IRTCES NEWS: UNESCO IHP the 6th International Sediment Initiative Steering Committee Meeting (ISI SCM) and Workshop on Global Change Impacts and Role of ISI was successfully held in the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES), Beijing, China on November 5 to 7, 2008. The representatives from UNESCO and Ministry of Water Resources, P.R. China (MWR), members of ISI Steering Committee, observers and relevant IRTCES staffs attended the meeting. The total 3 days activities include ISI SCM, Workshop and Technical tour.


In the opening session, Mr. LIU Zhiguang, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, MWR, welcomed participants comes from all over the world in his speech. He said that the MWR has paid great attention to development of IRTCES and will continue to support IRTCES and ISI Technical Secretariat with UNESCO as always. Mr. Abhimanyu Singh, UNESCO Representative to China and Director UNESCO Office Beijing, appraised highly on the contribution of IRTCES to the UNESCO programme in his speech, and wished the meeting and workshop a great success. Prof. LIU Guangquan, Assistant Director and Division Chief of Department of International Communication, on behalf of IRTCES expressed great appreciates to the supports of UNESCO, MWR and ISI Steering Committee. Prof. Manfred Spreafico, Chairmen of UNESCO-ISI Steering Committee, highly praised IRTCES on its support acting as the ISI Technical Secretariat, and its excellent contribution for construction, operation and maintenance of ISI information system. Prof. LIU Cheng, Deputy Division Chief of Department of Research and Training, IRTCES, chaired the opening ceremony.


The ISI SCM was chaired by Prof. Manfred Spreafico. The members reported major activities carried out, and put forward and discussed future plans and activities. On behalf of ISI Technical Secretariat, Prof. LIU Cheng reported the work done by IRTCES acting as the ISI Technical Secretariat, and put forward proposals of establishing the International Networks on Erosion and Sedimentation (INES) and project of constructing a database of runoff and sediment loads of main rivers in China as a Database example for ISI Information System. Dr. Anil Mishra, Programme Specialist, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO, brought forward guidance opinions on implementing the ISI activities, and organized the discussion on ISI Brochure.


The Workshop on Global Change Impacts and Role of ISI was chaired by Prof. Manfred Spreafico. In-depth discussions were focused on the main topics showed in the presentation “Studying The Impact Of Global Change On Erosion And Sediment Dynamics: Current Progress And Future Challenges”by Prof. Des. Walling. The ISI SC members also shared the research results in their own field. The meeting and workshop presented significant importance in fulfilling the goals and objectives of ISI.


On November 7, the members visited the Longfengling Water and Soil Conservation Scientific Demonstration Site located in suburban of Beijing.

The International Sediment Initiative (ISI) was launched by UNESCO in 2002. 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. Now the ISI Steering Committee is composed by 16 experts representing 6 regions of UNESCO. The ISI Technical Secretariat is located in IRTCES, Beijing, China. (by LIU Cheng and SHI Hongling, IRTCES)

Opening Ceremony
 

Welcome Speech by Mr. Liu Zhiguang,
Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, MWR of China 



Congratulation Speech by Mr. Abhimanyu Singh,
UNESCO Representative to China and Director UNESCO Office Beijing


 
Welcome Speech by Prof. Dr. Liu Guangquan,
Assistant Director and Division Chief of Department of International Communication, IRTCES

 

Speech by Prof. Dr. Manfred Spreafico,
Chairman of UNESCO-ISI Steering Committee


 
Presentation by Dr. Anil Mishra,
Programme Specialist, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO

 

Report of ISI secretariat by Dr. Liu Cheng,
Deputy Division Chief of Department of Research and Training, IRTCES


 
Presentation by Desmend E.Walling in workshop

 

Technical tour in Longfengling Water and Soil Conservation Scientific Demonstration Site, Beijing.