Almost 80% of the earth surface has been altered by mankind
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Transcript of Almost 80% of the earth surface has been altered by mankind
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Healthy Rivers and the Implementation Healthy Rivers and the Implementation of Sustainable Water Resources of Sustainable Water Resources
ManagementManagementG. SYLAIOSG. SYLAIOS1,1, J. GUO J. GUO22 , M. HATZIAPOSTOLIDIS , M. HATZIAPOSTOLIDIS3,3,
11..Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece2.Department of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University, China2.Department of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University, China
3.Prefectural Authority of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi, Greece3.Prefectural Authority of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi, Greece
Workshop ConclusionsWorkshop Conclusions
Angelika Kallia-Antoniou Angelika Kallia-Antoniou Attorney at LawAttorney at Law
Prof. European Environmental Law, Prof. European Environmental Law, School of Public Administration, GreeceSchool of Public Administration, Greece
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Almost 80% of the earth surface has been Almost 80% of the earth surface has been altered by mankindaltered by mankind
Rivers have been amongst the most modified Rivers have been amongst the most modified aquatic systems. aquatic systems.
River water and coastal degradation are River water and coastal degradation are expected to continue in the future expected to continue in the future
due to the need for more food production and due to the need for more food production and increased water use.increased water use.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
More water will be stored and used by dams,More water will be stored and used by dams,
thus affecting the functioning of river thus affecting the functioning of river
estuarine and coastal ecosystems. estuarine and coastal ecosystems.
Test cases presented in the workshop from Test cases presented in the workshop from Guadiana, Nestos, Yangtze and Danube Rivers Guadiana, Nestos, Yangtze and Danube Rivers revealed the impact revealed the impact
of freshwater impoundment of freshwater impoundment
due to dams.due to dams.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Adverse effects have been observed: Adverse effects have been observed: eutrophication, eutrophication,
river bank and coastal erosion, river bank and coastal erosion,
reservoir siltationreservoir siltation
to these river ecosystems to these river ecosystems
as a result of similar interventions. as a result of similar interventions.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Although differences exist Although differences exist
in the scales of processes andin the scales of processes and
impacts among the systems presented,impacts among the systems presented,
most problems are common, most problems are common,
Therefore a common approach Therefore a common approach
for their solution is required for their solution is required
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Action to improvement must be taken Action to improvement must be taken
as climate change impactsas climate change impacts
are expected to addare expected to add
to the above adverse effects to the above adverse effects
produced by river damming. produced by river damming.
For the case of cascading dam systems, as the For the case of cascading dam systems, as the Three Gorges Dam (TGR) case,Three Gorges Dam (TGR) case,
it is evident that their present operation it is evident that their present operation principles principles
could be improved by tuning could be improved by tuning
to minimize environmental impact. to minimize environmental impact.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
At the branches of TGR,At the branches of TGR,
eutrophication and soil erosion eutrophication and soil erosion
appear as the most significant problems. appear as the most significant problems.
Solutions to the above problems Solutions to the above problems
are yet to be addressed fully.are yet to be addressed fully.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Ecohydrology (EH) Ecohydrology (EH)
offers an innovative and cost-effecrive tool offers an innovative and cost-effecrive tool which can help minimize the impacts of the which can help minimize the impacts of the above effects,above effects,
by increasing the carrying capacity by increasing the carrying capacity
(sustain water, reverse biodiversity decline and (sustain water, reverse biodiversity decline and provide ecosystem services to society) and provide ecosystem services to society) and
by studying processes by studying processes
at the entire watershed scale. at the entire watershed scale.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
In the case of dammed river systems,In the case of dammed river systems,
EH may tune their operation EH may tune their operation
in order to minimize their impact in order to minimize their impact
on water quantity on water quantity
and quality and quality
at the downstream part of the watershed. at the downstream part of the watershed.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Multi-purpose dams Multi-purpose dams
or series of small dams or series of small dams
could be considered as toolscould be considered as tools
to improve environmental conditions, to improve environmental conditions,
if separated by sections of the free-flowing river. if separated by sections of the free-flowing river. The use of constructed wetlands,The use of constructed wetlands,
the use of water-plants-soil interaction, the use of water-plants-soil interaction,
the regulation of hydrodynamics the regulation of hydrodynamics
to alter phytoplankton dynamicsto alter phytoplankton dynamics
are examples discussedare examples discussed
thoroughly in the workshop. thoroughly in the workshop.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
The concept of Green Hydropower The concept of Green Hydropower
and the proposed indicatorsand the proposed indicators
should also be adopted as a tool linked to EH, should also be adopted as a tool linked to EH, assessing the effectiveness assessing the effectiveness
of the measures adoptedof the measures adopted
by the Hydropower companiesby the Hydropower companies
aiming to improve aiming to improve
the environmental functioning of the system. the environmental functioning of the system.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
EU legislation could adopt these solutions, EU legislation could adopt these solutions, especially as a tool for improving especially as a tool for improving
the WFD requirementsthe WFD requirements
in river basins andin river basins and
associated estuaries and coasts. associated estuaries and coasts.
Adoption of the solidarity principle Adoption of the solidarity principle
expressed in the EU water legislation for expressed in the EU water legislation for neighboring countries or regions neighboring countries or regions
should be considered should be considered
to find appropriate solutions to find appropriate solutions
to common problems. to common problems.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Participants underlinedParticipants underlined
the significance of the involvement the significance of the involvement
and the contribution of Local and Regional and the contribution of Local and Regional Authorities (LRA). Authorities (LRA).
Thus, EU policy and legislation Thus, EU policy and legislation
on water management on water management
may be considered as a useful toolmay be considered as a useful tool
to be taken into account to be taken into account
by the China-EU by the China-EU
Forum.Forum.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Collaboration Achievements Collaboration Achievements
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
A project proposal A project proposal
for future co-operation for future co-operation
between the UNESCO Ecohydrology Group and between the UNESCO Ecohydrology Group and the Chongqing University the Chongqing University
has been developed, has been developed,
concerning the tributary branches of TGR. concerning the tributary branches of TGR.
The impact of TGR The impact of TGR
on tributary branches hydrology on tributary branches hydrology
and the problems of eutrophication and soil and the problems of eutrophication and soil erosion has been determined.erosion has been determined.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
The proposal will be modified and adapted The proposal will be modified and adapted according to the resultsaccording to the results produced during the workshop produced during the workshop Within the context of diagnostic methodology Within the context of diagnostic methodology and the establishment of an early warning and the establishment of an early warning system for harmful algal blooms, system for harmful algal blooms, an initial agreement between an initial agreement between the University of Lodz,the University of Lodz, the UNESCO Ecohydrology Center and the UNESCO Ecohydrology Center and Chongqing University Chongqing University has been signed has been signed for further collaboration.for further collaboration.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Proposed Future ActionProposed Future Action
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Both parts Both parts should look should look for funding opportunities for funding opportunities EU or EU or other financial instruments other financial instruments
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
More universities More universities and research institutes and research institutes should be involved should be involved to cover the trans-disciplinary to cover the trans-disciplinary and integrated approach and integrated approach and the large spatial scaleand the large spatial scale of the TGR system. of the TGR system.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Stakeholders Stakeholders as hydropower organizations, as hydropower organizations, local authoritieslocal authorities and NGOsand NGOs should also be involved should also be involved in the EH approach.in the EH approach.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
The Erasmus-Mundus The Erasmus-Mundus
Master Program in Ecohydrology Master Program in Ecohydrology
could receive Chinese students could receive Chinese students
from Chongqing University,from Chongqing University,
offering scholarships offering scholarships
throughout theirthroughout their
postgraduate studies.postgraduate studies.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
The UNESCO Ecohydrology Working Group The UNESCO Ecohydrology Working Group could expand and could expand and
include one or two eminent Chinese scientists include one or two eminent Chinese scientists from Chongqing University from Chongqing University
at the various types at the various types
of UNESCO meetings. of UNESCO meetings.
China Europa Forum, Hong Kong, July 2010
Thank youThank you for your attention for your attention
oror感谢您的关注!感谢您的关注!