Free Flow

[

] 319

Water for sustainable development

and adaptation to climate change

Milan Dimkic, Miodrag Milovanovic and Radisav Pavlovic,

Jaroslav Cerni Institute for the Development of Water Resources, Serbia

he establishment of a United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Category

II Centre for Water for Sustainable Development and

Adaptation to Climate Change was approved in 2012. The centre

is expected to enhance scientific cooperation at the regional level

and to contribute to international sciences on water research,

management and knowledge transfer, with a valuable contribu-

tion to the current seventh phase of the International Hydrological

Programme (IHP) and to the upcoming eighth phase. It has been

operational since 2013, and is hosted by the Jaroslav Cerni

Institute (JCI) for the Development of Water Resources.

JCI’s origins date back more than 60 years. It was initially an experi-

mental hydraulics laboratory which provided scientific support for

the development of the country’s first hydroelectric power plants.

Over the years, JCI grew and expanded its research, investigation,

planning, design and engineering activities to encompass all water

management segments in the former Yugoslavia. In addition to its

domestic activities, JCI successfully undertook diverse projects in

more than 20 countries across the world.

Today, JCI is the focal institution in Serbia’s water sector, in terms

of professional capacity and scope. It is also Serbia’s leading research

organization. In addition to high-level research, JCI performs a wide

variety of other activities which constitute its core functions. These

include the planning and engineering of water and hydropower

infrastructures; engineer oversight of hydraulic projects;

consulting services associated with the management of

water resources, facilities, and systems; development of

strategic planning documents; expert evaluations; and

assistance in the drafting of national legislation, stand-

ards, methodologies and guidelines.

JCI currently employs some 250 individuals, most

of whom are university graduates with PhD and MSc

degrees in various disciplines (civil/hydraulic and struc-

tural, hydrogeological, chemical, environmental, forest,

mechanical, electrical, mathematical and biological engi-

neers; architects, economists, lawyers and so on). JCI

also maintains close ties with domestic and international

universities, organizations and experts. The extraordi-

nary human resources of the institute ensure a very high

level of studies and projects in different fields of water

and energy sectors and environmental protection.

JCI has a number of laboratories for hydraulic, water

quality, biochemical, soil and sediment research, and

cutting-edge instrumentation for field measurements

and analyses in areas such as geophysics, hydrogeology

and hydrochemistry. It also operates a state-of-the-art

information system and possesses a large library of

advanced software used in water research and manage-

ment. JCI has itself developed sophisticated software to

address specific problems.

Needs of Serbia’s water sector

Serbia is currently faced with extremely important and

extensive tasks in its water sector. Dramatically reduced

spending over the past 25 years has led to a significant

falling behind in the construction of necessary water

infrastructures and, to some extent, in the very organi-

zation and structuring of Serbia’s water sector. Water

sector investment needs are currently estimated at a

minimum of €6-8 billion.

Investments and efficient water sector management

arrangements are indispensable for appropriate action

and the achievement of targeted status in the areas of

water protection, water use, and protection against

the adverse effects of water. Serbia has enacted a new

Water Law and is currently drafting a series of related

by-laws. In parallel, it needs to upgrade government and

economic capacities and undertake extremely impor-

tant reforms in its economic and finance sectors. In

nternational

ooperation

ater

ciences

and

esearch

The Jaroslav Cerni Institute is the focal institution in Serbia’s water sector

Image: JCI