Research objectives: Development of concepts, methods and models for integrated land and water management which enables sustainable social, economic and environmental development.
Theme 4.1 Integrated management in Dutch/European context
In the Dutch and European context research stems from the main question how water systems can be recovered, used and developed in a sustainable way given the multitude of competing claims and the need to adapt to climate change. Models and concepts developed in the research themes 1, 2 and 3 are used to address in an integrated manner water and land management issues. For instance, methodologies are developed to assess water quality and the effects of measures in European catchments in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive based on the integration of measurements (in situ, remote sensing), information systems (GIS) and models. The relationships between spatial planning, land use and water management constitute a main line of research. The problems that have to be faced in water management are closely intermingled with those in different sectors and involve many different actors – governance is becoming an important area of research within IWRM, a research program in this area will be established.
Theme 4.2 Water and development
In the context of water and development, research focuses on irrigation and water management practices contributing to an equitable and sustainable use of surface water, groundwater and waste water and improved food security. The re-use of waste water in agriculture is studied in relation to health, social and economic aspects. Water and governance is a major line of research. Research is carried out into the ways in which government sanctioned institutions and customary water rights and management systems conflict and interact with each other. Forms of organization of water users and other interest groups and their contribution to transformation of the water sector are investigated. The role of irrigation and water management in the process of agricultural and agrarian change and the issue of gender and water management are studied.
Theme 4.3 Information tools and social learning processes
Research deals with the question how knowledge development infrastructure, information dissemination systems/patterns and communication can be organised to overcome sectoral barriers and to achieve that stakeholders have easy access to transparent and timely information of good quality. The role and functioning of multi-stakeholder platforms are studied as well as how the capabilities of different actors to understand and process information can be increased.
Attention is paid to stakeholder involvements and dialogues as means to harmonise model and scenario development with the needs of policy and development without jeopardising scientific rigor. Uncertainty analysis and the manner to communicate the outcome of integrated assessment models including scenarios and uncertainty analyses to policy-makers and the public will be studied.