"Co-managing water in the river and below one's feet to enhance resilience and sustain water services"
Only few cities, countries and basin organizations have been able to tackle how to co-manage ‘in the river’ and ‘below their feet’ water resources so far. By enhancing the natural functioning of surface water-groundwater interactions, Conjunctive Water Management (CWM) contributes to generating multiple benefits regarding climate, water scarcity and quality, flooding, or biodiversity. As increasing climate variability and change will make conjunctive water management even more important, the event will help attendees identify (missed) opportunities to realize the full potential of CWM as powerful contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Recording: Part 1 of 2
Recording: Part 2 of 2
2pm-3pm (GMT +2) INTRODUCING CONJUNCTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT
- Introduction: Ms. Alice Aureli (Chief, Groundwater Systems and Settlements, UNESCO-IHP)
- Mr. Jac Van der Gun (UNESCO Consultant) Contributions from the new publication on Conjunctive Water Management prepared by UNESCO-IHP in the framework of IW:LEARN
- Mr. Arnaud Sterckx (IGRAC) Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and the MAR Portal
- Mr. Aurélien Dumont (UNESCO-IHP) Opening question Conjunctive water management: Nature-based solution, Circular economy and resilience to climate change
- Questions and Discussion
3pm-4.30pm (GMT +2) SPECIAL INTERACTIVE SESSION: TRANSBOUNDARY LEVEL
FROM MAINSTREAMING TO TAKING ACTION
This session will discuss opportunities for CWM techniques and tools in transboundary contexts, highlighting the multiple values they can generate at the benefit of riparian countries. It will reflect on how institutions and projects implemented at transboundary level can consider CWM in their activities and workplans, making special emphasis to financing and benefit(-sharing) aspects. Characterizing these benefits is key to attract investment, including private investors. Examples of available tools and initiatives from the panel members and participants will illustrate this opportunity.
- Mr. Mohamed Bazza (UNESCO consultant, groundwater governance expert) based on CWM considerations in the GEF-FAO-World-Bank-UNESCO-IAH project Groundwater Governance
- Ms. Raya Stephan (UNESCO consultant, international water law expert) based on CWM and the Draft Articles on Transboundary Aquifers and in Transboundary Agreements and Commissions
- Mr. Neno Kukuric (IGRAC) based on implementing CWM in transboundary contexts: requirements and incentives
- Mr. Christian Severin (GEF International Waters) based on potential of C WM as investment opportunity in transboundary projects
- Mr. James Sauramba (Executive Director) / SADC-Groundwater Management Institute based on Activities to promote CWM in transboundary initiatives in the SADC Region
- Mr. Sebastián Izquierdo Abad (Binational Coordinator) / Integrated Water Resources Management in the Puyango-Tumbes, Catamayo-Chira and Zarumilla Transboundary Aquifers and River Basins (Ecuador / Peru)