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HS5.1

Assessment and management of water resources in tropical and dryland countries
Convener: Wouter Buytaert  | Co-Conveners: Jan Friesen , Ralf Ludwig 
Oral Programme
 / Mon, 04 Apr, 15:30–17:00  / Room 38
 / Tue, 05 Apr, 08:30–12:00  / Room 38
Poster Programme
 / Attendance Tue, 05 Apr, 17:30–19:00  / Display Tue, 05 Apr, 08:00–19:30  / Hall A

Water resources management in tropical and dryland countries is fraught with difficulties. Many of these regions are characterised by very complex hydrological systems that often exhibit extreme behaviour, such as strong monsoon seasons or extended drought. Commonly used models and analysis techniques often do not represent these processes, or at best they are seldom tested for adequacy and robustness. The complexity of the water cycle contrasts strongly with the poor data availability, which limits the number of analysis techniques and methods available to researchers. Finally, technical solutions should take into account the socio-economic setting in which they will be embedded, and address the need for capacity development to ensure that newly introduced technologies and solutions improve the regional skills in water resources management.
This session invites all contributions that deal with sustainable water resources management in tropical and dryland countries, ranging from an improved understanding of idiosyncratic processes to the tailoring of water resources management framework to a specific social and economic context. The topics may cover, but are not restricted to:
- the development, analysis, and application of new data collection techniques, such as environmental sensor networks, satellite imagery and participatory data collection methods, but also human capacity development;
- new understanding of hydrological processes that are characteristic for tropical and dryland countries, such as large scale droughts and other extremes;
- implementation of management support systems and the link between process understanding and socio-economic reality.