Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (HELP)

1. ... Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) 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 Compiled from Mike Bonell, Jim Shuttleworth and Jim Wallace

2. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ……based on outdated knowledge and technology Process hydrology Water managers and stakeholders research ideas design output Accepted practices understanding implementation Isolated by legal and professional precedence Isolated by lack of proven utility ... “Paradigm Lock ”

3. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

4. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

5. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... BACKGROUND - History • Task Force meeting, University of Arizona, Tucson, November 1999 • Task Force Report, April 2000

6. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

7. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... WORLD CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME (WCRP - GEWEX) & IGBP GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAMME • 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

8. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 1980 ONWARDS • 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

9. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... WATER IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE OF THE 21ST CENTURY • 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

10. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... WHO ARE THE POLICY MAKERS? • 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 ?

11. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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.

12. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... THE WAY FORWARD • 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

13. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

14. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF HELP • 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;

15. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

16. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... CORE SCIENCE An 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.

17. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... PRESENT STATUS - Personal Observations 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

18. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

19. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers Selection of 5-10 demonstration drainage basins (104-106 km²) worldwide Financially underpinned by donors and national sources Addressing the most critical water policy issues ... DEMONSTRATION DRAINAGE BASINS

20. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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)

21. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... PRIMARY ACTIVITIES The development of a technical implementation framework which includes the following : • 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

22. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

23. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

24. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

25. PLAYERS UNESCO (IHP) GTOS WMO (HWRP) ICSU GEWEX CLIVAR GWP IASH IGBP CGIAR/ CIP IWMI NASA... IAEA

26. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

27. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... SOME EXPECTED OUTPUTS • 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.

28. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... SOME EXPECTED OUTPUTS • 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.

29. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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.

30. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

31. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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.

32. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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.

33. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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.

34. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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

35. TIMETABLE Steps 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 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 December July December

36. Real people HELP Real catchments Real answers ... 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?