This September, water resource experts from around the globe converged on the Canadian Rockies for frank discussions about one of the world’s most precious resources. From September 8 to 10, Environment Ministers from Canada’s western provinces, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, and 50 of the world’s experts in water conservation and management policy gathered at The Banff Centre for the Fifth Biennial Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy. Albertans, who are just now beginning to confront the realities of finite water supplies, have much to learn from water resource management in other parts of the world, says Don Lowry, president and chief executive officer of EPCOR and a keynote speaker at the Forum. “Many parts of the world face more pressing challenges, but they have all proven that collaboration and partnership are essential to good water resource management. No matter how rich or how poor the country, solutions have involved government and community partnerships, public/private partnerships, and the pricing of water resources that recognizes its true value and cost of delivery.” Fostering partnerships that will lead to the wise use of water resources is one of the Forum’s most important impacts, says Dr. Henry Vaux, Forum executive director. “Probably the most lasting effect of the Forum will be the personal relationships that were established and re-established. The people who were at the Forum will encounter each other in different venues many times in the future. The fact that they share the bonds created and strengthened at the Forum in Banff means that they will be more effective participants and managers in the future." |
Those attending the Forum included former Deputy Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray, Canadian chair of the international Joint Commission (a treaty organization focused on U.S./Canada transboundary water issues); Alberta Environment Minister Guy Boutilier; Saskatchewan Environment Minister John Nilson; Dr. Bruno Messerli, vice president of the Swiss Academy of Sciences and author of Mountains of the World: Water Towers for the 21st Century; Moneef Zou’bi, director-general of the Islamic Academy of Sciences; and the University of Alberta’s Dr. David Schindler, one of the world’s foremost water experts. Vaux believes that holding the Forum in Banff‘s mountain setting was also important. “Probably the most lasting substantive point that emerged at the Forum relates to the fragility of upland (mountain) watersheds. These watersheds are extremely sensitive to environmental changes such as global warming. …This is of concern because most of the world depends upon upland watersheds for the generation of basic water supplies." Established in 1996, Rosenberg Forums have previously taken place in San Francisco, Barcelona, Canberra, and Ankara. According to Leslie Taylor, associate director, Mountain Environment at The Banff Centre, hosting the Forum in Alberta is an example of the leadership role the Centre plays in fostering debate and dialogue on issues of critical importance. “The Rosenberg Forum illustrates the Centre’s ability to bring scientists and decision-makers together around one of the pivotal environmental issues of our time.” The Fifth Rosenberg International Forum was sponsored by Bank of America, the University of California, the Max Bell Foundation, Alberta Environment, Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research, the Calgary Foundation, Alberta Irrigation Projects Association, the Columbia Basin trust, and The Banff Centre. |
Published: January 2007.