Knowledge management for collaborative river‐
basin management in response to climate change
Workshop Proceedings Monday 10 – Friday 14 December, 2012 The Westin Hotel, Melbourne, Australia Proceedings of workshop: The Westin Hotel, Melbourne 10‐14 December, 2012
Summary of Presentations Dr Paul McShane, Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia Introduction The current project “Developing effective climate change (adaptation and mitigation) policy in Vietnam” aims to: 

Develop a co‐ordinated response among agencies responsible for development and implementation of climate change policy in Vietnam; and Improve knowledge management by information collection, interagency collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Vietnam is exposed to climate change with populous low lying coastal cities vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surge and extreme floods. There are other challenges including variation in monsoonal climate patterns with wetter wet seasons and drier dry seasons expected with climate change. Vietnam shares development issues in the region including increased frequency of damming of rivers, water use and urbanisation. Food and water security intersect with climate change and population growth. We address the link between research and policy recognising that effective knowledge transfer is an essential pre‐requisite to effective policy development and implementation. Policies for natural resource management are influenced by economic and social factors, including a legal and regulatory framework. In Vietnam, we are interested in case study analyses of the Cau River basin, an important river linked to the Red River and to the Thai Binh River. Its status as one of Vietnam’s most polluted rivers presents challenges to managers and to policy makers who must also respond to changes in river flows with climate change. Our approaches include the development of integrated systemic models which provide visualisation of the consequences of policy intervention on say, water availability (quantity and quality). We also use knowledge management as a tool to develop understanding among decision makers bringing information and knowledge in a collaborative approach among management agencies. The two main management agencies (within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) (MARD)) are involved in responding to climate change and to water resource allocation. Through our case study analyses, development of systemic models and knowledge management, we aim to encourage a collaborative and co‐ordinated response to climate change, river basin management and water resource allocation. Page 2
Dr Jeremy Aarons, Faculty of Information Technology and Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia. Knowledge management for sustainable natural resource management. Modern information communication technology has resulted in an enormous increase in data both in terms of quantity and in diversity. Knowledge management, a recent discipline, brings information and knowledge (including traditional wisdom) together to promote shared understanding and support decision making. Here we present knowledge management in the context of natural resource management recognising that management involves both social and technical issues. Our approach builds on orthodox knowledge management (which is usually applied in an organisational context) to apply to natural resource management. It involves both structural (including data base and information infrastructure) and functional dimensions (learning, sense making). This links problems (e.g. water resource allocation under conditions of scarcity or increasing demand), goals (e.g. equitable water resource allocation given climate change), systems (e.g. understanding of the response of a river basin given climate change, population growth and land development) and tools/techniques (encouraging collaboration among stakeholders responsive to water resource allocation). This approach will be developed using the example of the Cau river basin in northern Vietnam. Dr Paul McShane (presenting for Professor Dave Griggs), Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia. Climate Change Science. Anthropogenic climate change is amply demonstrated by upward trajectories of temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration since the Industrial revolution and associated burning of fossil fuels. These changes coincide with other evidence of rapid climate change including sea level rise and decreases in northern hemisphere snow cover. Temperature increases occur as short wave solar radiation is reflected from the earth’s surface as infra‐red energy and absorbed by carbon dioxide and other gases (including water vapour and methane) to increase surface temperatures. Natural long term variations in temperature reflect changes to the circulation of the earth around the sun. Thus, colder periods (ice ages) are interspersed with warmer periods over a 10,000 year cycle. Climate models (based on general atmospheric circulation) continue to be improved (with finer spatial forecasting capacity). Predictions of continued temperature increases with carbon dioxide concentrations will affect the economy through ecosystem impacts (including changes to rainfall, and seasonal temperatures). Climate change science is now increasingly focusing on adaptation rather than the necessary (but still elusive) mitigation (through decarbonising the world’s economy). Dr Terry Chan, Water Studies Centre and Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia. Systemic modelling for sustainable catchment management. We employ systemic modelling as an aid to policy evaluation, enabling visualisation of the consequences of alternative policy interventions and/or climate change on natural systems (in this case, river basins). Our approach is risk based, using a Bayesian formulation to link variables responsive to inputs such as rainfall and water availability. Page 3
Importantly, the systemic model includes bio‐physical and socio‐economic components. This assists in understanding of complex systems (as a tool within a wider knowledge management framework) and helps in decision support. Although quantitative data is an important input into our modelling approach, these data are often lacking and other sources of information (including traditional wisdom) can be used. As more information (e.g. field monitoring) on the system (e.g. river basin) becomes available, the model can be updated as part of an adaptive management approach. Examples from Indonesia and the Solomon Islands present contrasting contexts but a similar emphasis on water resource management. Stakeholder engagement is an important input to knowledge development but also an opportunity to develop a shared understanding of problems and potential solutions (e.g. water quality management). This approach will be useful in building understanding of water resource management issues for the Cau river basin in Northern Vietnam. Dr Hoang Minh Tuyen and Dr Tran Hong Thai, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, Hanoi, Vietnam. Impacts of climate change on surface water resources in the Mekong River. Modelling of climate change in Vietnam reveals anticipated changes in temperature and in rainfall including the increased intensity of extreme weather events. This is particularly pronounced in lower latitudes which are predicted to be subject to greater temperature increases with projected emissions scenarios (using Hadley centre PRECIS GCMs) than northern regions. Downscaling GCMs on 25km grids provided opportunities to simulate water cycles and develop hydrological modelling. Projected impacts included changes in peak flows of rivers, floods, and dry season flows. Related impacts included saline intrusion particularly in the Mekong delta which was forecast to be disproportionately impacted compared with northern regions. However, communities in the Mekong delta are already adapted to flood events and forecast impacts on livelihoods are not as great (e.g. on agriculture) as in other areas of Vietnam. Infrastructural responses including the construction of dykes and canals must be balanced against costs and other adaptive responses. Professor Michael Ward, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia. Valuing ecosystem services. Ecosystem services include: flood control; fishery/forestry products; water treatment; carbon sequestration; nutrient cycling; biodiversity and genetic resources; eco‐tourism and recreation; erosion control; and cultural values. Many of these services are outside traditional market values and are less easily valued in economic terms (unlike, for example, commodities). Empirical valuation of non‐market services requires a history of prices under different supply and demand equilibria. These data are generally had to come by. Page 4
There are other techniques including: the travel cost method (which values access to, for example national parks, based on distance travelled); the productivity method (which values contribution to, for example, fisheries production); imputed methods (for example the cost avoided in infrastructure reconstruction through flood control); contingent valuation (based on choice by consumers and willingness to pay for biodiversity, cultural and recreational amenity). Entry of ecosystem services into the economic mainstream will assist policy makers in weighing up options based on the true value of outputs. Professor Nigel Tapper, School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Australia. Climate, fire and landscape management. Forest types vary in their vulnerability to fire. For example, tropical low land dipterocarp need persistent fire to burn. Causes of fires in tropical habitats include slash and burn agriculture. Vulnerability to fires is also influenced by air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and droughts. Thus, climate change is also influential in fire risk. For monsoonal climates, higher rainfall during the wet season creates more fuel which then increases fire risk during the dry season. The intersection of fire risk, climate change and land use presents challenges for managers particularly as fire increases carbon emissions. Fire management strategies must be included in prospective land/forest management so as to provide for both an adaptive and mitigative response to climate change. Dr Tran Hong Thai, Chief of Standing Office, National Scientific Program to respond to climate change and Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Improved river basin management in response to climate change. Vietnam faces the policy challenge of how to implement action to respond to climate change. Provincial action plans have been developed as climate change will have different consequences for each province. Information gathering, data management, and knowledge management are essential supports for policy development. This is managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Department of Information Technology and Natural Environment (DINTE). This information linked to action plans will be influential in developing river basin management plans. Interprovincial collaboration and co‐operation over management plans is essential to co‐ordinate responses to climate change and to plan for sustainable economic development from integrated river basin management. Dr Mai Kim Lien, Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change Management and Dr Tran Hong Thai, Chief of Standing Office, National Scientific Program to respond to climate change, Vietnam. Results of the NTPRCC in 2010‐2011, the national climate change strategy. The action plan for Thai Nguyen province in Vietnam is an example of a provincial response to climate change. However, this is a relatively small program in relation to the broader action plan for Vietnam. This action plan represents a whole of government response to climate change. Page 5
The Ministry of Education has developed training and education programs at all levels including a Master’s Degree of Climate change. This is supported by the Ministry of Information and Communication which has conducted specialised information dissemination programs to raise awareness of climate change throughout the country. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has developed a framework to integrate climate change issues into development and implementation. The Ministry of Trade and Industry are involved in assessing impacts of climate change, developing appropriate responses to climate change including sea level rise and contributing to the action plan. Two pilot provinces (Quang Nam and Ben Tre) and six coastal provinces in the Mekong River Delta (Ca Mau; Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City) have been the focus of the measures described above. For example, in the province of Quang Nam, a number of services have been developed to adapt to typhoons and floods such as the construction of dykes and upgrading of canals and irrigation systems. The National Climate Change strategy has two scales: central and provincial responsive to regionally specific climate change scenarios. National scientific programs on climate change feed into this process. Communication activities are an important adjunct to raise community awareness of climate change. The Strategy has ten tasks: 1. Actively respond to natural disasters and monitor climate change impacts 2. Ensure food security and water resources. 3. Actively adapt to sea level rise in vulnerable areas. 4. Protection and sustainable development of forest increasing carbon removals and biodiversity conservation. 5. Greenhouse gas emission reduction to protect global climate system. 6. Strengthen the leading role of government in response to climate change. 7. Develop effective community response 8. Develop scientific and technological advances. 9. Enhance international co‐operation and improve national position in negotiations on climate change. 10. Diversify financial resources and investments on climate change. Task 2 is particularly relevant in the present context of evaluating and implementing effective river basin management in response to climate change. Dr Mai Kim Lien, Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change Management and Dr Tran Hong Thai, Chief of Standing Office, National Scientific Program to respond to climate change. Vietnam. Action plan to respond to climate change in Thai Nguyen Province. Extreme weather events often occur in Thai Nguyen province. These events include: floods, heavy rains, landslides and land erosion/degradation. Forecast mean temperature increases with climate change will increase evaporative loss of water with subsequent impact on beneficial uses including agriculture. Downscaled climate models also forecast wetter wet seasons and drier dry seasons. Agricultural impacts will differ across the province with topography with mountainous or hilly areas less vulnerable than low lying areas. Even so, there will be an impact measurable in decreased rice production (6%) and losses of production of corn and ground nuts. Other impacts including increased fire risk in the dry season are also forecast for the province. Page 6
These impacts co‐occur with human development including in the Cau River catchment. These developments cause pollution, and loss of water (through hydro dams and irrigation). Flash floods and storms will damage infrastructure (roads, buildings, communication) and indirect impacts on human wellbeing (including health) are expected to increase with climate change. The action plan developed for the province includes adaptive responses. These responses are subject to monitoring and evaluation so that, where necessary, implementation and adaptive responses can be adapted to suit particular circumstances. Dr Bao Thanh, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, and Sub‐institute of Hydrometeorology and Environment of South Vietnam, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Climate change scenarios for the Cau River Basin Vietnam. Climate change scenarios for the Cau River Basin were developed from downscaling the general circulation models (GCMs) and applying three emissions scenarios (low, B1; medium, B2, A1; and high, A2). GCMs used included PRECIS (UK); AGCM/MRI (Japan) and the UNFCCC SDSM model. Under high emissions scenarios, mean temperatures are forecast to increase by 3.7 degrees by 2100 and rainfall is forecast to increase by up to 10 per cent during the wet season. Sea level rise scenarios have been updated to include seven coastal regions. In the north, sea level rise under a high emission scenario is forecast to increase by 85 cm by 2100 whereas in the south this rise is up to 105 cm. Climate change impacts on the Cau River basin (from forecast impacts on the Red River and Thai Binh rivers) include inundation of up to 10 per cent of lands through sea level rise but this is in contrast to the Mekong River with 39 per cent inundation forecast with sea level rise. Expected impacts on the Cau River Basin are less because of its elevation (200 m). However, the basin is occupied by vulnerable poor people and thus impacts (while less than those forecast for southern river basins) are expected to be significant. Dr Phan Thi Anh Dao, CMOAR, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Biodiversity and climate change impacts in Cau River Basin, Vietnam. The Cau river basin comprises 23 districts within 6 provinces. Thai Nguyen is the largest province by area and Hanoi is the most populous. The basin is rich in natural resources including coal, tin, iron, ilmenite, zinc and gold. Mining and ore extraction industries concentrate in the two upstream provinces Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen. Forestry, industry and agriculture all contribute to the economy. Land use includes forest (20%), rice (30%) and agriculture (50%). The industrial growth rate is higher than the country’s average with 800 registered industrial entities and more than 1,000 small industries located in downstream provinces. These contribute substantially to pollution of the Cau River which is among the three most polluted rivers in Vietnam. Biodiversity assessments in Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen reveal rich fauna and flora: Bac Kan has 60 per cent forest cover and Thai Nguyen has protected forests occupying 80 per cent of forested lands. Similar flora and faunal surveys have been undertaken in the other provinces of the Cau River basin. Aquatic ecosystems are threatened by decreasing water quality and this affects beneficial ecosystem services. In addition to water quality issues, climate change is expected to adversely affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Page 7
Associate Professor Nguyen Tung Phong, Vietnam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam and Dr Tran Hong Thai, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, Vietnam. Main issues of water resource management in the Cau River. The Cau River is part of the Thai Binh River basin and includes 6 sub basins: upper Cau, Upper Cong, Lower Nui Coc, Ca Lo, Thac Huong and Bad Duong. Hydrological models have been developed for these sub basins including SWAT and MIKE models to forecast changes to river flow given climate change and given land/water development scenarios (e.g. irrigation, reservoirs, dams). Flows from variation in rainfall, stream flow and ground water have been forecast for each sub basin. Exploration of groundwater is still limited. However, available information indicates that ground water resources in the upper catchment are poor in contrast to the lower catchment (Bac Ninh, and Hanoi). The Nui Coc reservoir in Thai Nguyen province is the main water storage structure for the Cau river basin (168 million cubic meters [MCM]). The reservoir is operated to retain 75 MCM at the end of the dry season to support tourism activity. Approximately 45 per cent of basin area is forest and 41 per cent is allocated to agriculture. Actual irrigated area is 160,000 ha with the water supply for the irrigated areas coming from the Cau, Pho Day, Red, Ca Lo, Cong, and Duong rivers. The total population of the basin is nearly 6 million people of which most (80%) are living in rural areas. There is, however, a trend of increasing urbanisation with migration from rural areas to Hanoi. Challenges to integrated water resource management include competition for water for tourism (Thai Nguyen), irrigation (Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang) and effective environmental management (Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and particularly Bac Giang). Water balance models for the Cau river sub basin have been developed to assist water resource allocation and to examine criteria for allocating water to the various uses (including maintenance of water flows sufficient to reduce pollution in the river). Forecast demands for water can be compared with forecast supply (including climate change impacts on rainfall and on water quality). Other impacts include erosion, sedimentation, deforestation, and pollution (particularly mercury, oil, coliform (sewage), herbicides, pesticides, and fertiliser (nutrients)). Water quality issues are particularly acute in the Cau and Cong rivers and these require environmental flows to decrease the concentration of pollutants and reduce impacts on human health and on aquatic ecosystems. These environmental flows may be at the expense of other uses including irrigation and hydro power. MoNRE and MARD share responsibilities for river basin management through participation in river basin organisations (RBOs). These responsibilities apply at central and regional levels. However, river basin management can be improved by reducing overlap of activities and enforcing policies relating to river basin organisations. There is also the lack of a high ranking apex body that can steer or co‐ordinate activities of the RBOs. Poor co‐ordination amongst sectors and agencies from the central to local levels on water resource data collection and sharing should be addressed. Solutions lie in the distinguishing of duties, responsibilities and scope of power between MARD/DARD and MoNRE/DoNRE; an integrated RBO to administer the system; and an inter‐
provincial and regional water management platform. Infrastructural solutions to anticipated problems of water resource allocation/climate change include the development of linkage canals and increased storage systems including reservoirs. Water User Groups involve stakeholders (including farmers). Increasingly, a market approach to water allocation is being considered (water is currently provided free to most users) but implementation has not occurred. Farmers do not have responsibility for maintenance and operation of irrigation systems. Page 8
Mr Bui Manh Khoi and Mr Dao Quoc Hung, CIREN (Department of Information Technology), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Building a system for supplying information data of climate change from the national data base. The promotion of Information Communication Technology is aimed at improving economic efficiency in Vietnam including increasing productivity and reducing consumption. It is also important in regional and remote areas in co‐ordinating a response to natural disasters. A national data base model integrates data from central to local level across the seven departments of MoNRE/DoNRE. The data base includes information from survey and mapping, hydrological data, geological information and information on water resources. The database architecture provides for community dissemination and for updating, processing, and managing data. Components include:  Surface meteorological data  Rainfall  Marine hydrometeorology  Upper air meteorology  Technical documents (weather stations)  Hydrology  Sea level rise scenarios  Climate change and adaptation response methods  Impact assessment of climate change at Huong river basin and adaptation policy at Phu Vang (Hue)  Wind energy resources  Climate change scenarios  National target program to respond to climate change 2010  Natural disasters  Greenhouse gas inventory  Programs, projects in response to climate change  Communication and awareness raising climate change. The data can be expressed in GIS format at various scales (regional to whole of country). The National Database project is an important driver of knowledge management responsive to the development and implementation of climate change policy in Vietnam. Mr Pham Truong Giang, CIREN, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Applying information technology to forest management in response to climate change at Hue Province. The Huong river basin is the largest in Hue. Almost all of the natural forests have been destroyed. Forest protection and afforestation is weak. Flooding and saline intrusion is expected to increase with climate change. Solutions to current land degradation include building dams and dykes, growing trees along the coastline, building irrigation systems and afforestation. Afforestation is a target of the national program in response to climate change. Page 9
Forest management scales include compartment (1,000 ha), sub‐compartment (100 ha) and management plot (10 ha). Data management includes collection, integration (across spatial scales) and utilisation (for forest management planning and evaluation). Information technology is being used to collate and store forest management data and to make the data accessible via a web interface. This provides an effective and efficient system which can be used to help planners make decisions quickly and to produce reports and statistics. Mr Bui Cong Thinh, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam. Building a management system of traditional wisdom in response to climate change. Community knowledge (including traditional wisdom), for example in coping with previous natural disasters, is an asset when developing strategies to adapt to climate change. Increasingly, social networks are used to transfer information in Vietnam. There were 126 million telephone subscribers, 26 million internet users, and 3 million broadband subscribers in Vietnam in 2010. Many farmers now have mobile telephones. The use of internet based information to raise awareness of climate change in Vietnam is becoming increasingly important in developing a co‐
ordinated adaptive response. The collection of information based on traditional wisdom, especially in mountainous regions and in the Mekong Delta is part of Vietnam’s policy response to climate change. Information technology is being used to develop a management system of traditional wisdom in response to climate change. A prototype has been developed which uses a web interface to collect and share traditional wisdom. This system can help take advantage of community resources and provides an easy and quick means to disseminate traditional wisdom to the community. This can contribute to raising awareness of participants to respond to climate change. Dr Phan Le Ha, Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia. Knowledge and concepts: traditional wisdom and knowledge systems. Knowledge comes from the process of studying and disseminating information, experience, data and phenomena. The National data base for Vietnam includes a system for processing and analysing information and providing this information to the people. There is a distinction between experiential and scientific knowledge. Traditional wisdom is important in Vietnam. For example, community‐based agriculture builds on a rich oral history passed on from generation to generation. Framing this knowledge together with scientific knowledge is important in developing understanding of adaptive responses to climate change at community level. Discussion session co‐ordinated by Dr Terry Chan, Monash University. The Cau River Basin: Socio‐economic issues and climate change. Population poverty and livelihoods are interlinked. In the Cau River basin, traditional livelihoods based on fisheries and agriculture are now being supplemented with industry, construction, tourism and service industries. Page 10
Gender issues are prominent, particularly in poor mountainous regions where sons are favoured over daughters. Education is generally lacking in mountainous regions as access (transport) is difficult. Similarly, health care is also under developed. As agriculture and industry develops so too does pollution of rivers. This has detrimental impacts on health and on ecosystems. Forest degradation is also associated with expansion of agriculture. The Peoples Committee of Vietnam is responsible for developing socio‐economic development plans for 5, 10 and 15 year periods. Valuation of eco‐system services is not currently undertaken by MoNRE. There are gaps in understanding socio‐economic issues for the Cau river basin. There is a lack of a comprehensive (i.e. integrated) approach to sustainable development. It is difficult to rearrange economic structures for sustainable development. Water allocation in the Cau River basin is a problem, as is sustainable use. Balancing economic structures of different sectors in the river basin is needed for a co‐ordinated approach to sustainable development. For example, development of craft villages with waste management controls (rather than direct discharge into the river). Human resource development can assist in developing sustainable livelihoods but poverty is widespread in some areas. Improved infrastructure development such as irrigation and drainage is needed for more efficient water utilisation for agriculture. Interactive session co‐ordinated by Dr Terry Chan, Monash University. Systemic modelling of water quality and quantity in the Cau River Basin. Interactive sessions were used to begin to develop a systemic overview of the Cau River basin. An initial problem formulation phase filled in some of the gaps in the suite of presentations (see above), which focused on specific aspects of water resources and climate change, and/or the Cau River, but assumed, implied or omitted much of the national, provincial, governance and socio‐
economic and cultural context. This phase also attempted to gain consensus on scope and objectives, identify a focus and timescale and build up to the next phase, conceptual modelling of the system. Mapping exercises, discussion and listing of stakeholder values for the Cau River Basin system, threats and problems, and potential management actions and solutions were then used to develop initial conceptual models by the participants firstly around water quantity, and secondly, water quality. The water quantity model was naturally conceptually similar to many other hydrological models, representing inputs from rain with climate and seasonal variation, and a range of water uses. Specific to this catchment were the mix and proportion of uses. Although the Cau includes typical domestic, industrial, agricultural and natural uses, there are particular industries such as steel production and local craft villages, and a specific mix of local agriculture including a heavy proportion of rice and fisheries, that need to be considered. Additionally there was a particular importance to river flow for hydropower. The use of different storages including dams, specific and multipurpose reservoirs, underground water, inter‐basin water provision and a virtual water trade were very specific to this region. Overlying these explicit and relatively easily quantifiable water quantity issues were socio‐economic concerns including the current and projected demography, the specific dam and reservoir operation rules, and the policy and water allocations determined by government institutions MoNRE and MARD. The conceptual modelling of water quality issues again included a host of biophysical and quantifiable variables such as pathogens, heavy metals, antibiotics, sediment, nutrients; the sources of these, such as agriculture (including aquaculture, rice, plantations and livestock), Page 11
mining and industry, craft villages, cities and towns (including different and new types of urban development); interacting factors such as climate, rainfall and flooding, reservoir operation and river flow; and again, overlying these were demographic changes and government policy and management. There remains work to be done to integrate these two quite detailed systems diagrams, plus iterative development to more fully describe institutional, stakeholder and potentially, knowledge relationships. Discussion session co‐ordinated by Dr Jeremy Aarons, Monash University. Knowledge Management for Information Sharing Responsive to Water Resource Management in the Cau River Basin. Implementing effective knowledge management (KM) involves integrating both the structural (including data base and information infrastructure) and functional dimensions (learning, sense making) of the task (water resource management). This is required to ensure both social and technical aspects of the task are integrated in the KM system. Important issues include (i) the development of an effective knowledge base to provide support for the development of evidence‐
based policy making; (ii) identifying the role decision support systems (DSS) can play in supporting decision making; and (iii) understanding the role of the broader community, particularly in terms of ability to access and contribute to a knowledge management system. Organisational memory is also important, particularly the ability to learn from mistakes, and provide feedback for future activities. Two approaches to KM systems were explored in this session: (i)
a high‐level system designed to support decision‐making by policy makers, based on integrated data (e.g. National NRM Database), modelling outputs and expert analysis, with input from relevant stakeholders including community consultation and scientific experts. (ii)
a decision support system for integrated water resource management designed specifically for decision makers in the responsible agency (MoNRE/MARD). This system uses a web‐
based application to integrate the knowledge base (maps, data, etc.) with a set of tools utilising models, analysis systems and decision support procedures to provide output for decision makers. Discussion session co‐ordinated by Dr Jeremy Aarons and Dr Terry Chan, Monash University. Development of the Vietnam National NRE Database. The National NRE Database is being developed by the Department of Information Technology (DINTE) within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE). The database brings together data from across the 7 departments of MoNRE / DoNRE into a single system. The National NRE database is being developed to address the following issues: data is currently fragmented across the 7 departments MoNRE / DoNRE; overlapping tasks between departments require integrated data; there are different metadata standards between departments; there is currently no approved policy for sharing data; data sharing between departments is not common practice; no technology system currently exists for sharing data; Page 12
data is not being used effectively with time and money wasted (e.g. data not being re‐used); policy makers / decision makers do not have easy access to the best data for decision making. The main challenges in developing the Database involve resolving data conflicts and inconsistencies, particularly in cases where the same kind of data comes from two different organisations and there are inconsistencies or conflicts. Data mining is also an area in which additional technical assistance would be helpful. A policy is being developed for data sharing between departments and to other stakeholders. This policy needs to be clear about requirements and responsibilities for sharing data. It needs to provide a basis for determining charges for data access, with some base data to be provided free of charge, with more detailed data requiring payment. Implementation will also require system training for managers and technical support in applying the system to policy development. Successful implementation will enable managers to have more awareness of issues and use the system for policy guidance. This system can also be used by ordinary citizens to increase awareness about issues such as climate change, floods. Discussion sessions co‐ordinated by Dr Jeremy Aarons and Dr Terry Chan, Monash University. Development of the IT system for traditional wisdom in response to climate change. Information technology is being used to develop a management system of traditional wisdom in response to climate change. A prototype has been developed which uses a web interface to collect and share traditional wisdom and local knowledge. The system is designed with three access types: (i) the public community; (ii) scientists (can be anyone who applies for access, e.g. MoNRE, Universities, independent researchers); (iii) Government system administration (DINTE). The system takes advantage of the widespread and increasing community use of ITC, especially among younger people using services such as Yahoo, Facebook, Google+, etc. Users uploading information can specify whether they share it as private (limited) or public information. This provides them an information storage and management service, but with additional benefits with respect to information about places they want to go and wider community benefits when this data is used appropriately by the other two access groups. The system can include information about specific local infrastructure such as the structure of housing, architecture, the sharing of folk songs and proverbs, customs and habits, and give insights into how people live. Scientists play an important role in this system, particularly in terms of natural disasters. A key application of this system is to integrate public information about natural disasters, for application by scientists, e.g. for predicting disaster impact and for co‐ordinating disaster response through analysis, modelling, etc. The secondary data generated by expert analysis would also be uploaded into the system. For example, the system could be used to compare how communities in different areas with similar topography, rainfall, etc., deal with floods, enabling sharing of ‘traditional wisdom’. The system will be able to highlight particular important wisdom, based on expert input from scientists and on public votes from all users. The system will enable the sharing of local knowledge, particularly of local solutions to disasters. Page 13
Discussion sessions co‐ordinated by Dr Terry Chan and Dr Jeremy Aarons, Monash University. Development of the Forest management IT system. A “SWOT” matrix (Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities) was developed for the Forest Management Information Technology System (see presentation synopsis above, “Applying information technology to forest management in response to climate change at Hue Province” by Mr Pham Truong Giang, CIREN/DINTE, MoNRE). The strengths had previously been discussed (e.g. archiving, sharing, searching and integration of data; decision support for managers and policy makers; extraction of key statistics and quick reporting; provision of overview at multiple scales), but the opportunity to explicitly consider and list the other aspects was valuable. Potential weaknesses centred around capacity building of staff to use the system (training and also more staff needed to address this); quality control of data (e.g. groundtruthing of satellite data); actual use of the data, in terms of: (a) exactly what data decision‐makers want/need, requiring research and engagement with the decision‐makers; and (b) the need for models that use the raw/primary data and output what the decision‐makers actually want to know (which could potentially be integrated into the system also); and finally, lack of policy on data inputs from stakeholders into the system. The potential threats to successful implementation and application of the Forest IT System were a lack of resources for training staff and for collecting and inputting data, a lack of political will to implement the system effectively, and a possible lack of information or data gaps. However there were also a number of opportunities further than decision support which may be valuable, including a more cyclic adaptive management approach to decision‐making and iterative improvement of the system and subsequent decisions; an opportunity to provide land/forest owners with a way to exchange bids to rent forest areas; commercialisation of the data; including more economic data such as valuations and environmental valuations of different areas, types of forest, or REDD+ potential; and to stimulate afforestation by facilitating rent/bid mechanisms and identification of incentives. A final exercise encouraged participants to make explicit connections between the IT system and the various types of data with actual decisions needing to be made and the managers who would make them. This linked back to data gaps, such as the current absence within this system of meteorological and coastal/hydrological data (or links to it) and the potential need for this kind of information to be combined with forestry data for decision‐makers, and also the gap between the primary data and the kind of data which would be of most use to decision‐
makers. Discussion session co‐ordinated by Dr Terry Chan and Dr Jeremy Aarons, Monash University. Workshop evaluation. A final evaluation was used to elicit interest, relevance and usefulness of the different sessions across the two weeks. As the participants at the end of the workshop were primarily from DINTE, the session on the National Database was of most personal interest and of most relevance to their specific institution. The day of Monash presentations was found to be generally interesting, relevant and useful, across personal, departmental and Ministry levels, but was also frustrating due to not sparse initial interaction. Page 14
The MoNRE/IMHEN/MARD presentations were also of general interest and relevance, and the IMHEN presentations were particularly useful to DINTE for improving their understanding of the needs of the ICT systems currently under development. These sessions were also a little frustrating as there was a lot of information, but it remained unclear what needs there were for collaboration, and there was not enough time for discussion. The CIREN/DINTE presentations were naturally of most relevance to DINTE. The day on conceptual modelling and stakeholder analysis was regarded as useful, but there was wide consensus that these were the sessions which needed the most extra time. The knowledge management sessions could also have had additional time assigned, as they were particularly relevant to MoNRE. The second week generally had some frustration that there was not wider representation from MoNRE and MARD, however it was also generally well regarded as the smaller group provided opportunity for more in depth discussion and interaction. Page 15