Research, sustainability and governance: how to practice on ILBM

ILBM is a way of thinking about water management that is based on six pillars. Two of these are the Participation (of stakeholders but also of citizen as stakeholders) and the Information (to stakeholders and thus to citizens). These concepts are strongly present in the approach we want to pursue to bring together scientific research approach, strategy and results, and public opinion and stakeholders participation through a governance exercise on sustainability issues. We like to discuss the importance of information and knowledge for a qualified and pro-active participation as well as reflect on our individual and collective responsibility as citizens in ILBM projects. To achieve these goals, three working groups will be organised: 1: Active vs. Scientific citizenship - This working group will discuss and share experience about topics like: Why Scientific Information is important? What kind of information Needs for Lake Basin Management? Which consequences of a "Non-use" of Science? How and where can we share information? How much information is "enough"? 2. Participative democracy - We plan to work on the responsibility/action axis mediated by the contribution of scientific approach: evaluate the individual vs. collective responsibilities, allowing to assess the impact of actions and possible solutions in terms of cost/benefit, promotes the critical analysis of the information available today. 3. Participatory planning - This working group will experience a process of participatory planning in order to practice on the ILBM issues by analysing case studies taken from the past and possibly practising on present situations.