In recent years, the issue of water resources has increasingly entered the global public debate. Climate change, population growth, pollution, and geopolitical tensions are pushing this topic to the forefront of attention for states and governments, as well as public opinion. All of this unfolds in a context where, according to the United Nations, more than two billion people worldwide still lack safe access to drinking water - a condition that reflects not only the physical scarcity of the resource but also deep inequalities in its distribution and management.
This situation is expected to become even more critical in the coming decades. UNESCO’s World Water Development Report estimates that global water demand could increase by up to 30% by 2050, driven mainly by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change.
Scientific literature increasingly emphasizes that the global water crisis cannot be interpreted solely as a problem of availability. As hydrologist Peter Gleick, one of the leading scholars in water policy, observes:
“The most important issue about water is not supply, but how it is used.”
For much of the twentieth century, water policies focused primarily on increasing supply: large dams, aqueducts, and inter-basin transfer systems. This approach supported the economic and agricultural development of many regions around the world, but over time it has also revealed clear limitations.
The overexploitation of groundwater, the alteration of river systems, and growing competition among different uses of the resource have made it clear that water management cannot be addressed solely from a technical or infrastructural perspective. For this reason, in recent decades the scientific debate has shifted toward the concept of water governance—the set of institutions, rules, and social practices through which water is managed.
Researcher Malin Falkenmark, one of the most influential figures in water scarcity studies, has often highlighted how deeply the water issue is linked to the organization of human societies:
“Water scarcity is ultimately a question of how societies manage and share water resources.”
From this perspective, water becomes not only an environmental issue but also a social one. Access to the resource is profoundly unequal, and the most vulnerable communities are often those most exposed to the impacts of climate change.
Several studies highlight that involving local communities and Indigenous populations in decision-making processes can help make water management more equitable and effective, especially in areas where traditional knowledge has developed adaptive practices to climate variability.
At the same time, scientific research has increasingly clarified the role of ecosystems in regulating the water cycle. Forests, soils, and agricultural systems are not just contexts in which water is used—they are active components in the functioning of watersheds.
Studies in forest hydrology show that tree cover influences key processes such as soil infiltration, surface runoff, and evapotranspiration. Tree roots improve soil structure and its capacity to retain water, while vegetation reduces erosion and stabilizes watershed slopes.
For this reason, several FAO reports describe forests as a form of “natural infrastructure” capable of supporting water security across territories.
This relationship between ecosystems and water resources is evident in numerous environmental restoration projects around the world.
One of the most studied cases is the Loess Plateau in China, where, starting in the 1990s, one of the largest ecological restoration programs ever undertaken was launched. Through reforestation, soil management, and sustainable agricultural practices, a heavily degraded and erosion-prone area has gradually been transformed into a more hydrologically stable landscape. Several studies have shown how vegetation restoration has reduced surface runoff, improved soil fertility, and increased the land’s capacity to retain water.
Another frequently cited example in the literature is watershed forest management in Costa Rica. Beginning in the 1990s, the country developed a system of payments for ecosystem services that incentivizes forest conservation and restoration. Among the recognized benefits of this program is the protection of water resources, as forest cover helps stabilize watersheds and improve the quality of water used by both cities and rural communities.
Our reforestation and agroforestry projects, developed in many regions around the world, also fit within this framework. Trees do not only serve a climatic or landscape function—they can directly influence local hydrological processes by promoting groundwater recharge, reducing surface runoff, and improving soil stability.
When these initiatives are designed in collaboration with local communities—engaging farmers and territorial stakeholders—tree planting can become part of broader strategies for the sustainable management of natural resources, including water.
Rethinking water management in the 21st century therefore means recognizing the interdependence between infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities. Alongside technological innovation and public policy, scientific research increasingly shows that the health of water systems also depends on how the territories and ecosystems that sustain them are managed.
It is within this balance between nature and society that a crucial part of territorial resilience to the climate challenges of the coming decades will be determined.