Water Funds - Natural Capital Project

Water Fund GoalsEach water fund has its own set of objectives and goals, but, in general, water funds invest in conservation of watersheds inorder to accomplish the following:1) improve or maintain water quality and water quantity for downstream users;2) maintain regular flows of water throughout the year;3) maintain or enhance natural ecosystem biodiversity, both freshwater and terrestrial; and4) improve or maintain human well-being and quality of life for upstream human communities.Using watershed conservation as a common objective water funds create:5) a multi-institutional governing body bringing together public and private partners;6) opportunities to avoid costs of water treatment by investing in nature instead of infrastructure; and7) sustainable financing for long-term conservation efforts.These goals and the mechanisms by which they are achieved will vary and can be more explicit depending on the situation,but they are the general framework for water fund operation.2 Water funds: Protecting Watersheds for Nature and People