Valuing Water: Bonn Water Network Celebrates World Water Day 2021

Mar 25, 2021

In order to raise awareness about and foster action to address the global water crisis, World Water Day on March 22 every year became a UN observance day in 1993.World Water Day 2021 focuses on the theme 'Valuing Water'. This focus extends beyond issues of pricing and includes the environmental, social, and cultural value people place on water.

The Bonn Water Network event on Tuesday March 23, 2021 launched the Handbook of Water Resources Management: Discourses, Concepts and Examples’ and invites to an expert round-table discussion. What do our Bonn Water Network experts say about ‘Valuing Water’ from their perspectives? Read their statements.

Dr. Luna Bharati, principal scientist with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI): “IWMI’s research responds directly to the demand for innovative, scientifically tested water- management solutions for sustainable development by addressing three high priority water challenges: Food and Ecosystems; Climate Change and Resilience; and Growth and Inclusion”.

More on IWMI’s work on water

Prof. Mariele Evers, Head of Research Group Eco-Hydrology and Water Resources Management / UNESCO Chair Human-Water-Systems - Geography Department - University of Bonn: “In our research we focus on the interrelations between various factors in human-water systems in terms of functional, spatial and temporal connectedness. We evaluate water-related ecosystem services and we develop methodologies for integrated assessment and management”.

More information at Geographie University Bonn

Dr. Birgit Kemmerling, researcher at the peace and conflict research institute BICC (Bonn International Center for Conversion): “Water has multiple, often competing meanings for different actors, sectors and regions. For BICC, valuing water means, in particular, understanding local needs, concerns and values of water and integrating them into political decision-making processes in order to avoid or mitigate conflicts”.

More information on BICC’s work on water at War and Peace/Module Environmental Safety

Dr. Jean Carlo Rodríguez, senior researcher at German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE): “Water has multiple meanings, reducing them only to its economic dimension neglects the social embeddedness of water and risks marginalizing the most vulnerable” (Rodriguez-de-Francisco and Schoderer, 2021).

More information on DIE’s work on water

Dr. Bernhard Tischbein, senior researcher at ZEF: “Contributing to sustainable development is an essential need and task in valuing water. ZEF’s research is combining hydrological, bio-physical, agricultural, environmental, socio-economical, institutional, and policy dimensions of water towards supportive management tools and strategies”.

More information on ZEF’s water-related research

Contact

Internationales Konversionszentrum Bonn - Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) GmbH

Susanne Heinke

Chief Officer Public Relations

Pfarrer-Byns-Straße 1

53121 Bonn

Germany

Phone:

+49 228 911 9644

E-Mail:

pr@bicc.de

Internet:

To website

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