Page 1
The context
Erosion, transport and sedimentation processes in catchments, river systems and reservoirs across
the world have significant social, economic and environmental impacts. Every year human beings
loose their lifes due to erosion, landslides and debris flows. More than fifty percent of the world's
water reservoir capacity may be lost because of sedimentation. The sediment balance in catchment
and river basins is changed by human activities with impacts on economy and environment. The
negative impacts of sedimentation are further exacerbated by a rapidly growing population and higher
vulnerability to severe climatic conditions which facilitate soil erosion.
There are substantial gaps in baseline sediment data, in knowledge about sediment transport and
impacts on socio-economic and environmental impacts. Sediment management is an important
component of sustainable water resources management and need to be improved.
Flood
protection
Agriculture/
forestry
Infrastructure
Industry/
residential
Tourism
Sediment
quantity
and
quality
Recreation
Economy
Floodplains
& marshes
Hydraulic
engineering
Navigation
Water quality
Habitats
Geomorphology
Delta of the Rhine river in the Lake of
Constance
Erosion, transport and deposits of
sediment in the Swiss Alps
2/11
The collapsed bridge of Buchs-Schaan caused by the erosion of the river bed
Debris flow in the town of Brienz during the 2005
flood
3/11
Sediment information needed
Suspended sediment measurement equipments
Suspended
sediment samplers
Equipment for integration sampling
Sachseln
Damages of the flood of 15.8.97 caused by cloudburst
4/11
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Main activities and projects
ISI activities aim to increase awareness of sediment dynamics and erosion issues in all spheres of
water management. ISI promotes sustainable management of soil and sediment resources at local,
regional and global scales.

Global Evaluation of Sediment Transport (GEST Project):
The GEST Project entails the development of a global repository for data, information and
documentation on soil erosion and sediment transport which will serve as the basis for global
assessment of erosion and sedimentation problems, and their social, economic and
environmental implications. The data and information base will be developed in existing
international institutions, such as the IRTCES in Beijing, China, GEMS-Water in Canada, ISIDE
Observatory in Italy, etc.
The ISI Information System provides:
o
o
o

Information access: through the creation of a global information resource portal;
Information repository: through the establishment of a sediment database and other
information;
Information development: through the implementation of strategic training activities.
Case Studies for River Basins as Demonstration Projects
Case studies are an effective means of raising awareness about erosion and sedimentation
problems in different regions. These will offer examples of monitoring and data processing
techniques, procedures and methodologies for analysis of environmental, economic and social
impacts, and evaluation of management practices. The case studies on the Yellow, Rhine,
Mississippi, Nile and Volga River are prepared. Other case studies will follow. The data available
from the case studies could be part of the global data base.

Review of Erosion and Sediment-Related Research
A survey of ongoing research is an important contribution to the operation of databases and
information systems, given the lack of knowledge about certain aspects of erosion and sediment
phenomena needed to address key sedimentation problems. Associations such as the
International Coordinating Committee on Reservoir Sedimentation (ICCORES) and the newly
created World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research (WASER) could play
substantial roles in this endeavor.
5/11

Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Sediment Management
In the framework of ISI scientific conferences, workshops and seminars related to the most
important issues of erosion, transport and deposits of sediment are carried out.
Specific local problems are discussed by international and local experts and proposals for solving
the problems are developed.
6/11
Debris flow channel in the Rio Bermejo
River Basin
Participants of the ISI-Sudan
Conference
Within the medium term, the initiative will focus on identifying the modes of education at all levels
while also taking into account regional priorities and interests in different socio-economic and ecohydrological settings. This activity should take into account the findings of the GEST Project and
the updated survey of sedimentation-related research. In line with its commitment to education
and capacity building, ISI will encourage young scientists to become involved in its activities.

Networking
7/11
ISI is open to collaboration with all interested institutions – international, regional or national
associations – in the interest of promoting sound and sustainable sediment management policies.
ISI is eager to establish close working relationships with international, regional, and national
projects, programmes and networks. E.g. with IAHS, WAVER, ICCORES, ICOLD, GEMS
WATER, IAHR, GEOSS, Sed net.
8/11
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Mission
Linking Science with Policy and Management Needs
ISI advances sustainable sediment management at the global scale in an effort to contribute to
sustainable water resources management. The initiative assesses erosion and sediment transport to
marine, lake or reservoir environments aimed at the creation of a holistic approach for the remediation
and conservation of surface waters.
The initiative focuses on sediment quantity and quality, as well as the economic, social and ecological
aspects related to sedimentation. ISI aims to develop a decision support framework for sediment
management, in order to provide guidance on legislative and institutional solutions, applicable to
different socio-economic and geomorphic settings.
Supporting the Global Agenda for Sustainable Sediment Management
ISI is a contribution to global sustainable sediment management efforts, in the context of sustainable
water resources management. The initiative’s outcomes contribute to the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), World Water Development
Reports (WWDR) and other global efforts. The initiative will also help highlight the importance of
sustainable sediment management within the context of the two United Nations Decades: “Water for
Life” and the “Decade for Education for Sustainable Development”.
Page 4
Objectives
- ISI encourages international cooperation in managing regional sediment problems and in finding
local solutions including better advice for policy development and implementation.
International Workshop on Reservoir
Sedimentation in Beijing
9/11
Students, practicians and experts
from around the world discusses
local problems related to erosion and
transport of sediment in the Swiss
Alps
- ISI promotes the monitoring, elaboration and analysis of sediment data, as well as the exchange
and use of appropriate methods and procedures in sediment management.
10/11
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Proposal: Put together pages 3 and 5
ISI STEERING COMMITTEE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Chairman:
ISI UNESCO COORDINATION:
Mishra Anil
Section of Hydrological Processes and
Climate
International Hydrological Programme
(IHP)
UNESCO/Division of Water Sciences
1 rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15
FRANCE
Tel : +33 1 45 68 39 47
Fax: +33 1 45 68 58 11
Spreafico, Manfred, Switzerland
Members:
Basson, Gerrit, South Africa
Brils, Jos, The Netherlands
Bruk, Stevan, Serbia
Di Silvio, Giampaolo, Italy
Golosov, Valentin, Russia
Hotchkiss, Rollin H., USA
Julien, Pierre, USA
Karki, Pravin, UK
Liu, Cheng, China
Moattassem El Qotb, M. El., Egypt
Pizarro Roberto, Chile
Robarts, Richard, Canada
Walling, Desmond E., UK
Yazdandoost, Farhad, Iran
Wang, Zhao-Yin, China
ISI TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT
International Research and Training
Centre for Erosion and Sedimentation
IRTCES under the auspices of UNESCO
P.O. Box 366, 20 Chegongzhuang West
Rd.
Beijing, 100044, China
Fax: +86-10-68411174
http://www.irtces.org/
URL: http://www.irtces.org/isi/
Main activities and projects
Setting up a global erosion and sediment information system
http://www.irtces.org/isi/info.asp
11/11