International Symposium on Restoring and Managing River for Future
Attendance of high-ranking officials from IWRA and more
The symposium was held in celebration for the foundation of DGWF (Daegu- Gyeongbuk Water Forum) which was launched for solving water shortage problem of Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The Nakdong River and Geumho River are mainly related to these region and also designated as target area as 2009 UNESCO IHP (International Hydrological Programme) HELP.
Dr. Shahbaz Khan (UNESCO), Dr. Xia Jun (IWRA, International Water Resources Association), Mr. Hachmi Kennou (executive director, Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau), Mr. Roberto Olivares (Director of ANEAS, Mexico) and more international experts and high profiles, about 300 persons related to water resources were participated. As domestic attendees, there were SHIM Myung Pil, the head of National River Restoration Office, Mr. KIM Yeon-Chang (Administrative Mayor of Daegu), Mr. LEE Sam-Geol (vice-governor of Gyeongbuk Province), Mr. KIM Geon-Ho, CEO of K-Water Corporation, Mr. LEE Hyo-Su, president of Yeungnam University and so forth. And Mr. LEE Sun-Tak, the chairperson of Daegyeong Water Forum said in congratulatory address, “For successful completion of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, the impact of HELP, the IHP program, has significantly contributed as comprehensive measures.” He continued, “Internationally, I hope that this symposium could be a desirable and enlightening opportunity for productive discussion.” In keynote address, Mr. SHIM Myung Pil (the head of National River Restoration Office) asserted, “The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is an ambitious and innovative national project to actively cope with natural disasters of drought and flood which related from the global issue of climate change.” He underlined also our initiative cooperative spirit, “We will constantly keep on sharing our water disaster-related knowhow and technology with international communities.”
Positive evaluation on the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project
On the symposium, foreign renowned scholars, experts and high-ranking officials including three executive directors from International Water Resources Association attended to expressed high interest on river restoration project which is ambitiously driven by Korean Government. They evaluated the national policy upon water resource of Korea as highly affirmative project in appropriateness and public necessity. Especially, Hachmi Kennou (executive director, Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau) expressed his opinion with positive evaluation on the Project, “The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is quite anticipative and active policy, I believe, it can be effective action against climate change.” The symposium made an opportunity of seeking future methods for management and international partnership building. After issuing a communique, the symposium came to an end.
