News: SCIENCE

HELP in Action: Local Solutions to Global Water Problems - Lessons from the South.

The International HELP Symposium “Local Solutions to Global Water Problems- Lessons from the South” aims at bridging the gap between science and policy to solve “water related issues” at the local, national and international levels. HELP is creating a new approach to integrated catchment management through the creation of framework for water law and policy experts, water resource managers and water scientists to work together on water-related problems.

Participation of the 67 basin organizations from 56 UNESCO partner countries makes this a tremendous knowledge sharing opportunity on how to put HELP into action.

The HELP International Symposium is being organized by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in partnership with UNESCO HELP. It will be held in Pretoria, South Africa. Highlights will include technical and poster sessions, thematic discussions, workshops, receptions and a field trip to the Olifants River HELP basin.

Information, Announcement and Program of the Symposium are provided in the section "Publication" of this page.

The European Union launch of the Centre took place in Scotland House in Brussels, Belgium, on 28 November 2006. The launch included an afternoon discussion on water issues and EU initiatives. One of the most important tools to ensure implementation of a policy regarding integrated water management is a solid and responsive legal framework. Within this context, it is most important that water lawyers, water scientists and water users work together on water-related problems. The establishment of a global centre that will uniquely interface water law and policy with the biophysical sciences and engineering would provide an opportunity to ensure this relationship is effective and develop legal frameworks in line with stakeholders' needs and requirements.

It was during its 33^rd session, in 2005, that the UNESCO General Conference approved the establishment of the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. The Centre is strongly linked to HELP and is based at the International Water Law Research Institute (IWRL) of the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Presentations, speeches and details on the event can be found on this link.

The International Symposium "Eau en Montagne" took place in Megeve, France,September 20-22, 2006. Selected members of the HELP network were invited to present current research and projects on specific issues in mountainous catchments.The "Europe INBO 2006" International Conference on the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive also occured during the Symposium.

All the reports and conclusions of the Symposium can be found on the website: http://echoalp.com/eau/