We promote education and awareness
Measures for the protection and restoration of water bodies, as well as for the sustainable use of water resources, must be supported by the public — especially when it comes to tackling the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis. In times of growing skepticism toward science, communicating and appropriately presenting research findings on aquatic ecology and the necessities of water management is of vital importance. Awareness must be raised through education and training at schools and universities, as well as through coordinated communication in political decision-making processes.
We promote knowledge transfer
To ensure that knowledge keeps flowing and that the best possible decisions for sustainable water management can be made in the future, the exchange between scientific disciplines — and between science and policy — is essential. Collecting, summarizing, processing, and distributing knowledge across policy, stakeholder, and implementation levels requires institutionally anchored resources. New exchange formats involving the scientific community can effectively fulfill this role.
New technical priorities address climate change
Some of the greatest water management challenges in the coming years include:
- The restructuring and restoration of impaired and the protection of near-natural aquatic ecosystems
- Flood risk and drought management in the context of climate and land-use changes
- The rehabilitation of rivers in terms of hydrology, morphology, and water quality
- The conflict between water protection and the expansion of renewable energy
- The sustainable management and use of surface and groundwater resources
For effective water management planning, especially regarding agricultural irrigation, up-to-date data and reliable forecasting tools are necessary to design measures that ensure the responsible use of this valuable resource while maintaining food security. The major challenge is to pursue one goal without pushing others further out of reach or even making them unattainable. Above all, urgent action is needed to halt the dramatic decline in aquatic biodiversity.