Untitled DocumentInternational Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management
Macro Theme Area:
Knowledge Transfer [Project ID: K23]
PI:
Juan Valdes
CO-PI(s):
Mary Black
Basin focus:
N/A
Specific area in
basin /
field sites:
N/A
Summary/Goals: The symposium was to further international discourse, research and cooperative efforts on management of transboundary waters by gathering experts from across the globe for a 4-day meeting.
Activities and outcomes during past year:
SThe III International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management is the third edition of a series of international meetings devoted to the analysis of transboundary issues in water management. This Symposium had significant SAHRA involvement in the Scientific and Organization Committees and in providing the expertise gained by organizing the II Symposium. The III Symposium was funded by Spanish regional and national agencies and private foundations, UNESCO and the Inter American Development Bank and it was held at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain in May 30-June 2, 2006. The website of the symposium is at: http://www.uclm.es/congresos/twm/
The third symposium served as an integrating element for the continuous transfer of knowledge on transboundary waters management, through presentation of new ideas, technologies, and advancements in hydrological and water system modelling, management policies, integration of nonconventional water resources, public participation processes, water markets, water law, etc., while taking into account technical, environmental, social, and economic realities so that this knowledge can be practically applied to water management.
166 abstracts were received and 183 attendees from 50 countries, participated in the Symposium. With the support of the IAEA a short course on isotopes in hydrology was held during two days before the Symposium
Among the participants, a very important number of international experts presented their works. Special relevance had in the meeting the number of works presented in Transboundary Aquifer Management, specially the presentation of works funding by UNESCO programs. Particular attention was made to Water Law aspects, Conflict Resolution Issues, Aquifer Modelling and Management, and Decision Support Systems.
The number of contributors and the quality of the works presented are evidences of the success and impact of the symposium in the international community.
Plans for the upcoming year:
The meeting conclusions were partially covered by the Proceedings. Beside this, a book, with support from Spain and UNESCO will collect the major papers presented and it is expected to be published by the end of 2006. The book will also be available on the websites of the Symposium and UNESCO.
Preliminary conversations with potential organizers of the IV Symposium are being held at this moment.
