Where Water Security Begins

Mar 22, 2026 | Tetiana Tevkun
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Climate change is making water one of the most vulnerable resources in the world. Even regions that were considered water‑secure just a few decades ago are today facing droughts, soil degradation, and growing wildfire risks. These challenges show that traditional approaches to water management no longer work as they once did. Current approaches to water security should not be limited to engineering solutions alone—such as pumping stations, canals, reservoirs, and dams. In reality, water security begins much earlier, with the landscape’s ability to store water, retain it in soils, and gradually release it back into water systems. Natural ecosystems play a key role in this process – above all peatlands, which are among the most effective natural “water reservoirs.” It is precisely this capacity that determines the resilience of territories to droughts, floods, and fires.Peatlands are one of the key – yet overlooked – elements of water infrastructure. They have a direct impact on groundwater levels, including near‑surface groundwater, on the risks of peat and forest fires, and on the overall climate resilience of regions. Historically, however, these areas have been viewed primarily as sites for drainage rather than as instruments of water and climate policy.It was precisely these issues – the role of peatlands in regulating water regimes, reducing risks, and enabling the transition to sustainable land‑use models – that were the focus of a practical discussion during a workshop for water‑management professionals. The workshop was jointly organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).