PP 7.1 THE ROLE OF BASIN PLANNERS

The Roles of Basin planners Basin planners have three main roles:  Bringing together knowledge  Identifying stakeholders; and  Understanding (and working within) the planning institutional arrangements.

Bringing knowledge together ? Basin planners are in a good position to bring together knowledge. Basin planners are in a good position to bring together knowledge. They are usually the person linking knowledge to decision-makers They are usually the person linking knowledge to decision-makers They are usually the person who brings together knowledge and tools from experts, modellers and information managers They are usually the person who brings together knowledge and tools from experts, modellers and information managers

Where might the knowledge come from ? Information Managers

Where might the knowledge come from ? Experts – scientific or local – can identify the benefits people get from the shared resources Experts – scientific or local – can identify the benefits people get from the shared resources Modellers – can provide estimates of what might be the future benefits if there are changes Modellers – can provide estimates of what might be the future benefits if there are changes Information Managers – can bring information together (spatial data for example) Information Managers – can bring information together (spatial data for example)

Knowledge-based planning Knowledge about what ? Knowledge about what ? The shared resources of the Basin and how people benefit from the shared resources (the current situation) The shared resources of the Basin and how people benefit from the shared resources (the current situation) About how the benefits might change if there is a change in the shared resources (future scenarios) About how the benefits might change if there is a change in the shared resources (future scenarios)

Example – the Dai fishery in Tonle Sap Experts can tells us the relationship between the Dai fishery and the amount of reverse flow into Tonle Sap Experts can tells us the relationship between the Dai fishery and the amount of reverse flow into Tonle Sap

Example – the Dai fishery in Tonle Sap Modellers can use this information to give a prediction (a future scenario) of the impact of flow change on the Dai fishery Modellers can use this information to give a prediction (a future scenario) of the impact of flow change on the Dai fishery

Basin planners as communicators Decision-makers rarely have the time to understand the full complexity of the Basin Planners have a important role in simplifying issues so that they can be understood: Graphs, maps and pictures are good ways of presenting complex information Graphs, maps and pictures are good ways of presenting complex information

Stakeholder engagement Basin planners must be able to identify stakeholders, and Basin planners must be able to identify stakeholders, and Be aware of what stakeholder engagement is required (even if they cannot do the engagement themselves) Be aware of what stakeholder engagement is required (even if they cannot do the engagement themselves)

Key questions in stakeholder engagement Who has an interest in water resource development ? Who has an interest in water resource development ? Why do they have an interest in water resource development ? Why do they have an interest in water resource development ? How can they be engaged ? How can they be engaged ?

Institutional arrangements – role of a planner Understanding the responsibilities of the various agencies that are involved in water and other natural resource management (water resource, environment, agriculture, forestry); Understanding the responsibilities of the various agencies that are involved in water and other natural resource management (water resource, environment, agriculture, forestry); Understanding the responsibilities at different levels of government (national, provincial and local); Understanding the responsibilities at different levels of government (national, provincial and local); Understanding the role of other key water resource coordination bodies, most importantly, river basin organisations. Understanding the role of other key water resource coordination bodies, most importantly, river basin organisations.

Focus Point: Guidelines for co ‐ ordinating basin management Encourage a ‘learn by doing’ approach and create ways of learning from past experiences. Establish ‘rules’ for co ‐ ordination (who is involved), whether it is binding or permissive (what can be done) and the basis for involvement (law, policy, informal agreement). Establish integrated action across all natural resource issues in the basin. Ensure basin ‐ wide planning procedures balance all user needs, enhance water quality, provide protection from water related hazards, ensure agreement on commitments within the basin, and monitor agreements.