Stakeholder-Initiated Catchment Management Agencies: Prospects and Processes
This project, initiated by the Water Research Commission, aims to explore the establishment of stakeholder-initiated Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) within South Africa's water management framework. Despite legislative provisions allowing for CMAs, progress has been minimal due to various reasons including community knowledge gaps, satisfaction with the status quo, and concerns over effectiveness. The study involves scoping interviews and consultative workshops to assess the potential for CMAs, particularly in the Olifants and Upper-Vaal Water Management Areas. Stakeholder cooperation is essential for advancing this initiative.
Stakeholder-Initiated Catchment Management Agencies: Prospects and Processes
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Presentation Transcript
PROSPECTS AND PROCESSES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STAKEHOLDER-INITIATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AGENCIESWRC PROJECT K5/1972 INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT Olifants River Forum Loskop 06 May 2011
WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION • Established by the Water Research Act (Act No 34 of 1971) • Funded by a levy on abstraction (R152m in 2010) • Mission: • water-centred knowledge, innovation and intellectual capital • support of knowledge creation, transfer and application • solving water-related problems. • Funds independent research but close cooperation with DWA
The National Water Act (1998) states that: • " a catchment management agency may be established for a specific water management area, after public consultation, on the initiative of the community and stakeholders concerned. .......“ • To date, no advantage has been taken of this provision. • The purpose of this study is to determine the reasons for this and to investigate the potential for the stakeholder establishment of CMAs.
Reasons for a lack of progress could include:- • knowledge • satisfaction with status quo • concern over ability to defend interests in a CMA (capacity and uncertainty) • fear that a CMA might be detrimental to interests (negative evaluation of management concept) • fear that a CMA would be ineffective in achieving its goals (lack of confidence in the management model)
PROCESS • Documented legislative and policy provisions • Held scoping and exploratory interviews at national level • Consultative workshop that confirmed the need for more intensive research at WMA level • Identified the Olifants and Upper-Vaal WMAs as suitable research areas • Future draft report and 2nd national workshop Current phase is bilateral consultations with key WMA stakeholders
PROSPECTS AND PROCESSES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STAKEHOLDER-INITIATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AGENCIES Introduction to the project THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ORF Loskop 06 May 2011
