5th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE BALWOIS – WATER, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
28 May - 2 June 2012, Ohrid, Macedonia
The Conference was organized by the Balkan Institute for Water and Environment, Faculty of Civil Engineering (Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia) and METEO-MAK (Macedonian association of meteorology) BALWOIS network (Water Observation and Information System for Balkan Countries), and was supported by Macedonian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), European Meteorological Society (EMS), UNDP, International Water Resources Association (IWRA). BALWOIS network was created within the BALWOIS project financed by the EU Programme and continues it’s functioning on the basis of on-line communication and exchange. This network is managed by small coordination group under leadership of former coordinator of BALWOIS project - Prof. Mark Morel (France).
After the welcoming speeches and the opening statements six round tables started working. A large number of papers were presented at the following sessions: "Climate and Hydrology", "Water, environment and human activities", "Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology". At the additional three sections the papers dedicated to "IWRM", "Water Risks", "Computing and technology" were presented.
Representatives from more than 20 countries attended the Conference, more delegations were from Balkan region (Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey, Greece) as well from Russia, India, China, Mexico, USA, Germany, Brazil and others. Scientists from the Institute of Water Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, presented interesting papers on forecasting flow of northern and Siberian rivers, as well as modeling the tandem reservoir system on the Volga. Numerous papers of Bulgarian and Turkish colleagues were dedicated to topical question on more precise assessment of water consumption in general and especially for irrigation, as well as development of remote sensing methods. If other scientific fields in Central Asia are up to the mark, then implementation of space methods within water management falls behind Turkey.
Prof. Dukhovny V.A. on behalf of IWRA with Mr. Tom Su, Director General of IWRA, took part in drafting a document on cooperation with IWRA, BALWOIS and the Government of Macedonia for further development of researches on Water and Hydroecology. on behalf of SIC ICWC he also reported on the implementation of IWRM in Central Asia.
Prof. Dukhovny V.A.,
Director of SIC ICWC
10th JUBILEE INTERNATIONAL FORUM “WATER: ECOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY” - ECWATECH-2012
Russia, Moscow, 5-8 June 2012
"ECWATECH" Forums are conducted every two years and initially held under the auspices of the Ministry of Water Resources of Russia, and then - Ministry of Natural Resources. Significantly, that the opening ceremony was attended by Mr. N.N. Mikheev, the initiator of the Forum and former Minister of Water Resources of Russia, and Mr. P.A. Polad-Zade, former Deputy Minister of Water Resources of the USSR and currently a Chairman of the JSC "VODSTROY" and the President of the Network of water management organizations of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.
The Forum program included ECWATECH exhibition of achievements and samples of water sector products presented by 835 showcases from 30 countries on the area of almost 20,000 square meters, which is much more area and the number of exhibits that were shown at the World Water Forum in Marseille in 2012.
Among participants, except Russia, the producers from Germany, Holland and China were widely represented. Participation of the Water Supply Union of Kazakhstan, led by our colleague - Valery Syundyukov should be noted.
In general, the vast scope and the significant progress of water industry in Russia in all areas of technology of water supply, sewerage, wastewater treatment, trenchless pipe-laying and repair of water and sewer networks, are quite impressive.
Topics of all conferences and seminars within the Forum in Russia are also connected with that main theme. Unlike previous similar events, where management and governance of water resources and water management industry, irrigated agriculture, have received considerable attention, in the program of this Forum, among 17 conferences, seminars and round tables, only one conference was dedicated to future water resources management in the country: "The water sector of Russia: survival or development?". All the reports were focused on water and sanitation. It seemed that water management sector of Russia has no hydropower industry or irrigation or drainage network, and that these sectors have no problems. Meanwhile, the fundamental report, prepared on the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia by its Information Centre (Rybalsky, Omelyanenko, etc.) shows that there are significant problems that strengthen each year due to lack of financial resources and attention to the water management sector of the country.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Federal Agency of Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture didn't practically participate in organization and conducting the Forum and also in its preparation. That is why the Forum was "pregnant" with water and sanitation, the success of which can provoke not only joy, but also envy.
Prof. Dukhovny V.A.,
Director of SIC ICWC
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