The frame of reference of NRP 61 is both national and international. All over the world and particularly in Europe and our neighboring countries there are numerous research projects and activities underway in the context of the topic of NRP 61. For this reason, when designing a research project it is important to take existing research projects into account in order to avoid redundancies and to make use of findings that have already been produced.
International organizations related to water
There are many projects and programmes that stand in the context of NRP 61 in special ways (IHP, WWAP, IAHS, WMO, FAO, UNDP, IAEA, WORLD WATER FORUM). Many of them are oriented towards the integrated water resources management approach and initiate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research.
EU Programmes:
In the Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes of the EU there are a number of projects/calls for projects in the broader context of NRP 61.
http://cordis.europa.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/research/water-initiative
The global hydrological cycle, water resources and droughts
The research focuses on the interaction between the global water cycle and environmental changes; the goal is to assess the vulnerability of global water resources.
River basin-partnerships between european states and third countries
Integrated water resources management using case studies conducted in the framework of watershed/river basin partnerships in Europe, including conflict resolution.
Water scenarios for europe and bordering countries
Scenarios based on physical and ecological data as well as advanced strategies also for the development of political, demographic, socio-economic, and technological options.
Assessment of the numerical terms for the sustainability and exteralities
The projects aim to assess and determine evidence-based threshold values for sustainability and points-of-no-return as an instrument for assuring sustainable management and to describe the state of the environment. This makes it possible to achieve a balance between ecological, social, and economic dimensions.
ACQWA Project:
The ACQWA Project (Assessing Climate impacts on the Quantity and quality of Water) is a large-scale integrating project assessing the future of
water resources in vulnerable mountain region of the University of Geneva, with 35 partners and a budget of EURO 6.5 million during the period 2008 to 2013.
http://www.acqwa.ch
River basin commissions:
International Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine Basin (CHR)
is an organization in which scientific institutions in the countries bordering the Rhine are jointly developing hydrological foundations for sustainable development in the Rhine Basin.
http://www.chr-khr.org
CHR DEFLOOD project
Development of methods for the analysis of the effectiveness of flood control measures in the Rhine River Basin as a contributions towards supporting sustainable flood management.
http://www.chr-khr.org/index.php?page=prj_over_management&ln=en&size=normal
International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR):
ongoing programmes: Lachs 2020, Aktionsplan Hochwasser, and Rhein 2020.
http://www.iksr.org
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
http://www.icpdr.org
with headquarters in Vienna, is related to NRP 61 with regard to river basin management, ecosystems, water quality, water pollution, floods, and droughts as well as in cooperation with the international Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO regarding the water balance of the Danube basin and activities related to warning systems.In this connection and also earlier, the water balance of the Danube basin was produced by a regional working group for hydrological cooperation of the Danube countries in the framework of the IHP. This working group is put together by the Austrian National Committee for the IHP, which belongs to the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
http://www.oeaw.ac.at
Projects and programmes in Germany
BMBF programme GLOWA (Global Change in the Hydrological Cycle)
The overarching goal of the research on the hydrological cycle under global change is development of decision-support systems (DSS) for sustainable management of water resources.
http://www.glowa.org
BMBF funding activity KLIMZUG (Managing climate change in the regions for the future)
The goal is to integrate anticipated changes in the climate and the resulting extreme weather phenomena in processes of regional planning and development. This is intended to increase the future competitiveness of regions and to advance the development and use of new technologies, procedures, and strategies for adapting to climate change in the regions and to convey sustainable management of climate and weather at various levels of education, information, and communication and transfer.
http://www.bmbf.de/foerderungen/7764.php
BMBF Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
http://www.fona.de/de/5961
See here also research in the area of integrated water resources management in the framework of the ERA-Net IWRM-NET initiative:
http://www.fona.de/de/5823
DFG (German Research Foundation) Priority Programme "The Impact of Climate Variability on Aquatic Ecosystems" (AQUASHIFT)
Study of ocean ecosystems, lakes, rivers, and streams and organisms. Application of existing ecosystem models for prediction of the effects of climate-induced changes of abiotic conditions on interactions within food chains.
http://www.dfg.de/aktuelles_presse/information_fuer_die_wissenschaft
/schwerpunktprogramme/info_wissenschaft_35_05.html
Helmholtz Association: Programme 4 "Terrestrial Environment – Strategies for a Sustainable Response to Climate and Global Change" (2009 - 2013)
Aims at safeguarding the natural basis of human life and health, while simultaneously shaping options for societal and economic development. Research will focus on (i) sustainable land use options, (ii) novel utilization of plants and microbes for sustainable bio-production, (iii) the management of water resources systems, (iv) the safeguarding of aquifers for drinking water provision, (v) risk assessment and risk reduction for chemicals in the environment, and (vi) on the complementing establishment of joint technological and methodological platforms for the monitoring and integrated assessment of terrestrial systems. The programme will develop management strategies for the sustainable use of natural resources that integrate strategies for an adaptation to Global Change
http://www.helmholtz.de/en/research/earth_and_environment/
and http://www.tereno.net/
KLIWA Co-operation Project "Climate change and consequences for water management"
Development of climate prognoses for the German federal states Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, in particular regarding special risks of extreme events.
http://www.kliwa.de
Projects and programmes in Austria
Waterpool - The “Water Resources and Management” business/research competence network (KNET Water, for short)
Waterpool Competence Network brings together a network of research partners in Austria and neighboring countries providing scientific and water management know-how. Of particular interest for NRP 61 are the thematic focus, “Sustained Water Supply in Mountain Areas,” and the close networking of research with partners in the economy.
http://www.waterpool.org
Austria Research Centers GmbH in Vienna has a Water business unit and conducts also commissioned research for government agencies related to the NRP 61topics.
http://www.arcs.ac.at
alp-s Zentrum für Naturgefahren Management GmbH, with headquarters in Innsbruck, conducts research in areas directly related to NRP 61 issues (in database and modeling; management of natural hazards, protection measures; socio-economic risk analysis).
http://www.alp-s.at
The Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), with its many research institutes, is the most important center of non-university research in Austria. This is true not only for environmental studies, with its Institute for Limnology, but also mainly in the framework of international programmes of the Austrian National Committee for the IHP of UNESCO. The research projects have definite connections to the NRP topics.
http://www.oeaw.ac.at