The training "Strengthening the basis for exchange of data and information on priority themes" was organized 2-4 July 2019 in Ohrid, North Macedonia, for the Drin Basin riparians in Western Balkans with the Global Water Partnership Mediterranean. The scope and topics were agreed with the riparians of the Drin River Basin in the framework of the Drin Core Group and the training was carried ouf as part of the UNDP/GEF project "Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the extended Drin River Basin". The training targeted mainly the members of the Expert Working Group on Monitoring and Information Exchange (EWG-MIE) and key officials/experts.
The main technical expertise was provided by the UN Environment GEMS/Water Capacity Development Centre at the Environmental Research Institute, Finish Environment Institute, WMO and the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Objectives of the training were to:
- Refresh and improve the knowledge of the participants about fundamental issues of data and information exchange at the transboundary level;
- Familiarize the participants with the monitoring and assessment cycle and the necessity of periodically revisiting the information needs as a function of water management issues and the objectives set;
- Demonstrate selected tools and considerations that support initiating data and information exchange on priority datasets with the approach decided by the Drin Core Group;
- Provide an update on the relevant international guidance and standards as well as key considerations related to data comparability relevant to the Drin Basin and pertinent pressures;
- Provide elements to enrich discussion in the EWG-MIE about further development of data and information exchange;
The training part on 2 and 3 July 2019 covered data collection and infrastructure, data management and tools, as well as various ways to improve comparability of monitoring data. Thematically the datasets indicated by the countries as priority for data exchange were in focus; on the one hand hydrology, meteorology and water levels, and on the other water quality and pollution.
The training was followed by an ad-hoc meeting of the EWG-MIE on 4 July 2019 to discuss its work plan for 2019-2020 as well as information and monitoring related actions in the draft Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the extended Drin River Basin.
Documents | ENG |
---|---|
Programme | |
Presentations | |
2 July 2019 (day 1) | |
Strategies and guidance for transboundary monitoring and assessment Dr. Annukka Lipponen, UNECE Secretariat |
|
Session 1a: Data collection and infrastructure | |
Network issues Mr. Peter Webster, UN Environment GEMS/Water Capaicty Development Centre and the Environmental Research Institute (water quality) |
|
Quality assurance and control Mr. Peter Webster |
|
Monitoring of transboundary water between Finland and Russia - Example of cross-border harmonization Dr. Seppo Hellsten, Ms. Sari Mitikka, Mr. Seppo Rekolainen, Finnish Environment Institute |
|
Session 1b: Data management and tools | |
Data management and tools Mr. Peter Webster |
|
Drin Information System Mr. Henning Mejer, consultant for GWP |
|
Managing data: Meteorology, Climatology and Hydrology Mr. Vasko Stojov, Hydrometeorological Service of North Macedonia |
PPSX |
Session 2: From the purpose of use to parameters | |
Hydrological data, standard and quality Mr. Tommaso Abrate, WMO |
|
An operational data exchange example: Sava GeoPortal and Hydrological Information System Mr. Mirza Sarač, Secretariat of the International Sava River Basin Commission |
|
3 July 2019 (day 2) | |
Session 3: Priority datasets, part B - water quality and pollution | |
Chemical and Ecological status assessment Mr. Peter Webster |
|
Indicators and Pressures Mr. Peter Webster |
|
Session 4: Towards comparability of data | |
The GEF Drin Project, Water statistics, Key frameworks, concepts and definition Mr. Mirza Sarač |