Integrated water resources management in the IAHS HELPING decade: bridging science, policy and practice

Integrated Water Resources Management must reconcile technical, ecological, socio-economic and political dimensions of competing water values and uses while navigating the complexity of water resources systems. Yet, learning from hydrologists’ local experience and engaging local communities and policymakers, science-based decision making remains a challenge. Drawing from ten case studies, this paper identifies methods and solutions that address water resources sustainability and could bridge the gap between theory and application. Common challenges include climate change and land-use change, population growth and distribution, and interactions between people and the environment. In response, potential solutions are grouped under themes: storage, ecosystem protection and restoration, political decisions and transboundary rivers, citizen and community participation, human and institutional capacity development, social innovation, green economy principles, new technologies and transdisciplinary approaches. Aligned with the IAHS HELPING decade, these strategies support global sustainability goals and offer pathways to enhance resilience and adaptation to water-related challenges.