Environmental flows allocation is an intrinsic part of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). This paper analyses socio‐political issues and effects of environmental flows integration on water availability under the context of increased agricultural intensification in an effort to tackle food insecurity. Lack of appropriate framework comprising the procedural requirements and strategic directions as well as prevalence of politically motivated ad hoc development programmes are among major challenges identified. Introducing environmental flows to a perceived satisfactory level would result in a significant increase of unmet irrigation water demand, yet, “productivity first” norm overtakes. This is presumed to be due to skewed focus on irrigation expansion and low awareness on the possible consequences. The particular challenges highlighted generally unveil the inherent contradictions in the IWRM concept putting its claim that the set of principles and entire course stand universally accepted as a means to balance socio‐economic and environmental outcomes under question.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚阿瓦什河流域实施水资源综合管理的困境：灌溉发展与环境流量

环境流量分配是水资源综合管理（IWRM）的固有部分。为了解决粮食不安全问题，本文在农业集约化加剧的背景下，分析了社会政治问题以及环境流量整合对水供应的影响。所确定的主要挑战包括缺乏程序要求和战略方向以及缺乏政治动机的临时发展方案的适当框架。将环境流量引入到令人满意的水平将导致未满足的灌溉需水量显着增加，但是“生产力至上”的规范超标。据推测，这是由于偏重于灌溉扩展和对可能后果的认识不足。