§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by the Overseas Development Administration to encourage the use of drainage basins as units for land and water management; and what support is granted towards the evaluation of the economic value of each basin's ecosystem.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe recognise the importance of drainage basins as units for land and water management. Research on catchment protection is a component of the ODA's renewable natural resources research strategy. The importance of catchments is also recognised in the ODA "Manual of Environmental Appraisal". The 1990–91 annual report on the RNRR strategy and the revised and updated "Manual of Environmental Appraisal" have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
While no specific work has been undertaken by ODA on the economic value of drainage basin ecosystems, the 202W ODA commissioned work by the Overseas Development Institute, published in June 1991 as a book "Values for the Environment: A guide to Economic Appraisal" by J. T. Winpenny, which provides guidance on quantifying environmental costs and benefits of development projects. Copies of this book have been placed in the Libraries of the House.