Related EU Projects

This article discussed social learning as a means to implement integrated water resources management (IWRM). Implementing IWRM requires cooperation between policy sectors, countries, government bodies, the civic sector and scientific disciplines. The social learning approach suggests several ingredients for such cooperation. The article discusses how water managers and the other stakeholders need to realise their dependence on each other for reaching their own goals, before they start interacting, sharing their problem perceptions and developing different potential solutions. It also highlights that to achieve such results, the development of mutual trust, recognition of diversity and critical self-reflection is required amongst water managers and stakeholders. However, stakeholders must take joint decisions and make the necessary arrangements for implementation. The social learning approach to IWRM had several implications for the IWRM ToolBox of the GWP. Social learning is not a magic solution for all problems, but there is sufficient evidence that it can work.

Mostert, E., Craps, M. and Pahl-Wostl, C. (2008). Social learning: the key to integrated water resources management?. Water International, [online] 33(3), pp.293-304. Available at:

https://lirias.kuleuven.be/bitstream/123456789/408705/1/Mostert,+Craps+%26+Pahl+(2006)+SL+key+to+IWRM.pdf [Accessed 31 Jan. 2018].

This study involves the testing of a framework for multi-criteria modelling and support of multi-stakeholder decision processes within the context of developing a new water level management policy for a regulated lake river system in Finland.

In this framework the stakeholders were involved in the decision process from the problem structuring stage to the group consensus seeking stage, followed by a stage of seeking public acceptance for the policy. The framework aimed at creating an evolutionary learning process. In this paper, focus was also on the use of a new interactive method for finding and identifying Pareto-optimal alternatives. Role playing experiments with students were used to test the practical applicability of a negotiation support procedure called the method of improving directions. The study has also developed  a preference programming approach for the aggregation of the stakeholder opinions in the final evaluation of alternatives and group consensus seeking. This approach consists of individual prioritisations as well as group interval models and consensus seeking. In addition, the approach was previously studied in transport planning and nuclear power related settings.  

HÄMÄLÄINEN, R., KETTUNEN, E., EHTAMO, H. and MARTTUNEN, M. (2001). Evaluating a Framework for Multi-Stakeholder Decision Support in Water Resources Management. Group Decision and Negotiation, [online] 10(331–353). Available at: http://ftp://193.2.92.44/students/podipl/UVR/Hamalainen_et_al_2001.pdf [Accessed 31 Jan. 2018].

WeSenseIt has developed a citizen-based observatory of water, which allowed citizens and communities to become active stakeholders in information capturing, evaluation and communication.

The following was proposed:

(i) Data collection: (a) a first “hard” layer consisting of low-cost, static and portable devices that sense and transfer water information when automatically monitored or when initiated by citizens from their mobile devices; (b) a second “soft” layer consisting of techniques designed to harness citizens’ Collective Intelligence, i.e. the information, experience and knowledge embodied within individuals and communities, which enabled both direct messages to the authorities (with mobile-phone pictures, messages, etc.) as well as crowd-sourcing (e.g. by mining social networks like Twitter and Facebook, as well as bulletin boards, RSS feeds, etc.).

(ii) The development of descriptive and predictive models and decision-making tools which integrated sensor and citizen-based data; the data suppliers (physical sensors or people) were seen as nodes of an integrated heterogeneous data collection network which had undergone progressive multi-objective optimisation and tuning.
(iii) Two-way feedback and exchange of environmental knowledge/experience between citizens and authorities for decision-making and governance within an e-collaboration framework, has improved transparency, knowledge management, accountability and responsiveness and facilitated participation in water management.
The citizen observatory of water was tested and demonstrated in three different case studies in water management with civil protection agencies in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy. The topic was the entire hydrologic cycle, with a major focus on variables responsible for floods and drought occurrences.
 

The project results had the potential to fundamentally change the traditional concept of environmental monitoring and forecasting, as well as models of governance.

The BeWater project, supported by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme, offered a unique opportunity to contribute to adaptation policy design and practices with experience-based knowledge. Four research institutes located in the cardinal points of the Mediterranean region partnered with expert organisations and members of the local communities to elaborate local adaptive water management plans. Innovative approaches were developed within the project to facilitate a truly science-society collaborative process to increase societal resilience to climate variability and change at the river basin scale.

The BeWater project provided innovative tools to facilitate the adaptation of river basins to global change via an active engagement of the local societies. The BeWater approach developed within the project focussed on creating a shared definition of what challenges needed to be targeted in the basin and then developing, assessing and prioritising a range of potential water management options to address these points along with pathways for their implementation. Four Mediterranean basins were part of the project, namely Pedieos (Cyprus), Vipava (Slovenia), Rmel (Tunisia) and Tordera (Catalonia, Spain). While each basin experienced the process slightly differently, all shared the common aim of introducing adaptation principles into water management at the river basin scale with stakeholder participation all along the process.

Adaptive management poses challenging questions that need to be tackled through methods and practices that have a solid theoretical framework but are still to be integrated into ordinary management procedures and policy design. Knowledge sharing and mutual learning between scientists, experts, decision-makers and local society have provided the needed basis for a truly participatory approach, offering a solid ground for capacity building, awareness raising and the development of concrete proposals in the form of adaptation plans for the four river basins. The process of co-production has proven to be able to deliver results with a high degree of social acceptance, political relevance and technical interest to tackle the uncertainties and complex nature of global change.

Throughout the design of the adaptation plans, common aspects, together with barriers and facilitators of their future implementation were observed. A handbook which provides guidelines on policy and practical considerations from the process was developed. The project may be considered as a strong reference for developing a participatory approach when designing river basin adaptation plans in other river basins, in Mediterranean countries and beyond.

Adaptation Plans:

Vipava River Basin Adaptation Plan

Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan

Rmel River Basin Adaptation Plan

Pedieos River Basin Adaptation Plan

Handbook:

Developing Participatory Adaptation Plans for River Basins - a handbook

Policy Briefs:

Planning for climate change: Society as a key player in river basin adaptation

Policy recommendations for the EU level: Supporting participation in adaptive river basin management

Policy recommendations for the EU level: Recommendations for water management authorities within Europe and beyond

From planning to implementation: Recommendations for actions supporting adaptation in the Pedieos River Basin

From planning to implementation: Recommendations for actions supporting adaptation in the Vipava River Basin

From planning to implementation: Recommendations for implementation in the Rmel River Basin

From planning to implementation: Recommendations for action supporting adaptation in the Tordera River Basin

Deliverables – Reports:

D2.3 Guideline report on the BeWater approach outlining principles, methodology, concepts and protocols of the project

D3.1 Data integration in the Aquaknow platform

D4.1 - Compilation of best practice examples and experiences of adaptation plans

D4.2 Four draft adaptation plans, one for eachCSRB

D4.3. Four River Basin Adaptation Plans

D5.2 Project Website

D6.1 EU/AU Policy Instruments Review

D6.2. 1 st detailed cross-cutting Policy Sectors analysis -water and climate

D6.3 2nd Detailed Cross-cutting Policy Sectors Analysis - Water and Climate

D6.4 3rd detailed cross-cutting Policy Sectors analysis -water and climate

D.7.1 Study on national support mechanisms to international water management research

Dissemination material:

BeWater Brochure 2016

Publication in IMPACT Magazine