Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment/RIZA and UN ECE International Water Assessment Centre IWAC Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management Monitoring to tailormade information Wim Cofino

Sustainable development ‘a policy mission statement’ Sustainable development is the achievement of continued economic and social development without detriment to the environment and natural resources. The quality of future human activity and development is increasingly seen as being dependent on maintaining this balance.

The interdependence of policies Economic policies socially and environmentally feasible Environmental policies socially and economically feasible Social policies economically and environmentally feasible Which role can/should monitoring play in the respective policies?

Natural Capital Social CapitalHuman Capital Human made (‘Economic’) Capital Sustainability Mission Objectives Critical Success factors Information Indicators Evaluation Integrated Assessments

Human capital Social capital Economic capital Environmental functions may serve as vehicle to define capitals Natural capital Indicator 1 Indicator 3 Indicator 2 Biodiversity Assimilation of wastes Fisheries Recreation Emissions Shipping traffic …….

RIZA Timing and focussing of information to needs Physiological needs Safety & security needs Social needs Esteem needs Self- actualization Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

RIZA Timing and focussing information to needs Physiological needs Safety & security needs Social needs Esteem needs Self- actualization Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Meeting basic needs Securing the food supply Managing risks information needs: Quantitative and qualitative status of resources Exploitation of resources Allocation issues Degree to which needs are met

RIZA Timing and focussing of information to needs Physiological needs Safety & security needs Social needs Esteem needs Self- actualization Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Economic and social development information needs coupled to the economic services and goods provided by water bodies: (Environmental) functions Quantitative and qualitative aspects of water uses Impacts on water systems Conflicts between functions

RIZA Timing and focussing of information to needs Physiological needs Safety & security needs Social needs Esteem needs Self- actualization Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Sustainable development Protecting ecosystems Sharing water Attention to cultural values of water,.. information needs: Quantitative and qualitative status ecosystems valuing water how do people perceive water and water issues? Governing water wisely

Implications (I) Policies for sustainable development require a multidisciplinary approach Integral approaches, covering the entire process from objectives, implementation, information gathering to assessments need to be designed Environmental monitoring provides one of the classes of information required Integrated assessment requires integrated information Technical and institutional frameworks for these integrated approaches need to be established

Implications(II) Sustainable solutions call for intensive co-operation between policy-makers and scientists in a multidisciplinary and where relevant transboundary setting –solving one pollution problem may cause another –joint effort instead of blaming –co-operation leads to a better utilization of knowledge and information –co-operation enhances support and understanding of solutions

RIZA Implications (III) Information management for Integral Water Resources Management requires institutional arrangements: –Data frequently scattered over multitude of institutes –Central co-ordination of information management is necessary, e.g. Cost effective monitoring programs Co-operation and arrangements with other institutes regarding provision and exchange of data and information on e.g. water uses

The multidisciplinary approach There is a need for translation across disciplines –example: ‘compliance monitoring’! Naive expectations between different disciplines Scale mismatches There is no substitute for regular contact –The multidisciplinary approach requires us to change our present-day organisations. Source: Monitoring Tailormade III

RIZA Implications (IV) The world is not perfect –Institutional arrangements for integrated assessments frequently not in place –The degree of interaction between scientists involved in monitoring and policy makers less than desireable –Trade offs are made, but in complex settings Scientists involved in monitoring need to –Have a feeling for timing which information is needed –Put an extra effort into the relationships with policy makers –Ensure that all stakeholders are informed –Be pro-active!

RIZA Monitoring and the public Informing the public is important: –Sustainable management of water requires choices to be made –Public needs to be aware of the necessity of the choices Provision of information required to – increase acceptance of water polices and management –Give account of achievements Example: aquatic plants in Lake Veluwe

The D,P,S,I,R indicators - an effective tool for management? D riving forces P ressures S tate I mpacts R esponse The realm of monitoring  may improve the communication across disciplines & countries;  may assist in informing the public;  may improve the communication between scientists and policy makers and thus enhance the utilization of monitoring data  need to be drawn up in an intensive interaction between scientists and policymakers

Transboundary monitoring/information Transnational co-operation require a shared, integrated view on the water system, e.g. on ecological gradients (is more than agreements over classification systems!) Transnational agreement on indicators and connections between causes and effects Common definitions and measurement methodologies for all types of indicators How to communicate with the public & to incorporate their views in indicators, e.g. perception

Transboundary monitoring/information (II) Diversity is the key word –nature, economy, social system, cultures, individuals We have to cope with diversity Can we use diversity as a driving force, improving our ability and creativity to achieve our goals regarding sustainable development?

Transboundary monitoring/information (III) We have to respect differences and try to understand their roots We cannot blindly copy indicators, management strategies, standards, … between regions in Europe We have to exchange information, practices and experiences as part of a joint learning process

RIZA Conclusions Modern watermanagement requires a large knowledge base, data/information on the chemical, physical and ecological state of our aquatic being just one component Monitoring needs to be embedded in a strategic ‘holistic’ approach In addition to monitoring, institutional arrangements regarding data provision and exchange is necessary (e.g. water uses) More interaction between policy-makers and scientists and (multidisciplinary) co-operation among scientists is needed More effort towards general public is needed Creativity owing to diversity instead of coping strategies

The UN-ECE International Water Assessment Centre IWAC IWAC is a network, the office at RIZA facilitates this network ‘Promote co-operation’, efforts to bring together –scientists from different countries (river basins) –scientists of different disciplines –scientists and policy makers Contribute to exchange of experiences, practices, views,.. Assist by e.g. training courses, expert visits,..