has the power to affect people's jobs, their access to
water, however, also to improve the natural environment relying on the water and protect the local
environment from natural disasters. After analyzing the effects, it is clear that IDBM brings more
benefits than costs.