A Combined Methodology for Transboundary River Basin Management in Europe. Application in The Nestos–Mesta Catchment Area

Abstract

Water management has been the focus of research, not only because of water scarcity, but also as a result of its sharing across national boundaries. Approximately 40% of the global population lives in tranboundary water basins, shared by more than one country, emphasizing the need for concerted management of transboundary water bodies and harmonization of policies. Under this view, water should be managed in an internationalized way, integrating methodologies and techniques used in natural as well as social sciences. Public participation and information are vital procedural safeguards of transboundary water recourses management and sustainable regional development. The paper presents a combined methodology based on traditional engineering oriented tools on the one hand and interactive public participation procedures on the other, applied in the Greek-Bulgarian transboundary Mesta/Nestos river basin.

Wetland Planning: Current Problems and Environmental Management Proposals at Supra-Municipal Scale (Spanish Mediterranean Coast)

“…SWOT analysis has been successfully used in planning processes related to local and regional development [29]. The authors of [30] applied this methodology for river basin management, and they emphasized that public participation and stakeholders' involvement are key elements for its successful implementation due to the special cultural and social attitudes toward water.…”

“…Stakeholder analysis This analysis is the first step to involve local actors in the planning/management process; it reduces the risk of neglecting an important actor and gives us an idea of the different perspectives from which the problem is viewed [30].…”

“Good Dredging Practices”: The Place of Traditional Eco-livelihood Knowledge

“…The Ecosystem management approach is one developing strategy that is aimed at achieving long-term ecosystem protection and sustainability by integrating social, biological and natural dimensions (Pavlikakis and Tsihrintzis, 2000). Hence, the integration of research techniques that has been successfully used in natural and social sciences into water resources management could be an option for sustainable water resources management (Mylopoulos, et al 2008). Any attempt to generate effective solutions for today's environmental problems will benefit from the inclusion of TK in the creation of a fully integrated systems model, from which integrated solutions can be found (Sullivan and Meigh, 2007).…”

Interactive Actor Analysis for Rural Water Management in The Netherlands: An Application of the Transactional Approach

“…Also actor and stakeholder analysis in water management are vulnerable for this criticism. For example, Mylopoulos et al (2005) incorporate a stakeholder analysis in their combined approach to transboundary river basin management. They identified the main stakeholders in the region and their potential contribution to river basin management but remain silent on the method for stakeholder analysis used and how possible contributions of stakeholders are evaluated (Mylopoulos et al 2005).…”

“…For example, Mylopoulos et al (2005) incorporate a stakeholder analysis in their combined approach to transboundary river basin management. They identified the main stakeholders in the region and their potential contribution to river basin management but remain silent on the method for stakeholder analysis used and how possible contributions of stakeholders are evaluated (Mylopoulos et al 2005). Similarly, Olsson and Andersson (2007) discuss the advantages of model based discussions between stakeholders and how the results of such focused discussions can be improved, with out bringing concept from politics like power and dependence into the argument.…”