Promoting linkages between water and culture: an initiative of the UNESCO-IHP

Lisa Hiwasaki

Session on River cultures and ecological futures 10th International Riversymposium & Environmental Flows Conference

5 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia

* Created in 1975 after the International Hydrological Decade * Its Intergovernmental Council responsible for planning the programme, defining its priorities and supervising its execution * Executed in six-year phases

Global intergovernmental scientific programme on water resources of the UN system

Strategic Phases
1965-1974 IHD: Experimental Basins World Catalogue of Very Large Floods World Water Balance & Water Resources of the Earth IHP-I IHP-II IHP- III IHP- IV Hydrology and Water Resources for Sustainable Development IHP-V Hydrology and Water Resources under Vulnerable Environment IHP-VI Water Interactions: Systems at Risk and Social Challenges IHP-VII Water Dependencies: Systems Under Stress and Societal Responses

1975-1980 1981-1983 1984-1989 1990-1995 1996-2001 2002-2007 2008-2013

World Water Forum 2000 in the Hague Session on Water and Indigenous People

World Water Forum 2003 in Kyoto Sessions on Water and Cultural Diversity

World Water Day 2006 Water and Culture

WCD

Water and Cultural Diversity WCD

Why?

Our goals Focus areas of WCD Steps

What? How?

demonstrate the importance of incorporating cultural factors in management of water resources as well as in studies of water, and to promote cultural pluralism in water management strategies

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources practices that contribute to conservation, use, and management of water and related resources that are rooted in traditional/ local/ indigenous practices, customs, beliefs/ religion, and knowledge

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

political/ social institutions that govern water management

management of water for agriculture/ irrigation is an exercise in social cooperation, where traditional authorities or practices make such social coordination possible uneven power relations, conflicts and rights surrounding water and its management

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

Cultural significance of water:

The important role water plays in maintaining rituals, festivals, dances, and other special occasions of cultural significance Meanings people attribute to water/ perceptions of water Cultural or ethnic identities that are rooted in water-related natural environments Experiences with water that provide inspirations for creativity such as paintings, poems and songs

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

Tangible and intangible water heritage

Historical hydraulic structures Water-related natural heritage sites, biosphere reserves and Ramsar sites with cultural significance Place-names with cultural significance and other expressions of language in water-related sites

Linkages between water and culture Social and cultural dimensions of water
Cultural systems and traditions that contribute to conservation of water and related resources Political/ social institutions that govern water management Cultural significance of water Tangible and intangible water heritage

Integration of cultural aspects into water sciences and management

Integration of traditional and non-traditional management practices Community participation and/or stakeholder involvement in water management Integration of cultural aspects in policy-making and management of water

water and cultural diversity

goals

WCD will
foster socio-cultural perspectives in water sciences and management create a network of people across disciplines and interests: - water scientists and managers - social scientists - policy makers - local stakeholders facilitate culturally sensitive water policies move towards transdisciplinarity and intersectoral cooperation

water and cultural diversity

strategy

Informative and interactive website: resources database & community of practice 4 steps during a 2-3 year period: 1 collecting information end of 2007 2 providing information mid 2008 3 exchanging information end of 2009 4 developing information long term

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search community

STEP 1 introduction to WCD

water and cultural diversity

home about links partners news resources search community

STEP 1 introduction to WCD

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions guidelines community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions guidelines photobank community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions guidelines photobank archives community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions guidelines photobank archives directory community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news events resources search search library conventions guidelines photobank archives directory glossary community

STEP 2 passive: providing information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search login community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search login forum community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search login forum web-conference community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search login forum web-conference laboratory community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links news resources search login forum web-conference laboratory newsletter community

STEP 3 active: exchanging information

water and cultural diversity

home about links partners news resources search community

STEP 1 introduction to WCD

For more information: http://typo38.unesco.org/en/themes/ihpwater-society/water-and-culturaldiversity.html l.hiwasaki@unesco.org wcd@unesco.org