Summary and conclusions from the SIWI Seminar for Young Water Professionals - Water and sustainable development - how to ensure development without compromising sustainability?

摘要

There-is a need to create a balance between development and conservation in order to find a way to mitigate the conflicting interests of water for society, the environment and the economy. Apart from finding a solution to this there is a need to get the message across to the decision makers. How do we make good ideas permeate policy and translate into concrete programs? The Young Water Professionals gave their view through presentations and discussions. It was argued that the answer was not to be found only in environmental science but also in the political and social arena. It was argued that the sanctioned discourse is a powerful force in water allocation and management. How can a balance be struck? Many argued for a unique design of a policy for the whole catchment, acknowledging ecology and existing institutions. Furthermore, many argued in favor of building on existing institutions and steward groups for sustainability and increase their adaptive capacity. [References: None]