• DAMS, ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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  OBJETIVE: One of the most controversial issues in water management at present is the linkages between water resources development, including large dams for water storage, and their economic, social and environmental impacts. Reservoirs are particularly important in arid, semi-arid and monsoon regions, where much of the annual rainfall occurs within about 25 days (not consecutive), and where differences are large between wet and dry years. Since all major projects of this type have both positive and negative effects, objective studies of dams should consider all relevant benefits and costs to the society at the local, national and regional levels.
  The main question facing the developing countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa, is certainly not whether large dams have an important role to play in the coming decades, but rather how best we can improve their performances so that their societal benefits can be maximised, costs can be minimised, and simultaneously equity issues can be properly considered.
  The water profession must be dynamic and respond to the changing needs of the society. As our knowledge-base expands, as technology develops, and as we learn from our past development practices, it should be possible to design, build and manage large dams more efficiently to meet the changing societal norms, needs and requirements.

          Mr. Alfredo Bone, Minister of Environment, Government of Aragon           Antonio Embid, Professor, University of Zaragoza, Spain

• EMERGING WATER ISSUES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

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  OBJETIVE: All the current trends indicate that the world will become increasingly more and more complex and interdependent in the coming decades, and this, in turn, will increase the complexities of water management practices by several orders of magnitude, compared to what they are at present. Past practices and solutions are unlikely to solve the future water-related problems fully, in a timely and cost-effective manner. In addition, many of the problems that the water profession is likely to face may originate from outside the water sector, on which the water professionals are likely to have limited, or even no control. Equally, many of the new opportunities for solving the water problems are likely to originate from outside the water sector.
  It is essential fist to identify those problems and opportunities which are likely to have major impacts on water management processes and practices. Thereafter, it will be necessary to assess the impacts (magnitudes, extents and spatial distributions) of these new developments on the water sector, and then determine how best the water planning and management practices should be changed to counteract the negative aspects of these impacts at present, and maximize the positive aspects. Since the water profession is basically ignoring these impacts, and proceeding primarily on the basis of consideration of the past problems and their solutions, it is essential that these new problems and solutions be brought to their attention so that they can take appropriate measures to manage them efficiently.

         Dr. Asit K. Biswas, President of the Third World Centre for Water Management and 
         Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt

• PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

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  OBJETIVE: Many types of partnerships are being proposed or implemented for water resources development and management in several parts of the world. These cover public -private, public- public, north -south, south- south, with potential for being community based or nationally based arrangements. There are much optimism and equally strong skepticism about some or all forms of partnerships in the water field. The dichotomy is prevalent to all sub-sectors of irrigation, drainage, flood control, drinking water supply and sanitation, environmental management and ecosystem conservation from the planning to the implementation, operation, and maintenance of water schemes. The session will explore the pros and cons of each type, present case studies and assist in developing the conceptual, the legal and institutional framework, financial and practical management aspect of successful water partnerships. Participants input will be included in each step.

• SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT FOR MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

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  OBJETIVE: Sustainable water development has become a major issue in the world. The session will assess the current experiences in sustainable water management in the middle east and north African countries, especially in terms of what aspects of sustainable water management have worked and what aspects have not and reason thereof, in terms of regional collaboration. Constraints to sustainable water management will be identified, and how such constraints could be overcome will be discussed. The hypothesis of this session will be the fact that water resources of the region can be managed optimally through regional cooperation, rather than conflicts.

• WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE: AN INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE

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  OBJETIVE: The focus of the session will be the need for good governance and consideration of present and next generation of water issues to promote efficient water management. The session will consider emerging water challenges, including controversial water issues, and assessment of existing and future paradigms.

       Cecilia Tortajada, Third World Centre for Water Management                            Mr. Kyoichi Tanaka, Toyota Foundation, 
                                                                                                                     Dr. Asit K. Biswas and Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid

                                                                Dr. Asit K. Biswas, Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, and 
                                         Prof. Kazuo takahashi, Division of International Studies International Christian University