AWA – CSIRO Land and Water Public Seminar

Lessons emerging from South Africa’s experience in water reform: the roles of science and community stakeholders

Dr Mark Dent
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

When: Monday 25th February 2008 at 4.30pm,
Where: Atrium Theatrette, 168 St Georges Terrace, Perth

PLEASE RSVP by Friday 22nd February to Cath Miller, email: cmiller@awa.asn.au, Ph: 0416 289 075
This event is free of charge but RSVP required for entry

Abstract

One of the keys to learning in management is to be able to perceive generic elements of ones own situation in that of others. If one can do this, it gives one the advantage of learning valuable lessons at somebody else’s expense. Australia and South Africa have many lessons to learn and many to offer each other in our endeavours to implement integrated water resources management (IWRM). The people of both countries are on a learning journey through largely uncharted territory and the challenges are daunting.

One of the first lessons to become evident in both countries is that integrated water resources management cannot be based on dis-integrated science. As a Bio-resources Engineer and management development professional, working in an academic and research capacity in South Africa since 1975, Mark Dent says he has been privileged to experience & witness many changes. These include the advent of computer simulation modeling, the internet, GIS, the birth of a democratic South Africa and its subsequent struggles with itself, the growing world consciousness to global climate change, alarming environment degradation and also the recognition of the dangers in the growing gap over natural resource sharing between rich and poor. In South Africa these changes have stimulated world acclaimed policy and legislation in water and natural resources management and at the same time shown up severe deficiencies in South Africa’s ability to implement these policies. Against this backdrop significant dynamics have occurred in the realm of water related expertise that is so desperately needed in the socio-scientific-learning required to cope with integrated water resources management.

About the speaker

Mark is in Australia as a guest of the CSIRO. He is presenting seminars in six cities, primarily supported through the International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (Adelaide), the National Water Commission and the Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures. Mark’s presentation in Perth is also supported by the Department of Water and the Australian Water Association.

Mark will speak on lessons emerging from South Africa’s efforts to implement excellent IWRM policy and legislation, with a focus on the roles of science and community stakeholders.

PowerPoint Presentation
(1.8 MB)

For seminar information email Perth Seminars or phone (08) 9333 6221
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