The UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at UPC participated in COP16 on Desertification in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), from December 6 to 10, 2024, in the WAMUNET side event "Ancient Hydro-Technologies for far-sighted water management and ecological transition in arid environments", where the new WAMUNET Living Museum of Water and Biodiversity of the Colombian Massif in Cauca was presented.
This side event featured paradigmatic case studies of Ancient Hydro-Technologies (AHTs) that were showcased at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali by the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET / UNESCO-IHP), marking the world premiere of UNESCO’s Virtual Science Museum. Leading experts engaged in discussions on how to advance an effective global census and monitoring approach for AHTs through a holistic perspective.
A proposal was presented to establish an international Community of Practice (CoP) for the identification, selection, and promotion of AHTs worldwide, linked to the further development of this project and WAMU-NET’s World Inventory (WIN) of water museums and heritage sites. Within this context, experts will explore how a new toolkit could be created to identify, for each practice, the applicable new technologies or knowledge that could be implemented to preserve ancient community hydraulic practices and improve freshwater ecosystems.
Dr. Jordi Morató presented this CoP, launched at the Barcelona AHT International Conference, in his talk titled "Ancestral Hydrotechnologies as a Response to Climate, Food, and Health Emergencies." During his presentation, he emphasized the crucial role of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus (WEFE Nexus), illustrating its relevance through the SURENEXUS PRIMA Project.
In this context, Ancestral Hydrotechnologies (AHT) should be recognized not only as historical infrastructures and cultural heritage but also as models for sustainable water management, both for the present and the future. These technologies can be further enhanced by integrating the latest innovations from social, ecological, and engineering disciplines. Dr. Morató also highlighted the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in technology selection, including AHT, for agriculture, providing case studies from Spain and Tunisia.
During the same presentation a new member from WAMUNET, the new Living Museum of Water and Biodiversity of the Colombian Massif in Cauca was presented. The creation of ‘eco-museums’ can also be a useful tool for achieving the purpose of preserving AHTs by ensuring a high level of biodiversity and promoting reference models for ecological transition in arid rural areas. In the framework of the 9th Phase (2022-2029) of UNESCO-IHP, water museums are considered living laboratories for developing new approaches to water sustainability education and long-term development.
In this frame, water-related eco-museums and interpretation centres are aimed at promoting the understanding of AHTs as treasure chests of biodiversity that co-existed with sustainable human activities for centuries. Counting on the participatory support of local communities, AHTs act as resilience models to face climate change impacts while keeping the historical management and uses of water alive, with related tangible cultures and intangible values.
During COP16, Eriberto Eulisse, Executive Director of WAMUNET, signed the agreement with the Cauca Government, CRC, UNESCO Chair on Sustainability, and the Municipality of San Sebastián to establish the new WAMUNET Museum.
During the conference, a meeting took place with the Saudi Delegation, led by Dr. Abdulaziz M. Alshaibani, Deputy Minister for Water. The discussion focused on exploring potential areas of cooperation between WAMUNET and the UNESCO Water Family, including UNESCO Chairs, in preparation for the 11th World Water Forum, scheduled to be held in Riyadh in 2027. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration on key water-related initiatives and to align efforts toward addressing global water challenges in the lead-up to this major international event.
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