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How to implement options to adapt to global change in the Vipava river basin?

Thursday, 14 April 2016 Posted in News, BeWater News

Članek v slovenščini

Climate change and other pressures are affecting the environment and water resources in the Vipava river basin. A plan is being developed on how to adapt the management of the river basin and its water resources to changing conditions in the future. During an open consultation event on March 23rd in Ajdovščina 21 participants discussed how identified management options could be implemented in an adaptation plan for the Vipava river basin.

As part of the BeWater project, scientists from the Institute for Water of the RS together with experts from Ecologic Insitute from Germany organised the event in Ajdovščina at the premises of the regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business. The main objective of the event was to discuss and to optimize the content of the adaptation plan that is being prepared for the river basin in a participatory process. The open consultation was attended by 21 stakeholders from different sectors, united by joint concern for the Vipava river basin.

Mr. David Bratož, the Director of Development Agency ROD Ajdovščina welcomed all participants to the event and Ms. Manca Magjar from the Institute for Water of the RS then briefly presented the objectives of the event to the stakeholders. The introductory presentation of the past work done in BeWater project was followed by interactive sessions. During these sessions, participants tried to identify how water management options identified in a workshop organised in June 2014 could be combined and whether there are potential synergies and conflicts between them. The options were combined in seven bundles and each of these bundles aim to effectively address challenges of Vipava river basin.

After identifying synergies and conflicts between pairs of options, attendees compared their results with an assessment prepared by scientists from the Institute for Water of the RS. Participants proposed amendments to some of the bundles and verified the proposed implementation order of individual water management options within the bundles. Representatives of the municipalities were interested in all of the proposed bundles, but pointed out constrains regarding their jurisdiction.

The last part of the event, carried out in a 'World Café style', with purpose of gathering thoughts and ideas on the desired content and implementation of the adaptation plan for the Vipava river basin. The collected feedback will serve complementing draft adaptation plan taking into account existing strategic documents. At the end majority of attendees highlighted the importance of such open consultation events as an opportunity of active involvement of stakeholders in the process of formulating solutions for managing river basins. Nevertheless a greater participation of representatives of government institutions responsible for water management would be needed.

“The open consultation represented a key step towards developing an adaptation plan for the Vipava river basin. Through a participatory process, society is involved in a dialogue on water use and water management in the Vipava river basin to design joint plans for adaptation to climate change in their region. The purpose of the adaptation plan is sustainable water management in the Vipava river basin and adaptation to the impacts of global change” said Ms. Manca Magjar from the Institute for Water of the RS. “Suggestions made during the event will be used for the finalisation of the adaptation plan prepared for the Vipava river basin, which will be ready by summer 2016” she added.

Similar open consultation events are carried out in the other three pilot river basins (Spain, Cyprus, Tunisia).

Recordings of the event were made by Radio Koper (in Slovenian) and are available below:

 

 

More information: bewater @ izvrs.si

 

Photo credits: IzVRS, Ecologic Institute