This paper evaluates and assesses hydropolitical conflict and maps the interface currently developing between water scarcity and political crisis and conflict. It discusses the politics of conflict over water in a manner that highlights several key components that represent the underpinnings of a model for studying international conflict over freshwater resources. To this end, the paper itself is presented in two sections. Part one is a discussion of the political ramifications that stem from the scientific characteristics of freshwater in order to understand the linkages between freshwater and political behaviour and international conflict. Part two then advances a foundational construct for a general hydropolitical conflict model that can be used to evaluate and test the basic assumptions of the hydro-conflict nexus.
International audience ; This chapter explores the links between drought governance and the vulnerability of freshwater for drinking water supply, with a focus on drought adaptation. The public awareness of drought and water scarcity risks in such a flood-prone region is still low. However, the fact that fresh water availability for drinking water supply is threatened not only by a decrease in water availability, related to climate variability and climate change, but also due to the increase in water demand, related to population and economic growth, this issue can potentially motivate the introduction of drought and water scarcity risks into the public and political agenda. Even if the northwestern European countries in this study have similar climatic settings, other aspects of their contexts can be quite contrasting in each pilot case. Depending on where the freshwater reservoir is placed, upstream or downstream within the catchment, different levels and scales are mobilized to tackle water management challenges. The priority hierarchy of water uses in case of drought can also be surprisingly different in neighboring countries. Even if some actions, as the expansion of spatial water networks connectivity, have started to improve the robustness of drinking water systems, the solutions that require a paradigm shift to a most systemic strategy including water demand control remain out of the agenda and could greatly improve the resilience of the region to drought and water scarcity risk.
International audience ; This chapter explores the links between drought governance and the vulnerability of freshwater for drinking water supply, with a focus on drought adaptation. The public awareness of drought and water scarcity risks in such a flood-prone region is still low. However, the fact that fresh water availability for drinking water supply is threatened not only by a decrease in water availability, related to climate variability and climate change, but also due to the increase in water demand, related to population and economic growth, this issue can potentially motivate the introduction of drought and water scarcity risks into the public and political agenda. Even if the northwestern European countries in this study have similar climatic settings, other aspects of their contexts can be quite contrasting in each pilot case. Depending on where the freshwater reservoir is placed, upstream or downstream within the catchment, different levels and scales are mobilized to tackle water management challenges. The priority hierarchy of water uses in case of drought can also be surprisingly different in neighboring countries. Even if some actions, as the expansion of spatial water networks connectivity, have started to improve the robustness of drinking water systems, the solutions that require a paradigm shift to a most systemic strategy including water demand control remain out of the agenda and could greatly improve the resilience of the region to drought and water scarcity risk.
One singularity of northwestern Europe (NWE) is that severe droughts are rare events in the region and water scarcity has hardly been experienced in its history. The DROP pilot sites are not exceptions to this context. Although the lack of a drought history in wet areas can explain why drought and water scarcity are not necessarily the focus of (if ever considered in) river basin management plans, it must be noted that freshwater availability for drinking water provision remains a priority stake in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Providing a reliable and safe supply of drinking water may thus be a leading entryway to the development of drought risk awareness and drought adaptation measures in a river basin. When such essential resource is threatened and the competition for water among users increases, there is a good chance that reflections and changes will be triggered. Water use conflicts and drinking water supply threats may arise due to increased water demand, but also due to decreased water availability. The later may occur because of natural climate variability, i.e., drier years than average, or as the result of the impact of climate change on local water resources. Climate change awareness is then an important asset to manage water availability. Where climate change awareness is low and adaptation measures are basically inexistent, social and political responses to drought adaptation may be slow and inefficient. However, even in those cases where climate change awareness is still low in general society, water authorities and other stakeholders are conscious that water demand tends to intensify with population and economic growth, rendering water scarcity conceivable and even foreseeable. Freshwater availability for drinking water supply is therefore an issue that can motivate the introduction of drought and water scarcity risks into the political and public agenda , even in " drought-scarce " regions. This chapter highlights the links between drought governance and the vulnerability of ...
One singularity of northwestern Europe (NWE) is that severe droughts are rare events in the region and water scarcity has hardly been experienced in its history. The DROP pilot sites are not exceptions to this context. Although the lack of a drought history in wet areas can explain why drought and water scarcity are not necessarily the focus of (if ever considered in) river basin management plans, it must be noted that freshwater availability for drinking water provision remains a priority stake in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Providing a reliable and safe supply of drinking water may thus be a leading entryway to the development of drought risk awareness and drought adaptation measures in a river basin. When such essential resource is threatened and the competition for water among users increases, there is a good chance that reflections and changes will be triggered. Water use conflicts and drinking water supply threats may arise due to increased water demand, but also due to decreased water availability. The later may occur because of natural climate variability, i.e., drier years than average, or as the result of the impact of climate change on local water resources. Climate change awareness is then an important asset to manage water availability. Where climate change awareness is low and adaptation measures are basically inexistent, social and political responses to drought adaptation may be slow and inefficient. However, even in those cases where climate change awareness is still low in general society, water authorities and other stakeholders are conscious that water demand tends to intensify with population and economic growth, rendering water scarcity conceivable and even foreseeable. Freshwater availability for drinking water supply is therefore an issue that can motivate the introduction of drought and water scarcity risks into the political and public agenda , even in " drought-scarce " regions. This chapter highlights the links between drought governance and the vulnerability of ...
The value of specially designated sites in conserving biodiversity has been a hotly debated issue for many years. The debate has recently been given fresh impetus by the creation of Natural England, the new Government Agency responsible for the protection and enhancement of the natural environment in England, and the challenges facing the management of designated sites resulting from the increasingly tangible effects of climate change. In the freshwater environment, the role of designated sites is very much under the spotlight because of the implementation of the European 'Water Framework' Directive, which aspires to holistic, ecologically-based management of aquatic habitats.This paper explores the underlying premises of, and rationale for, special site designations for wildlife, and provides a frank account of the inevitable clash of management philosophies that designated sites create in the freshwater environment, drawing on experiences of managing designated freshwater sites in England over the past decade. A positive role is outlined for designated sites in freshwater conservation, which addresses these management conflicts in a way that not only meets Government obligations towards these sites but also paves the way for enlightened, progressive management of the wider freshwater resource. As part of this account, attempts are made to clarify the relationship between key biodiversity-related policy drivers in the freshwater environment, and to explain how the spectre of climate change can be addressed within designated site management.The importance of strategic freshwater science, collaboratively designed and funded, in maximising the value of the designated freshwater site network to the wider freshwater habitat resource, is stressed.
Greater scientific knowledge, changing societal values, and legislative mandates have emphasized the importance of implementing large-scale flow experiments (FEs) downstream of dams. We provide the first global assessment of FEs to evaluate their success in advancing science and informing management decisions. Systematic review of 113 FEs across 20 countries revealed that clear articulation of experimental objectives, while not universally practiced, was crucial for achieving management outcomes and changing dam-operating policies. Furthermore, changes to dam operations were three times less likely when FEs were conducted primarily for scientific purposes. Despite the recognized importance of riverine flow regimes, four-fifths of FEs involved only discrete flow events. Over three-quarters of FEs documented both abiotic and biotic outcomes, but only one-third examined multiple taxonomic responses, thus limiting how FE results can inform holistic dam management. Future FEs will present new opportunities to advance scientifically credible water policies. ; Full Text
This is the first lecture in the course Freshwater Hydrobiology. It is an introductory lecture which introduces a number of basic concepts that underpin the area. This is a PowerPoint lecture which is free to use and modify. It was designed to be used in conjunction with the course text Gray, N.F. (2017) Water Science and Technology: An Introduction, published by CRC Press, Oxford. In the lecture, the following are explored: definition of hydrobiology and limnology, hydrological cycle, freshwater habitats, retention time, classification of rivers, global warming, climate change, EU water legislation, biological quality, water service cycle, catchment management, River Basin Management Plans, Water Framework Directive, Irish River Basin Districts, Environmental quality standards, and priority substances. ; 1
Open workshop at the 18th EAFP Conference, Belfast, UK, 4th September 2017 ; International audience ; Worldwide, viral diseases pose a serious challenge to the fish farming industry and wild fish stocks. In order to prevent the spread of serious fish diseases and to contain and control fish disease outbreaks at a global scale, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published relevant data on these fish diseases, both in the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE, 2017a), including the OIE listed fish diseases, and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE, 2017b), including recommended diagnostic methods. The list of viral OIE notifiable fish diseases currently includes: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis disease (EHN), Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA), Infection with salmonid alphavirus, causing Pancreas disease (PD) and Sleeping disease (SD), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD), Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). At European Union level, Commission Decision 2006/88/EC and Council Implementing Decision 2015/1554/EC provide specific regulation for surveillance and control of listed infectious aquatic diseases in Europe which include the fish viral diseases VHS, IHN, EHN, ISA, and KHVD (European Commission 2006, 2015). Due to the frequent emergence of new serious fish viral diseases, the OIE list of fish viral diseases is regularly being extended. However, apart from these well studied viral diseases, other non-notifiable serious fish viral diseases occur in freshwater fish farming. To focus on these new viral threats for freshwater fish farming, an open workshop was organized at the EAFP Conference at Belfast, 4th September 2017. The workshop consisted of five short lectures and a discussion, involving an audience of 69 international experts, originating from 25 countries, of which 6 outside Europe. The main topics presented included ...
Open workshop at the 18th EAFP Conference, Belfast, UK, 4th September 2017 ; International audience ; Worldwide, viral diseases pose a serious challenge to the fish farming industry and wild fish stocks. In order to prevent the spread of serious fish diseases and to contain and control fish disease outbreaks at a global scale, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published relevant data on these fish diseases, both in the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE, 2017a), including the OIE listed fish diseases, and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE, 2017b), including recommended diagnostic methods. The list of viral OIE notifiable fish diseases currently includes: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis disease (EHN), Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA), Infection with salmonid alphavirus, causing Pancreas disease (PD) and Sleeping disease (SD), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD), Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). At European Union level, Commission Decision 2006/88/EC and Council Implementing Decision 2015/1554/EC provide specific regulation for surveillance and control of listed infectious aquatic diseases in Europe which include the fish viral diseases VHS, IHN, EHN, ISA, and KHVD (European Commission 2006, 2015). Due to the frequent emergence of new serious fish viral diseases, the OIE list of fish viral diseases is regularly being extended. However, apart from these well studied viral diseases, other non-notifiable serious fish viral diseases occur in freshwater fish farming. To focus on these new viral threats for freshwater fish farming, an open workshop was organized at the EAFP Conference at Belfast, 4th September 2017. The workshop consisted of five short lectures and a discussion, involving an audience of 69 international experts, originating from 25 countries, of which 6 outside Europe. The main topics presented included ...
Open workshop at the 18th EAFP Conference, Belfast, UK, 4th September 2017 ; International audience ; Worldwide, viral diseases pose a serious challenge to the fish farming industry and wild fish stocks. In order to prevent the spread of serious fish diseases and to contain and control fish disease outbreaks at a global scale, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published relevant data on these fish diseases, both in the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE, 2017a), including the OIE listed fish diseases, and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE, 2017b), including recommended diagnostic methods. The list of viral OIE notifiable fish diseases currently includes: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis disease (EHN), Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA), Infection with salmonid alphavirus, causing Pancreas disease (PD) and Sleeping disease (SD), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD), Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). At European Union level, Commission Decision 2006/88/EC and Council Implementing Decision 2015/1554/EC provide specific regulation for surveillance and control of listed infectious aquatic diseases in Europe which include the fish viral diseases VHS, IHN, EHN, ISA, and KHVD (European Commission 2006, 2015). Due to the frequent emergence of new serious fish viral diseases, the OIE list of fish viral diseases is regularly being extended. However, apart from these well studied viral diseases, other non-notifiable serious fish viral diseases occur in freshwater fish farming. To focus on these new viral threats for freshwater fish farming, an open workshop was organized at the EAFP Conference at Belfast, 4th September 2017. The workshop consisted of five short lectures and a discussion, involving an audience of 69 international experts, originating from 25 countries, of which 6 outside Europe. The main topics presented included ...
Open workshop at the 18th EAFP Conference, Belfast, UK, 4th September 2017 ; International audience ; Worldwide, viral diseases pose a serious challenge to the fish farming industry and wild fish stocks. In order to prevent the spread of serious fish diseases and to contain and control fish disease outbreaks at a global scale, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published relevant data on these fish diseases, both in the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE, 2017a), including the OIE listed fish diseases, and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE, 2017b), including recommended diagnostic methods. The list of viral OIE notifiable fish diseases currently includes: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis disease (EHN), Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA), Infection with salmonid alphavirus, causing Pancreas disease (PD) and Sleeping disease (SD), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD), Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). At European Union level, Commission Decision 2006/88/EC and Council Implementing Decision 2015/1554/EC provide specific regulation for surveillance and control of listed infectious aquatic diseases in Europe which include the fish viral diseases VHS, IHN, EHN, ISA, and KHVD (European Commission 2006, 2015). Due to the frequent emergence of new serious fish viral diseases, the OIE list of fish viral diseases is regularly being extended. However, apart from these well studied viral diseases, other non-notifiable serious fish viral diseases occur in freshwater fish farming. To focus on these new viral threats for freshwater fish farming, an open workshop was organized at the EAFP Conference at Belfast, 4th September 2017. The workshop consisted of five short lectures and a discussion, involving an audience of 69 international experts, originating from 25 countries, of which 6 outside Europe. The main topics presented included ...
Open workshop at the 18th EAFP Conference, Belfast, UK, 4th September 2017 ; International audience ; Worldwide, viral diseases pose a serious challenge to the fish farming industry and wild fish stocks. In order to prevent the spread of serious fish diseases and to contain and control fish disease outbreaks at a global scale, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published relevant data on these fish diseases, both in the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE, 2017a), including the OIE listed fish diseases, and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE, 2017b), including recommended diagnostic methods. The list of viral OIE notifiable fish diseases currently includes: Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis disease (EHN), Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA), Infection with salmonid alphavirus, causing Pancreas disease (PD) and Sleeping disease (SD), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD), Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS). At European Union level, Commission Decision 2006/88/EC and Council Implementing Decision 2015/1554/EC provide specific regulation for surveillance and control of listed infectious aquatic diseases in Europe which include the fish viral diseases VHS, IHN, EHN, ISA, and KHVD (European Commission 2006, 2015). Due to the frequent emergence of new serious fish viral diseases, the OIE list of fish viral diseases is regularly being extended. However, apart from these well studied viral diseases, other non-notifiable serious fish viral diseases occur in freshwater fish farming. To focus on these new viral threats for freshwater fish farming, an open workshop was organized at the EAFP Conference at Belfast, 4th September 2017. The workshop consisted of five short lectures and a discussion, involving an audience of 69 international experts, originating from 25 countries, of which 6 outside Europe. The main topics presented included ...
This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer via the DOI in this record ; The Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, is a globally prominent freshwater research facility, conducting impactful whole-of-lake experiments on so-called 'pristine' lakes and watersheds. These lakes are located in traditional Anishinaabe (Indigenous) territory and the home of 28 Treaty #3 Nations, something rarely acknowledged until now. Indeed, Indigenous peoples in the area have historically been excluded from the research facility's governance and research. Shortly after it changed hands in 2014—from the federal government to the not-for-profit International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD)—the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada released its Calls to Action to all Canadians. The newly named International Institute of Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) began to respond with a number of initiatives aimed to develop relationships with local Indigenous peoples and communities. In this paper, from the perspectives of IISD-ELA staff members, we share findings from an exploratory study into the relationships beginning to develop between IISD-ELA and Treaty #3 Nations. We used semi-structured interviews (n = 10) to identify how staff perceived their initial efforts and contextualize those with the current literature on meaningfully engagement in reconciliation. Our analysis highlights perceived barriers, including time, resources, and funding constraints, as well as an acknowledged lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity training. Participants also recognized the need to engage Indigenous knowledge holders and embrace their ways of knowing at the research station. While the study is small in scale, as an international leader in freshwater science, transparency in the IISD-ELA's journey in reconciliation has the potential to inform, influence, and 'unsettle' settler-colonial scientists, field stations, and institutions across the country and beyond. ; Canada Research Chairs Program
The Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, is a globally prominent freshwater research facility, conducting impactful whole-of-lake experiments on so-called 'pristine' lakes and watersheds. These lakes are located in traditional Anishinaabe (Indigenous) territory and the home of 28 Treaty #3 Nations, something rarely acknowledged until now. Indeed, Indigenous peoples in the area have historically been excluded from the research facility's governance and research. Shortly after it changed hands in 2014—from the federal government to the not-for-profit International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD)—the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada released its Calls to Action to all Canadians. The newly named International Institute of Sustainable Development-Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) began to respond with a number of initiatives aimed to develop relationships with local Indigenous peoples and communities. In this paper, from the perspectives of IISD-ELA staff members, we share findings from an exploratory study into the relationships beginning to develop between IISD-ELA and Treaty #3 Nations. We used semi-structured interviews (n = 10) to identify how staff perceived their initial efforts and contextualize those with the current literature on meaningfully engagement in reconciliation. Our analysis highlights perceived barriers, including time, resources, and funding constraints, as well as an acknowledged lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity training. Participants also recognized the need to engage Indigenous knowledge holders and embrace their ways of knowing at the research station. While the study is small in scale, as an international leader in freshwater science, transparency in the IISD-ELA's journey in reconciliation has the potential to inform, influence, and 'unsettle' settler-colonial scientists, field stations, and institutions across the country and beyond.
