Holistic Approach to Water Resources Development through Generations

Sustainable development of water resources systems must balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection. This is both a technical and governance challenge to reconcile the technical challenge of competing ecological-social-economic objectives and the governance challenge of harmonizing long-term policy frames and short-term management decisions. With climate and ecosystem changes and uncertainty as well as socio-economic and political changes, water resources development has become complex. In view of this, sustainable water resources development requires transdisciplinary approach that combines science-based tools from physical, social, economic, and behavioral sciences and engages stakeholders from various sectors (academics, professionals, government, civil society) to solve problems through an iterative process of collaborative learning, research, and consensus building. This paper discusses holistic approach for sustainable and resilient water resources development in the context of the following items: (1) linking science, policy, and management decisions through decision support systems; (2) sustainability science; (3) transdisciplinary approach; and (4) evolutionary resilience. Then, specific studies and discussions are given showcasing holistic approach for the following water resources systems: 1) Pasig-Marikina River Basin, 2) West Mangahan Lakeshore Road Dike, 3) Marikina River Flood Tunnel to Agos River, 4) New Centennial Water Supply Project for Metro Manila, 5) Pulangi Hydropower Plant IV Reservoir sediment flushing, and 6) Banaue Rice Terraces as an archetype of sustainable design. In conclusion, with climate and ecosystem changes and uncertainty including economic, social, and political changes, sustainable water resources development requires transdisciplinary approach with sustainability science and evolutionary resilience.

Email: gtabios@up.edu.ph

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