International Symposium on

Sustainability Research for Engineered River Basins

24 – 27 June 2015 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany

Date24 - 27 June, 2015

VenueHerrenhausen Palace

Herrenhäuser Straße 330419 Hannover

Funded by :

Contact

Institute for Technology and Resources Management (ITT)Prof. Dr. Lars RibbeRenata Dos Santos Buritirenata.dos_santos_buriti@fh-koeln.deTel. + 49 221 8275-2191Fax + 49 221 8275-2640

OrganizerCologne University of Applied Sciences

Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT)

Program

Background

Fresh water resources worldwide are under pressure due to climate change, fast socio-economic development and population growth. Water quantity and quality impairments become a major driver and pressure for overall development issues.

River basins are identified as a key analytical and management unit – in particular for managing issues on the water-energy-food nexus and related aspects such as hydropower development, irrigated and rainfed agriculture, water security and hydro-meteorological hazards. Furthermore, “engineered rivers” are characterized by strong human alteration of the natural environment like through water storing, channeling and abstraction infrastructures with the consequent problems related to water availability, floods, water quality, erosion and siltation.. Thus, there is a strong demand to develop quantitative and sustainable water resource management strategies at catchment scale considering the interlinkages between society, environment and industry. Although the challenges related to climate change and fast socioeconomic and demographic development in river basins have been discussed and investigated very well, consistent and interdisciplinary approaches to define sustainability and its indicators on catchment scale are still missing.

Objectives

Considering research demand for sustainability indicators on catchment scale, the main objectives of the international symposium are:

»» to bring together researchers and experts with various academic backgrounds in order to exchange knowledge and compare sustainability research in engineered rivers worldwide

»» to outline a scientific approach for assessing the status of river basins regarding sustainability criteria: Sustainability Assessment Framework for Engineered Rivers

»» to develop concepts and proposals for future joint research projects in regard to comparing sustainability in engineered rivers worldwide

Friday, 26.06.2015 Day III: Innovations

Saturday, 27.06.2015 Day IV: Action Planning

Session 4: Innovative Sustainability Assessment Frameworks for Engineered Rivers

Work Session II: Future Joint Research Projects on Engineered Rivers

9.00-

10.45

Parallel moderated working groups:

Concepts for the evaluation of the sustainability in river basins

11.00

– 12

.30

Parallel moderated working groups:

Measurable sustainability indicators for different catchments

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00

– 15

.30

Presentation of group work.

Group Discussions:

Comparison of Research Approaches on Sustainability in Engineered Rivers

15.45

– 17

.15 Reflections, additional inputs, discussion

17.30 Dinner

Wednesday, 24.06.2015 Day I: Challenges

Thursday, 25.06.2015 Day II: Approaches

Session 1: Sustainability Assessment as a Scientific Challenge

Session 3: State of the Art in Sustainability Assessment Methodologies

9.00-

10.45

Welcome and Introduction Lars Ribbe, Jürgen Schmandt

Sustainable River Basin Management Lars Ribbe

Engineered Rivers in Arid Lands: The Water-Land-Climate Nexus Jurgen Schmandt

Global Water Challenges for Rivers Peter Gleick

Impacts of Upstream Water Uses on Downstream Water Availability in River Basins Worldwide Matti Kummu

11.00

– 12

.30

Balancing Water Availability and Demand in the Context of Climate Change George Ward

Groundwater, Arid Rivers and Sustainability Stephanie Glenn

Economic Aspects of River Basin Sustainability Assessments Jose Albiac

Sustainability Aspects of Large Dams in Different World Rivers Waltina Scheumann

12.30-14.00 Lunch

Session 2: Sustainability Status in Different Rivers Worldwide

Young Researcher Session: Water, Energy and Food Nexus Challenges in Engineered Rivers

14.00

-15.3

0

Limari Basin Alexandra Nauditt

Nile Basin, Fakahmed Negash

Young Researcher Poster Presentations

15.45

– 17

.15

Sao Francisco Basin Eduardo Martins (tbc)

Euphrates-Tigris Basin Aysegul Kibaroglu

Paraiba Do Sol Basin, Rosa Formiga

Indicators and thresholds of sustainability – case study Ebro Rogelio Galvan

Multi-level governance in river basins - case study Murray darling Daniel Conell

17.30 Dinner Dinner

Sessions towards the development of Common Sustainability Assessment Framework for Engineered Rivers

Supporting sessions on Sustainability Status Case Studies in Engineered Rivers

Methods

The development of the Sustainability Assessment

Framework for Engineered Rivers is based on:

»» Comparative research: previous experience of the invited

experts in engineered rivers worldwide is used as gathering

to discuss a joint scientific approach for assessing the status

of river basins regarding sustainability criteria (Sustainability

Assessment Framework for Engineered Rivers)

»» Interdisciplinary approach: in order to understand and balance the inter-linkages between environment, economy and societyconcept considering stakeholder needs and an effective science policy dialogue

Participants

»» Experts and young scientist from institutions worldwide dealing with interdisciplinary research in river basins

»» Researchers involved in the international network “Sustainability of Engineered Rivers in Arid Lands” (SERIDAS) established by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schmand from the Texas University

»» Experts from the ITT network