Evaluating the success of public participation in water resources management: five key constituents

Water Policy ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 639-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gül Özerol ◽  
Jens Newig

Public participation (PP) is increasingly expected to enhance the effectiveness of water resources management. This is recognized in recent legislation such as the European Union Water Framework Directive. We identify five key constituents that affect the success of PP processes and which can be used as indicators thereof. These comprise: 1) the scope of the participants; 2) communication with the public; 3) capacity building; 4) timing; and 5) financing of participation. They are based on the management of resources—namely time, human and financial resources—and on further aspects that emerge from the utilization of these resources throughout the PP process. Drawing on existing case studies from the European Union and Canada, we demonstrate the applicability of our evaluative scheme. We find severe deficits in the PP cases that can all be attributed to the five key constituents. Although not representative, our analysis points to important challenges for water policy, particularly in the European multi-level context.

Author(s):  
Mykhailo Khvesyk ◽  
Lyudmila Levkovska

As a result of the research, the priority tasks of water policy regarding the formation of integrated water resources management system are grounded taking into account the eurointegration vector of Ukraineʼs development. The necessity of the development of water management forecasts and scenarios for the purpose of creating an information base for choosing the optimal variant for the formation of the concept of concrete actions of water resources management of the river basin has been proved. The theoretical and methodological approaches to the development of river basin management plans in the implementation of the basic provisions of the European Union water directives in the national legislation are proposed. The main mechanisms for implementation of river basin management plans are defined and classified.


Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-640
Author(s):  
D. D. Costa e Silva ◽  
H. M. L. Chaves ◽  
W. F. Curi ◽  
J. G. V. Baracuhy ◽  
T. P. S. Cunha

Abstract The current worldwide water resources issue is one of the crucial matters to overcome obstacles to sustainable development. This problem, formerly tackled in a sectored manner, is now pointing towards an analysis directed to treating the watershed as a management unit, with regards to all dimensions of knowledge and, especially, to the public participation in the decision-making processes. As an alternative to measure its performance, it has been sought out to develop indexes aimed to measure its sustainability, but there is still a lack of the use of composed efficient methodologies that also enable public participation in decision-making. This research presents a methodology comprising 15 indexes for the calculation of the Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI), followed by the application of the PROMETHEE multi-criteria analysis method and the COPELAND multi-decision-maker method. The methodology was applied to evaluate the performance of subwatersheds of the Piranhas-Açu watershed, located in the Brazilian northeast semi-arid region. The performance ordering, obtained through the application of the methods, emphasizes that subwatersheds' performances are uneven. It can be noticed that the subwatersheds' performances are still far from ideal in relation to water resources management, even in the ones that displayed satisfactory index levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1821
Author(s):  
Menlibay MYRZAHMETOV ◽  
Sholpan M. UMBETOVA ◽  
Klim Sh. ASHIRYAYEV ◽  
Aigul K. KOZHAKHAN ◽  
Asel U. KANARBAY

The article outlines the concept and presents some proposals for the implementation of the integrated water resources management strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of the article is to analyze the strategy of integrated water resources management in Kazakhstan. In particular, the principles for achieving a qualitatively new state of the water sector, the main components of the state water policy at the current stage, the main mechanisms for its implementation and the stages of implementation are indicated. The novelty of this article lies in the fact that the integrated water resources management at the current stage has been analyzed, and it will be interesting for other countries.


Water Policy ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Uhlendahl ◽  
Pritam Salian ◽  
Claudia Casarotto ◽  
Jakob Doetsch

The implementation of principles for water governance is widely accepted but challenging for the whole water sector of a developing country like Zambia, because of the legal and administrative changes and organizational requirements involved. In February 2010, a revised water policy for Zambia was approved by the Cabinet. The revised National Water Policy 2010 aims to improve water resources management by establishing institutional coordination and by defining roles as well as responsibilities for various ministries. Taking into account the previous political and administration changes, this paper points out the problems and challenges of the implementation of good water governance mechanisms in Zambia. Focusing on the Kafue River Basin, from which water is abstracted for a variety of conflicting purposes (like municipal supplies, industrial use, mining, irrigation of agricultural land, fishery activities, wetland reserves and hydropower production), the gaps in implementing good water governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Zambia are identified, as well as the factors causing these gaps in the Zambian water sector. The paper finishes with a overview of the opportunities given by the new water policy through Water User Associations (WUAs) at a local level.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Eleuter Kabogo ◽  
Elizabeth P. Anderson ◽  
Pendo Hyera ◽  
Godfred Kajanja

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Matej Pozarnik ◽  
Vesna Sotlar

The objective of the European territorial cooperation programme INTERREG has been financing joint projects of cross-border areas ever since 1990. Since many projects, financed in the past, did not provide longterm effects, the European Union decided to introduce the “result-driven approach” to these programmes. The realization of results will be consequently monitored during the project financing and after completion of selected projects. If one wishes to ensure sustainability also after the end of financing, the public and target groups must be actively involved in preparation and implementation of projects from the very beginning. The purpose of this paper is to present possibilities of public participation in different phases of the project. A comprehensive model of public participation was developed on the basis of research, involving the public into the sustainable life-cycle of a cross-border project.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Fritsch ◽  
David Benson

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) has become a global paradigm for the governance of surface, coastal and groundwater. International bodies such as the European Union, the Global Water Partnership, and the United Nations have taken the lead to promote IWRM principles, while countries worldwide have undertaken reforms to implement these principles and to restructure their domestic or regional water governance arrangements. However, the international transfer of IWRM principles raises a number of theoretical, empirical and normative questions related to its causes, processes and outcomes. These questions will be explored in our Special Issue ‘Governing IWRM: Mutual Learning and Policy Transfer’. This editorial briefly introduces IWRM and links this governance paradigm to theoretical and empirical scholarship on policy transfer. We then summarise the aims and objectives of this Special Issue, provide an overview of the articles brought together here and offer avenues for future research.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Edward Pierzgalski

Abstract Agriculture and environment are among others the most important priorities of the European Union. Agriculture is strongly influenced by the state of the environment, including water resources. In addition to many other policies, the EU water policy is crucial for the sustainable development of rural areas. Directives are the main tools for implementation of water policy. This article contains an overview of the directives on aspects of quality and quantity of water resources. Within the paper three most important agricultural areas of the Directive are characterized: the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive and the Nitrates Directive. Presented mandatory EU action aimed at their implementation and the problems associated with it. Current proposals for changes in the EU water policy are described.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 1878
Author(s):  
Polytimi Farmaki ◽  
Apostolos Tranoulidis ◽  
Thanos Kouletsos ◽  
Paraskevi Giourka ◽  
Androniki Katarachia

The present study explores the process of Greece’s current decarbonisation transition and its energy policy regarding the country’s two coal-mining areas. Using the Region of Western Macedonia as a case study, we aimed at providing a holistic approach—as until now only few attempts have been made to systematise the ‘Just Transition Plans’ in European Union (EU)—for raising awareness on issues related to water resource management in post-lignite areas and analysing the use of hydropower in Greece. Our research draws on a flexible method approach, serving as a tool to identify gaps in current knowledge and practices, based on two stages—first the analysis of existing literature, reviews, and sources from government’s core strategies, as well as policy and decision-making papers, and then formulating research questions by synthesising relevant data. In Greece, both ‘Just Transition Development Plan of Lignite Areas’ and hydropower production practices overlook water resources management. By summarising our findings and identifying gaps that remain in current approaches, this work indicates future directions by suggesting processes necessary for addressing the complex issue of adoption of sustainable water resources management measures in post-lignite eras in accordance with EU’s water policy.


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