To deliver social, economic and environmental benefit to stakeholders through sustainable and appropriate use of water by directing hydrological science

To deliver social, economic and environmental benefit to stakeholders through sustainable and appropriate use of

water by directing hydrological science towards improved

integrated catchment management basins

Hydrology for the Environment, Life and

Policy (HELP)

Compiled from Mike Bonell, Jim Shuttleworth and Jim Wallace

...

Real peopleReal catchmentsReal answersHELP

...

“Paradigm Lock ”


Isolated by legal and professional precedence

……based on outdated knowledge and technology

Process hydrology Water managers and stakeholders

ideasresearch

understanding implementation

outputdesign

Isolated by lack of proven utility

Acceptedpractices

BACKGROUND - History UN ACC-SWR 1996, recommend establishment of an

Expert group on water quality leads to joint UN ACC-SWR / GWP Global Water Quality Initiative

Drainage basin selection requested though UNESCO Montevideo / GWP-SAMTAC and S.E. Asia (Mekong), AP FRIEND / Sea Basins project, March 1999 onwards

Exeter Statement recommendation, British Hydrological Society Symposium, Exeter, July 1998

...Real peopleReal catchmentsReal answersHELP

BACKGROUND - History Meetings and documents on global freshwater

issues summarized November 1998: rising concern and urgent need for action

UNESCO Expert group meeting, Wallingford, UK, December 1998 approves concept of experimental hydrology programme

Unanimous approval 5th Joint WMO/UNESCO Conference on Water, February 1999


Task Force meeting, University of Arizona, Tucson, November 1999

Task Force Report, April 2000

BACKGROUND - History


THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGY DECADE (IHD)1965-1974 implemented by UNESCO

Achievements– global network of Representative Drainage Basins

– towards a better understanding of the Water Balance and the initiation of experimental catchment studies for on site management practices

Beneficiaries – water resources management

– impact of climate variability


Achievements

– established a series of large-scale field experiments for a better understanding of vertical terrestrial - atmosphere exchange of energy and water vapour

– encouraged large-scale science linked with developments in satellite technology

WORLD CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME (WCRP - GEWEX) & IGBP GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAMME


declining support for long term monitoring inconsistencies in national government policy UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

recognised but most scientific institutions confronted with short-term economic thinking aimed at receiving financial support

Govt/decision makers ask long-term environmental questions but at the same time progressively reducing stability in funding necessary for such questions to be confidently answered

1980 ONWARDS


too many high-profile meetings with similar recommendations

paradoxically, these meetings are well funded no global movement proposing a field oriented

programme soundly based on policy, management and sustainable development to meet the urgent needs of society

WATER IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE OF THE 21ST CENTURY


not clear to hydrology researchers policy-oriented meetings:

– different community– different means of communication– scientific data and research not highest priority

“stand off” between the broad policy-making community and research scientists

differing perceptions of policy-makers from scientists, and scientists from policy-makers

do scientists have a sufficient understanding of the difference between water policy / water resource management ?

WHO ARE THE POLICY MAKERS?


ROLE OF WATER MANAGERS

important facilitating role act as a bridge between scientists and policy

makers until now, insufficient involvement of water

managers in developing scientific research programmes

water managers have a key role in helping set the scientific agenda and implementing scientific outputs.


Major Challenge - To create a follow-up scientific programme of the necessary vision which :

a) addresses the scientific issues in the field

b) closely integrates policy and management needs

THE WAY FORWARD


NEW DIRECTIONS


Policy makers: - need to have adequate appreciation of science and

deliver the right questions to scientists- need to appreciate a long-term perspective for scientists to deliver answers

Scientists: - need to understand and communicate short term

application of existing research and know-how - should include deliverable ‘milestones’ in mid to long

term research- good science in support of policy making is not a contradiction in terms

People and environment centred; In-field scientific studies determined by

environment, life, and policy needs; Problem-driven and demand-responsive; Recognises population growth as the principal driver

in future freshwater needs; Undertakes interdisciplinary studies at a range scales

to foster integrated solutions to water-related problems;

Involves effective communication between hydrologists, water policy experts, managers and users, and other relevant scientific disciplines;

DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF HELP


POLICY ISSUES Impacts of climate variability and change on

water resources Water use in providing food for a growing population Competition for water and potential conflicts Water quality impacts on human health Environment water needs Improved communication between hydrologists and

society Water-related disaster prevention and mitigation

(flood control, drought management) Water for socio-economic development


CORE SCIENCEAn experimental catchment framework for studying

important and locally appropriate hydrological processes.

Key areas of scientific research - Hydrological variability and change. Biophysical processes that control movement of water between

different elements of the landscape. Hydro-chemical pathways and processes controlling the fate and

transport of pollutants. Development and application of global models and remote

sensing.


Scientific Issues to be addressed: status of modeling surpasses field testing experimental hydrology focused on microscale no field experiments to address process hydrology at

mesoscale water quality- process hydrology linkage need to filter anthropogenic impacts from climate

variability interannual - long-term experimental hydrology data

sets to address extremes declining support for long-term monitoring

PRESENT STATUS - Personal Observations


OVERARCHING GOALS Goals : to produce a clear pathway of

objectives in a well-focussed manner, including a dual-tracked system (new activities / existing programmes

• Planning phase - workshops• Pilot phase - drainage basin selection• Full implementation phase

HELP must chart an exciting scientific programme integrated with innovative management and policy aspects.

HELP is a preventive, pro-active + 15 years programme - not reactive


DEMONSTRATION DRAINAGE BASINS

Financially underpinned

by donors and national

sources

Selection of 5-10 demonstration drainage basins (104

-106 km²) worldwide

Addressing the most

critical water policy

issues


ADDITIONAL 100 - 200 CATCHMENTS (104

-106 km²) WORLDWIDE


nominated by national institutions, based on HELP catchment criteria

financially underpinned at a national level in a range of bio-climatic zones, socio-economic /

cultural activities catchments representative of a wider region some catchments in GEWEX CSEs and CLIVAR

PRAs build on existing networks (e.g. UNESCO’s FRIEND)

PRIMARY ACTIVITIES

agreed hydrologic/land use/biological/socio-economic indicators

minimum protocols for data collection (e.g. WMO guidelines)

shared data and understanding capacity building in developing countries primary activities : i) water balance monitoring

ii) process studies iii) collection of relevant

historical/proxy data


The development of a technical implementation framework which includes the following :

IMPLEMENTATION

...

Data-rich catchments

– countries or regional agencies encouraged to nominate one or two data rich catchments

– inevitable bias towards developed countries, would provide a rapid testing ground of the implementation principles of HELP

– training and knowledge exchange an integral part

– formal partnerships and exchange of scientists with institutions in developing countries


IMPLEMENTATION (cont.)

...

Less data-rich basins

– application of new technologies

– rapid assessment of principally static and spatial data

– intensive measurement period (Inceptive Data Campaign - IDC) of 6-12 months

– supported by donor-sponsored international team

– second stage, more detailed hydrological research programme developed from gaps determined from the IDC


IMPLEMENTATION (cont.)

...

IDC (Inceptive Data Campaign)

– static and spatial data on composition of basins

– intensive campaign of measurements to describe the present state of the basin

– parallel surveys in the socio-economic, legal and institutional areas of water resource management

– interdisciplinary approach, describing baseline hydrology and the present state of water management


PLAYERS

UNESCO (IHP)

WMO (HWRP)

GEWEXCLIVAR

IGBP

IASH

IAEA NASA...

GTOS

ICSU

CGIAR/CIP IWMI

GWP

SOME EXPECTED OUTPUTS

...

Water Policy/Water Resources Management – Provision of indicators of sustainable water-land management;

– Scientific basis to revise current water policy and water resources management practices;

– Provision of relevant, accurate scientific information required for efficient food production and long-term food security;

– Improved communication and effective exchange of data among the scientific community, managers, policy makers, etc. at an early stage of hydrological resource planning.

– Inputs to the World Freshwater Assessment programme



...

Technical– Enhancement of field-oriented experimental hydrology to advance

understanding of hydrological processes;

– Up-dating of scientific tools in field hydrological research;

– Improved understanding of the processes of water and chemical transfer within catchments;

– Improved understanding and predictions of climate variability and long-term change in collaboration with GEWEX, CLIVAR and IGBP;

– Field-testing of hydrological models and stimulated development of physically-based models;

– Provision of new data (including satellite products) and physically-based models.



...

Socio-economic– Guidelines on legal and institutional aspects of integrated

water management in rural and urban areas.

– Data and information on expected water demand, water quality, demography, water infrastructure plan, regional/local water policy, etc. to be used in extension programmes/extension material to the general public, pressure groups, administrations, and decision makers.

– Socio-economic indicators related to water development issues.

– Regular debates between hydrologists, social scientists, water managers and politicians on actual water issues.


HELP DISTINGUISHING ATTRIBUTES

...

Attributes that distinguish HELP from other global water programmes:– addresses the global deficiency in water research and the

most urgent water policy and management issues;– developing a working partnership between water policy & management

and the scientific communities;– encouraging policy-makers and water mangers to study their technical

and scientific agendas concurrently for implementation;– a pro-active programme to prepare the appropriate strategies for pending

natural and man-induced disasters in response to global change;– a long-term programme with short-term deliverables to capture climate

variability and sample global change, provide better scientific advice for the development of water policy.


HELP CATCHMENTS: SELECTION CRITERIA

...

The basic requirements of HELP catchments include:

Threats to sustainability Impact of global-scale problems (e.g. climate change) Trans-boundary aspects Long-term trends Ecological damage Social, political impacts Economic growth/decline Population pressure Risks to human health Potential for demand management


HELP CATCHMENTS: ATTRIBUTES

...

must provide an opportunity to study a water policy or water management issue for which hydrological process studies are needed;

agreement between the relevant national and local agencies to cooperate in execution of the HELP program;

desire of the management institution to form a partnership; willingness to contribute in-kind services and field support to the HELP

program; existence of committees and NGO groups that can facilitate a dialogue

between scientists, managers, and the public; commitment to share data and information openly; designation of an adequate local capacity as a full partner to execute the

program.


FIRST STEPS IN IMPLEMENTATION

...

5th Kovacs Scientific Colloquium, June 2000; Establishment of a working group to develop a framework

for the promotion, design, planning, management, monitoring and reporting of HELP projects on the World-Wide Web;

A request for national nomination of HELP basins based on the criteria and attributes for selection of HELP basins;

Contributions of nominated national basins will go on the World Wide Web;

the establishment of a ‘think-tank’ working group to encourage an experimental hydrology linked with physically-based modelling strategy to fulfil some of the technical goals of HELP;

Establishment of Steering Committee of international experts, regional/national level structures and Secretariat.


EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (as of June 2000)

...

National / Regional Contributions received, prior to a formal request for nomination of HELP basins based on the Criteria for Selection of HELP Catchments:

– UK LOCAR (LOwland CAtchment Research) - Southern UK and UK CHASM (Catchment Hydrology And Sustainable Management) - Northern UK - NERC

– Japan - The Yasu River basin– Germany - GLOWA (GLObal Change of the WAter Cycle)– IWMI (International Water Management Institute)– GTOS (The Global Terrestrial Observing System)– IUCN/WWF– GEWEX-GCIP– IAI (Inter-American Institute)/CIP (CGIAR Centro Internacional de la Papa), – Project PIABA – Developing Toward a Sustainable Natural Resource in

Amazon Freshwater Fisheries.


TIMETABLE

...

Secretariat establishment, July - December 2000 Steering Committee establishment, December 2000 Solicitation and registration of HELP drainage basins, July

2000 onwards Establishment of expert group (‘Think Tank’) to encourage

more innovative technical approaches to field technical implementation and establishment of specialised workshop agenda, December 2000

Technical workshops, 2001-2005 Preparation of extra-budgetary proposals for pilot

(demonstration) basins, 2001-2005 Preparation of communication and publicity documentation,

2001-2005


TIMETABLEStepsSteps

Establishment of a working group

Secretariat Estanlishment

Steering comitee establishment

Solicitation and registration of HELP drainage basins

Establishment of expert group (‘Think Tank’)

Technical workshop

Preparation of extra-budgetary proposals for pilot basins

Preparation of communication and publicity documentation

Establishment of a working group

Secretariat Estanlishment

Steering comitee establishment

Solicitation and registration of HELP drainage basins

Establishment of expert group (‘Think Tank’)

Technical workshop

Preparation of extra-budgetary proposals for pilot basins

Preparation of communication and publicity documentation

20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005

December

July

December

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What should the process be for defining policy and management

issues and the associated technical agenda for HELP - top down vs bottom up?

How do we define the locally important environment, life and policy issues that require a hydrological science input?

How do we define the new experimental designs needed to address the above issues (e.g. the measurement of water transfer and water quality at the larger scales appropriate to integrated water resources management, IWRM)?

What new technologies (satellite, ground based, etc.) could yieldthe data needed for IWRM?

How can we better link 'physically-based' studies with relevantsocial, management and policy studies?


Documents

To deliver social, economic and environmental benefit to stakeholders through sustainable and appropriate use of water by directing hydrological science