eFlowNet proposal for World Water Week Survey

eFlowNet proposal for World Water Week

1. eFlowNet seminar topics for World Water Week

eFlowNet (www.eflownet.org) is planning to conduct a seminar at the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm. These have been carried out every year since 2006 with increasing success. This year we would like to have input from the wider membership on the seminar topic. The Steering Committee has come up with a number of potential topics and we also invite you to put forward your own suggestions.

1. eFlowNet has come up with a number of different potential topics for World Water Week. Please choose the topic you prefer or propose an alternative.

eFlowNet has come up with a number of different potential topics for World Water Week. Please choose the topic you prefer or propose an alternative. Environmental flows and political economy - Allocating water to different users including the environment requires negotiation by informed decision makers. National and international institutional structures can support or impede transitions to more sustainable management of water resources. This seminar explores the perspectives of different users and various governance approaches that can enable flows for the environment which benefit water users. Through case studies, it will examine the factors and conditions necessary to engage decision-makers and effect positive change on-the-ground.

Environmental flows and biodiversity - 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and environmental flows are a key component to maintaining healthy rivers that provide the necessary ecosystems goods and services for a biodiverse environment. This seminar will explore the effects of changing flow regimes on biodiversity, the benefits of ensuring a healthy, biodiverse river, and the approaches to improving riparian environments while balancing the needs for sustainable livelihoods.

Environmental flows in river basin planning: eco-system based management and the role of (strategic) environmental impact assessments (SEAs / EIAs) - According to IWRM principles, river basin planning is targeted at balancing interests, including those of the ecosystem and related services. Environmental flows provide a vital tool to link interventions and ecosystem impacts and thus contribute to sustainable development of infrastructure. The scope and time scales of traditional tools and processes for river basin planning require adjustments to duly consider ecosystem services throughout the entire planning process. This seminar will facilitate a discussion on how to adapt environmental flows tools to the needs of users outside the environmental sector and to develop applications that can be mainstreamed into standards for EIAs / SEAs and ecosystem-based river basin management.

Environmental flows and water quality - Water quality can be significantly impacted by changes in river flows. This includes reductions in dissolved oxygen, changes in water temperature, concentration of nutrients and pollutants and sediment loads, all of which can have severe impact on downstream fisheries. The seminar will explore how the water quality in different river systems have been impacted by changes in the river flow regime and what solutions have been put in place to improve river health.

Other (please specify)

2. Please provide suggestions for presentations on specific cases on your favourite topic(s).

Please provide suggestions for presentations on specific cases on your favourite topic(s).

3. Please provide suggestions on speakers on your favourite topic.

Please provide suggestions on speakers on your favourite topic.

4. Will you attend World Water Week?

Will you attend World Water Week? Yes

Other (please specify)

5. Additional comments and suggestions

Additional comments and suggestions