Linking water research with the sustainability of the human–natural system

The sustainability of the coupled human–natural system under continuous global warming has been capturing increasing research interest. Water is among the most critical elements, not only for the natural system but also for social–economic development, especially in water-limited regions. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analytical framework to link water research with the sustainability of the human–natural system. We suggest that special emphasis should be paid to the linkage analysis between social and biophysical water components. We also describe the importance of combined usage of different research methods in the framework. This framework aims to provide a scientific basis of issues of the sustainability of the coupled human–natural system (CHANS), including the potential conflict between supply and demand of water for nature and human beings, the impact of climate change and human activities on the water distribution in CHANS, and the trade-offs of water-related ecosystem services in CHANS.