engleski

Sustainable development of water management in Croatia

Issues related to the concept of sustainability are analyzed in the paper. Sustainable development is the new water resources paradigm of the 1990s. An appropriate reconciliation of economic, ecological and social factors is not unrealistic utopia. A review of water-related areas of concern in Agenda 21, the blueprint for sustainability, is offered, with particular reference to its chapter 18 devoted to freshwater resources. Water guidelines issued by the European Union, actually setting the framework for all water related activities, are described. The water management concept for catchement areas can be regarded as a novel approach to water management. Therefore a holostic perspective is advocated, looking at the existing inter-relationships and interfaces with other sub-systems, including ecological, social, economic, institutional, etc. The sustainability of water resources in the 21st Century will be critically dependent on our ability to correctly manage water resources systems under a more variable future climate. The problem is that there is currently no effective mechanism for rapidly moving the state of scientific knowledge into widespread usage by the agencies responsible for managing our water resources. Sustainable water management requires approaching the range of water problems and the variety of types of water bodies (from freshwaters to oceans) in an integrated way. Recognizing that water management cuts across all uses of water planning and interventions must be cross-sectoral. Planning and management must be predicated on meeting both human needs and the requirements of the aquatic environment for sustainable supplies of water in adequate quantities and of acceptable quality. The true spatial, environmental and institutional dimensions of problems must be recognized, and they must be dealt with accordingly. There is a need for improved coordination and collaboration among water resources planning and management agencies. Planning and management contexts must be consistent with the issues they address, and they must recognize relevant ecosystem interactions. Water management policies must take on global dimensions. Political processes must be better understood and shaped to focus on holistic water management approaches. And preventive, rather than remedial actions should be emphasized. It is emphasized that water is not a commercial commodity but rather a heritage that has to be preserved so that civil engineers, and water engineers in particular, bear a lot of responsible development in this area. Educators have an important role to play in the development and implementation of strategies for integrated water management. The teaching, research, and service functions of universities are ideally suited to educate a variety of publics on water management issues. In this context, the general conditions and the potential for implementing sustainable water management is examined.

sustainable development ; water sector ; water management ; water preservation ; European Union ; Croatia

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