Understanding Human-Water feedbacks

The International Commission on Human-Water Feedbacks of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) focuses on better understanding the feedbacks between humans and water over decadal and centennial time scales. We are inclusive and interdisciplinary, inviting members from all research fields interested in this topic, including social sciences, economics, engineering, hydrology, etc.

Societies respond to hydrometeorological hazards by developing management measures, which can have a major, if not dominant, influence on risk and water ressources. For example, natural river systems in Europe have been greatly affected by the construction of dams and canals, which have altered the course of rivers and allowed the urbanisation of flood plains. However, the long-term effects of such measures are largely unknown due to complex interactions with other developments in the human-water system, such as climate change or socio-economic development. An example of a hypothesised long-term feedback mechanism is the construction of reservoirs for irrigation and the resulting population growth, which increases the exposure and vulnerability of society and leads to the construction of even more reservoirs, thus creating a feedback loop. There is an urgent need to understand the long-term dynamics of the human-water system in order to successfully implement climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, post-disaster recovery decisions, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The aim of this presentation is to present and further motivate community activities that aim to better understand human-water feedbacks.