Orange River Basin Symposium looks at integrated water management

The Orange River Basin is the focus catchment for work on water management in water scarce areas. Keynote speakers at the symposium: Back row, from left: Dr Daan Toerien (former Director: Watertech and Vice-President of the CSIR), Dr Pete Ashton (CSIR and National Water Advisory Council) and Mr Piet Heyns (former Head of the Department of Water Affairs in Namibia). Front row, from left: Dr Dirk Roux (SANParks) and Mr Tseliso Ntili (Regional Head DWA Free State) with Professor Maitland Seaman (Director: Water Cluster and Centre for Environmental Management, UFS).

By Sanet Neethling, Organiser: Orange River Basin Symposium

Members of SAEON’s Arid Lands Node attended the 4^th annual Orange River Basin Symposium held at the University of the Free State (UFS) in June.

The symposium was presented by the UFS’ Strategic Academic Cluster: Water Management in Water-scarce Areas. In keeping with the theme, "Integrated Water Management", key issues addressed included the state of the Orange River, complexities in managing shared water, water conservation, ground and surface water resources, social aspects of water, environmental law, leadership and water boards.

Delegates representing South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia had ample opportunity to network and collaborate with key players in their field of research. The symposium attracted an impressive array of speakers, ranging from seasoned speakers to students.

Developmental water agenda

Keynote speakers included Professor Tony Turton, SAB Environmentalist of the Year for 2010 and recipient of the Nick Steele Memorial Award for his inspiring work, Dr Peter Ashton from the CSIR and member of the National Water Advisory Council, Dr Dirk Roux from SANParks and Dr Nola Redelinghuys from UFS. Mr Tseliso Ntili, Regional Head of the Free State Department of Water Affairs delivered a presentation entitled "Strategic leadership of water boards in advancing the developmental water agenda - now and the future".

The main sponsors for the symposium were the Free State Department of Water Affairs, Orasecom (Orange-Senqu River Commission), IMP Innovative Solutions, BloemWater and Protea Hotel Willow Lake.

"The symposium yielded a wealth of information and we formed valuable networking connections in long-term monitoring and research of this important river basin," says Yolandi Els, Coordinator of SAEON’s Arid Lands Node.