International conference on water issues held in KNP
Water experts from around the globe descended on the Kruger National Park last week, where the 14th International Water Association (IWA) specialist conference took place at the Mombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre.
It was hosted by the IWA Watershed and River Basin Management (WRBM) specialist group, in partnership with the Water Institute for Southern Africa and IWA South Africa.
The conference was chaired and directed by Gareth McConkey, who also chaired the local organising committee.
The human element of watershed and river basin management, as well as the complexity of the interests of urban development versus the natural world were discussed.
The first day’s keynote address by Dr Aaron Wolf, professor of geography at Oregon State University USA, suggested that mediation of transboundary water conflicts should combine science, problem-solving and cultural sensitivity to combine 21st century insights with ancient wisdom and spirituality.
Several presentations over two days shed light on international practices in watershed and basin management.
South African presenters included Ashwin Seetal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, who called for “active citizenry” to advance sustainable water management through reduced water use, pollution reduction and river restoration.
He suggested that such action should range from informal exchange of perspectives to highly structured processes, all with a shared sense of responsibility and accountability.
Nearer to home Thabo Rasiuba presented data on the occurrence and management of eutrophication, the overabundance of nutrients as a result of runoff from the surrounding land, in the White River sub-catchment of the Crocodile catchment area. He said this creates a significant water quality problem, affecting aquatic ecosystems, water availability and supply.
Dr Eddie Riddell, manager of aquatic biodiversity in the Kruger National Park, shared insights into their adaptive management of the perennial rivers in the park during drought periods and indicated how they learned from history.
The two-day conference was concluded with a panel discussion of the lessons learned and the way forward, chaired by John Riddiford (WRBM Australia) and followed by technical sessions the next day.
FROM:https://lowvelder.co.za/408777/international-conference-water-issues-held-skukuza/