Legitimate Paraphrasing

Original Text:
The World Commission on Dams
Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making
The Report of the World Commission on Dams

Options assessment and decision-making around river development prioritises the avoidance of impacts, followed by the minimisation and mitigation of harm to the health and integrity of the river system. Avoiding impacts through good site selection and project design is a priority. Releasing tailor-made environmental flows can help maintain downstream ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

• A basin-wide understanding of the ecosystem's functions, values and requirements, and how community livelihoods depend on and influence them, is required before decisions on development options are made

• Decisions value ecosystem, social and health issues as an integral part of project and river basin development, and avoidance of impacts is given priority, in accordance with a precautionary approach

Paraphrase:

The severe negative drawbacks that dam construction cause must be avoided whenever possible and reduced only when unavoidable. To achieve this, careful consideration should be given to site selection, including a thorough investigation into the ecosystem and the cycle of the river before a location is finalized so we fully understand how to work with the river and avoid its disruption (World Commission).