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Module It is clear that environmental issues are interlinked. An understanding and appreciation of these interlinkages
5 is part of telling an integrated story of an environmental issue. For example, a driver (population growth in
a forested watershed) can result in many environmental pressures such as increased logging and sewage
discharge to rivers (Figure 3). Similarly, a pressure can have an effect on many environmental states (e.g.,
logging affecting the state of forest cover, soil quality and, in turn, water quality).
9-12 December, 2013 Figure 3 Interlinkages among environmental issues
Example
CASE EXAMPLE
Telling an integrated story about the issue of Pollution of groundwater in Abu Dhabi Emirate
UAE http://www.soe.ae/Abu_themespage.Aspx?m=49#459
Nitrate and Chromium occur naturally in the groundwater at levels that exceed drinking water standards.
Nitrate from inorganic fertilizers is also the main pollutant of fresh groundwater. Nitrate levels exceed
drinking water guidelines for a bulk of the groundwater. Exposure to high levels of nitrate represents a
health risk. Desalinated sea water is now the main source of drinking water.
22 Integrated Analysis of Environmental Trends and Policies
