International Practice and implications for ecological water demand guarantee in transboundary rivers

The ecological water demand of transboundary rivers is of great significance for ensuring the healthy cycle of the river basin ecosystem. Based on the spatiotemporal development of international practices for ecological water demand guarantee in transboundary rivers, this paper analyzes the characteristics, experiences, and lessons from ecological water demand guarantee in transboundary river agreements, and explores the implications for China. The research results show that transboundary river water agreements often clearly stipulate the obligation of minimum ecological water demand guarantee, the strict responsibility of upstream riparian countries for ecological water demand guarantee, and the priority of ecological water demand in water rights allocation, etc. Given the problems in China's ecological water demand guarantee of transboundary rivers, such as the lack of relevant agreements, imbalances of interests, and weak basic systems, China needs to draw on international practical experience and lessons, and take improvement measures from perspectives of fulfilling the obligation of ecological water demand guarantee, exploring interest compensation mechanisms, establishing a systematic ecological water demand guarantee system, and signing water agreements containing ecological water demand guarantee clauses and giving them priority.