A two-stage water allocation strategy for developing regional economic-environment sustainability

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Operations Research

Background:

• Water resource systems face increasing complexity and uncertainty, impacting regional economic-environment sustainability.
• Effective planning requires integrated approaches that consider both economic development and environmental protection.
• Existing models often struggle to address the multifaceted uncertainties inherent in water management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a two-stage stochastic interval-parameter fuzzy programming model for regional economic-environment sustainability.
• To create a participatory integrated assessment model for water resource and water-environment systems.
• To enhance decision-making in water management by balancing economic benefits and environmental security.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel two-stage stochastic interval-parameter fuzzy programming strategy model.
• Incorporation of economic and environmental factors within an optimization framework.
• Application of the model to the Sanjiang Plain area, China, considering water quantity and quality constraints.

Main Results:

• The model effectively addresses complexity and uncertainty in water systems.
• Optimized strategies for maximizing water benefits across livelihood, production, and ecological sectors were identified.
• Decision results under various water shortage scenarios were calculated, aiding resource allocation.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a robust framework for regional economic-environment sustainability.
• It assists decision-makers in resource allocation and understanding economic-environmental trade-offs.
• The approach enhances the planning and management of water resources and water-environment systems under uncertainty.