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management professionals, researchers and students in engineering,

economics, geography, geology and political science in their work

on transboundary water management.

PCCP also supports cooperative processes related to the manage-

ment of transboundary waters. Through the inception of joint research

on selected water bodies, the initiative promotes cooperation among

the riparian states concerned with the water resources in question.

This is achieved by involving high-level players, governmental advis-

ers, experts and stakeholders who participate in the preparation of

consensus documents reflecting the status of conflict and cooperation

in the transboundary water body. This joint research process provides

a venue in which to discuss sensitive issues related to the transbound-

ary water body, in addition to supporting cooperation, exchange of

data and information, and development of the shared resource. Lastly,

the process offers stakeholders an opportunity to build a shared vision

for the future management of their water resources.

Ecohydrology for sustainability

Human activities interact with the delicate balance between water

resources and environmental sustainability. Therefore we need to

better understand water as both an abiotic resource and an integral

part of ecosystems; not only to identify and quantify the critical

linkages that regulate the interrelationships of hydrology and biota,

but also to see how the controlled interaction with these linkages

may contribute to environmental sustainability. The management

approach has to go beyond protection and restoration. It has to

recognize the carrying capacity of ecosystems in the face of increas-

ing human impact and find ways to improve and transfer solutions

across a variety of environments.

Under this theme, IHP is filling existing knowledge gaps by

addressing issues related to critical water systems, such as in arid

and semi-arid zones, coastal areas, estuaries and urbanized areas

where ecohydrological processes have not yet been sufficiently

addressed. IHP also works to show how better knowledge of the

interrelationships between the hydrological cycle and

biota can contribute to more cost-effective, socially

acceptable and environmental-friendly management of

freshwater. Advancing the integration of social, ecologi-

cal and hydrological research is key to a sound scientific

basis in this domain. The Ecohydrology programme

also aims at providing system solutions and facilitat-

ing technology exchange. IHP set up interdisciplinary

working groups to serve the initiative’s objectives:

• The Education and Capacity Building Working

Group is developing a curriculum of academic

courses and practitioner trainings

• The Demonstration Working Group is working

on criteria to recognize sites where sustainable,

innovative and transdisciplinary water management

practices based on ecohydrology principles are

implemented. Demonstration projects have applied

the ecohydrology approach since 2005.

• The Integration and Upscaling Working Group is

investigating the key intersections between social

and economic sciences and those studying the

hydrological/ecological cycles.

• The Gender and Social Cultural Biodiversity

Group aims to bridge the gap between the

hydrological, social and ecological/environmental

sciences by exploring community cultural values.

It endeavours to reframe the policy discourse and

language to engage the grass-roots community in

planning processes for empowerment and social

change, based on free, prior and informed consent.

• The Ecohydrology Modelling and Visualization Group

is working on tools, such as modelling software, to

inform and support water managers and planners in

achieving integrated water resource management.

Cooperative processes offer stakeholders an opportunity to build a

shared vision for the future management of their water resources

Water is a cross-cutting issue which demands attention at all levels and involves

many stakeholders across sectors