Comments on Session 4 Rivers PlenaryKeynote Presentation

by Mukand Babel Enhancing the Use of Science in Managing and Addressing

Complex Issues in International Rivers

Discussant: Charles VörösmartyCity University of New York

Global Water System Project

GEF International Waters Science Conference 201224-26 September 2012, Bangkok THAILAND

A Key Point Raised in the Plenary Talk

Science underpins the 38 projects reviewed…but…

SCIENCE (biogeophysical)

SCIENCE(biogeophysical) SCIENCE (social/policy)SCIENCE(biogeophysical) SCIENCE (social/policy) INFORMED & IMPROVED MANAGEMENT

Thus….the need for strategies to effect transdisciplinary research-to-applications is clear

Issue 1: Global Background Forces Shaping State of Rivers: Not Just Climate

Withdrawals N Pollution

Large Dams

Invasives

Inland Fishing Human Uses and

Pressures on H2O Global & Growing

Strayer and Dudgeon (2010), NABS

•Upstream/Downstream Users

Issue 2: Conflicts and Asymmetries

Indicators for Water, Poverty and Food Security Mapping - the Water Wealth Index (WWI) and Ecohydrology Mapping(GWSP-CGIAR-CEH-CIESIN)

Water Threat Mapping of Threats to Inland Freshwater Ecosystems and Aquatic Biodiversity(GWSP-DIVERSITAS)

Issue 3: Byproduct of Human Development Can Compromise Ecosystem Integrity

Issue 4: Management Responses Are Costly, Not Optimal, and Perhaps Counterproductive

versus…..

McKinsey (2010)

~0.5Tr USD/yr

Example of an Accounting

System UsingHuman

Populationsand Wetlands

as Beneficiaries

Issue 5: Framing Ecosystem Services & Tradeoffs

Drilling-down

Many of these issues will be addressed at the GWSP Open Science Conference ……see www.gwsp.org