Today's class concludes the first part of the course in which we have been opening up a framework for thinking about planning for water resources management. Over the rest of the term we will be further developing our understanding of this framework. Today we will be discussing not only IWRM but also how we will incorporate this into our work during the remainder of the term.
In this session we focus on the proposals for IWRM that are widely advocated as better ways to approach the management of water. Read the Policy Brief produced by the Global Water Partnership (and glance at the TAC report in 2000 that lies behind it) for an overview of IWRM. Some people have major questions about IWRM as you will see from Asit Biswas' article. If you read his bio (at the end of his article) you will see that he has a long and prestigious record, so his comments need to be given serious consideration. However, as you will see from Bruce Mitchell's (and two other people's - Lamoree and Dukhovny) responses, Biswas's arguments can be challenged. Mitchell also is a Canadian with a long distinguished career, in Canada and internationally, conducting research and advising governments on water management. Biswas's subsequent response to the comments from all three individuals is also included.
The article by Barreira will introduce you to the Water Framework Directive of the European Union adopted in 2000 and that is now driving major initiatives by governments and researchers in Europe to develop and implement the principles and practices of IWRM. Refresh your earlier reading of the Gordon Water Group's identification of the challenges to and recommendations for Canadian water management. Finally, read Wood's review in The Tyee of the Gordon report and three other books/reports. If you take a look at the storm of criticism that his review generated you will see how strong some people's views are on pricing of water and other water management issues on the West Coast of Canada.
The items in the Supplementary readings will lead you to more information about the research in Europe as well as experience with IWRM elsewhere. The last part of the Supplementary links will take you to the quite extraordinary spate of reports on the reform of a national water strategy in Canada. Take a glance at each of these links before today's class so that you know the kind of materials they provide for us to draw on during the remainder of this term.
Technical Committee Global Water Partnership(GWP) IWRM Policy Brief
Biswas, A. 2004. "Integrated Water Resources Management: A Reassessment." Water International. 29.2. pp. 248-256 (See bio on Biswas at end of his paper).
Mitchell, B. 2004. Comments on Biswas article. Water International. 29.3. pp. 398-399 Biswas' reply to Mitchell and the two other commentators (29.4. pp. 531-533) are all available at Water Reading Materials. (See Mitchell bio)
Barreira, A. 2006. "Water Governance at the European Union." Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education. Issue 135. pp. 80-85.
The Gordon Water Group of Concerned Scientists and Citizens. 2007.Changing the Flow: A Blueprint for Federal Action on Freshwater. (Refresh your memory of this report and this time look more carefully at its recommendations).
Wood. C. 2007. The Myth of Canada's Water Abundance. Review in The Tyee of four recent books/reports relating to water management in Canada.
GWP Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Report No. 4 entitled Integrated Water Resources Management (2000) is widely cited as the source document for the current emphasis on IWRM. It provides detailed elaboration on the points summarized in the IWRM Policy Brief.
GWP Tool Box for IWRM This has been created by GWP to provide more detailed assistance in inplementing IWRM. For an example take a glance at its section on Reforming Institutions for Better Governance. The Tool Box is continually evolving with experience.
There are three major places where we can find research and debate relating to IWRM that is recent and ongoing. They can provide us with a breadth and diversity of views on water management principles and how they have been and could be put into practice. We will be drawing on these during the remainder of the course. Take a quick look at them to see what they offer before today's class discussion.
1. NeWater: New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management Under Conditions of Uncertainty
This is a multifaceted research program with substantial funding from the EU, that involves a large number of researchers and practitioners from across the EU and elsewhere. It is designed to play a key role in implementing the Water Framework Directive of the EU, which is outlined in the Barreira article. The NeWater project is particularly interesting because of its emphasis on conducting research in partnership with stakeholders in a variety of EU countries and using case studies. "NeWater is based on the hypothesis that IWRM cannot be realized unless current water management regimes undergo a transition towards more adaptive water management." In November 2007 they held an International Conference on Adaptive and Integrated Water Management (CAIWA 2007) - Coping with complexity and uncertainty. Many of the papers that were presented by NeWater and other researchers are available online.
2. Ecology and Science: A journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability.
This online journal is a major outlet for researchers associated with the Resilience Alliance and who are deeply engaged in advancing ideas that have their origins in the work of C.S. Holling and his colleagues. The NeWater project has been greatly influenced by this work and is now contributing papers to this journal. Two special features draw on papers that were presented at the CAIWA 2007 Conference; one is entitled New Methods for Adaptive Management, and the other Social Learning in Water Resources Management.
This is a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (click on link to Journal and go to No. 135, December 2006). Focusing on governance the papers provide a perspective on how IWRM has been implemented and issues that have arisen in various countries including the Canada, U.S., UK, Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
There has been an extraordinary spate of books and reports in Canada in recent times addressing what is seen to be severe deficiencies in its national water management strategy. Most of these publications are listed with links to texts under the Articles/Reports section of the page for Canadian Water Reform Proposals. Before today's class take a glance at their range and diversity. You may want to look at them more closely during the remainder of the course.
Today's discussion and the remainder of the course.
What is your understanding of IWRM? And why is it so challenging? (Small groups followed by plenary)
What is needed in a national water strategy for Canada? Is governance the most challenging problem? (ditto)