All water users, government, business, scientists and the general community, need to take urgent action if we are to save our dying rivers, according to participants at the 10th International Riversymposium & Environmental Flows Conference, which was held in Brisbane from 3 to 6 September 2007 in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. The forum covered topics including environmental flows, climate change, drought, water conservation, river dolphins, rivers and human health, and Government policy.
Environmental Flows (EF) is the quality, quantity and distribution of water required to maintain the compounds, functions and processes of aquatic ecosystems on which people depend. The Protection of EF plays for example an important role in climate change adaptation strategies. They are, however, often neglected when riparian states of a transboundary river negotiate water allocations.
The symposium unveiled a Plan of Action calling amongst others to exchange scientific and engineering expertise, incorporate EF in climate change adaptation strategies and in water planning and management, develop and enforce EF in laws and programs, and engage community and stakeholders in consultation on and implementation of EF. "Environmental Flows are necessary for healthy rivers to benefit people and nature. We have most of the science needed to get on with the job. The challenge now is gaining agreement from society, particularly governments, for implementation." concluded Dr Ger Bergkamp, Head of the IUCN Water Programme.
Climate change and drought also took centre stage at the Symposium. The contribution of dams to global warming was discussed by Patrick McCully from the International Rivers Network. He stated that in times of climatic uncertainty, dams face greater risk of both catastrophic breach due to floods, and failure to meet irrigation and energy production goals due to drought. Rotting vegetation in tropical reservoirs can emit more greenhouse gases than even fossil fuels. Despite their importance, these issues are receiving very little attention in international policy debates or in assessments of the viability of individual projects. Against this backdrop, Cullen promoted "soft path" approaches to water and energy management and supply, such as improved efficiency and conservation, decentralized supply technologies, and flood hazard management. (Christiane Roettger)

For the complete press releases, the Brisbane Declaration – Call for Action, and for further conference proceedings including the program and abstracts, please see http://www.riversymposium.com  

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, October 2007