School of Geography - Theses
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ItemData and information exchange in multi-jurisdictional river basins : an evaluation of procedures( 2000)The exact role that data and information exchange plays in the management of multi- jurisdictional river basins needs clarification if management processes are to be improved. With many major river basins being shared by several countries, and competition for water resources becoming increasingly severe, it is important that mechanisms are established to permit the comprehensive integrated management of shared basins. Under international law nations have a clear obligation to co-operate in the management of multi-jurisdictional river basins, including in the area of data and information exchange. Mechanisms for doing this, however, are not well developed. The Murray-Darling River basin in south-eastern Australia and the Mekong River basin in south-east Asia are both major multi-jurisdictional river basins in which inter-government authorities for managing the river basins have been established with similar aims and legal foundations. Despite the significant differences in the socio-economic and political environments of the two basins, both the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) and Mekong River Commission (MRC) have set up data collection networks and exchange mechanisms which function through quite similar means. The efficiency of the networks, however, differ markedly for a variety of reasons. The MDBC also engages in significant data and information exchange with its basin community as part of its extensive efforts at working with the community. This is integral to its management objectives for the basin. By contrast, the MRC's efforts at working with and communicating with its basin community have been limited to date. Existing community participation and communication mechanisms adopted by other organisations within the basin indicate the types of processes the MRC itself could adopt as it develops. The exchange of high quality data and information at the highest decision making level can help balance political based decision making with technical considerations. The internal working documents and meeting minutes of the MDBC and MRC reveal that the MDBC draws to a significant extent on the data and information channels it has developed to support its decision making processes. The MRC, however, has yet to make extensive use of its databases and other information sources, due to its developmental stage as an organisation. Several significant planned initiatives mean that it will depend extensively on the data and information systems it has put in place if these initiatives are implemented. Tough decisions, however, depend upon sufficiently reliable data, meaning that some improvements are required to the data and information systems the MRC has in place for supporting its decision making. This research shows that effective data and information exchange between all significant players in a multi-jurisdictional river basin is indispensable to achieving the integrated management of such river basins. The effective and sustainable management of multi- jurisdictional river basins depends upon sound functional data and information systems, with co-operative efforts being built upon this. Not only is data and information exchange between all significant players needed to implement integrated management itself, this research suggests that data and information exchange also plays a major role in developing the impetus for integrated management amongst those with political power in a multi-jurisdictional river basin.