Water Resources:

It refers to the network of surface and ground waters (lakes, rivers, etc. and "reservoir" beneath the Earth's surface) that supply water for essential human uses.

The carpathian Convention makes linkages with land-use planning, since each type of land use has a varying effect on the hydrologic cycle, thereby affecting water resources.

River basin:

It represents the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries.

It is generally recognised that individual water resources projects and policies have implications for other water users within the river basin, both upstream and downstream, and for the environment. Integrates river basin management is the primary mechanism for addressing these issues and impacts.

Wetland:

There are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt. It also includes areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 metres. (Art. 1, Ramsar Convention)

Integrated water resources management:

Or IWRM. It considers water as an integral part of the ecosystem, a natural resource ans a social and economic good, whose quantity and quality determine the nature of its utilisation. It specifically considers the interaction between all components of water resources and water resource users, and is mainly inter-sectoral. Adopting such a plan means regulate water courses taking into account other policies for mountain areas that are related to the management of water resources (land use planning, mountain agriculture and forestry).

Water plays a critical role for both the environment and human life and health, and is deeply interrelated with many fields of the environment (soil, nature and countryside, agriculture, forests, energy). According to this, policies ans plans should take into account pollution and flood management, prevention and control.