Stakeholder participation in integrated watershed management: Models and process

The importance of stakeholder participation in sustainable watershed management, the related participation models and participation process will form the main concern of this study. As well known, similar experiences have already been gained both in USA and EU by practicing these participation processes and models; however, in Turkey, that is a candidate country to join EU, has not yet started applying such procedures effectively relating to participation efforts in management. Within the context of this thesis, initially fundamental principles and definitions on stakeholder participation will be referred followed by mentioning the lessons-learnt and information gained through the applications experienced in especially developed countries. A case study on one of the watersheds of Turkey, Büyük Menderes Watershed, stakeholder participation, related participation process and the most convenient model application will be proposed. The process and procedures of stakeholder participation in 'Integrated Watershed Management' perspective that has been accepted and applied by not only EU; but also by similar other developed countries, the methods preferred for better and effective participation including public will be investigated in detail in the study. Integrated Watershed Management aims to define the natural resources within the boundaries of the watershed and thus, determine any sectoral conflicts while also enabling coordination among any activities and policies related to the current legal and administrative structure with the participation of stakeholders representing the main water-related actors and users in the most compatible manner. Any deficiency or absence of any of these branches will lead to management failure. Integrated Watershed Management bears various authorities and stakeholders. By maintaining a good participatory effort through the representative groups from different water-related state and private organizations and offices together with NGO's and media, the below underlined positive impacts may be attained. These are; • Transparency in decisions taken, • Involvement of various information and ideas, • Pre-awareness of regional variations/developments, • Determining the sectoral conflicts and discrepancies at an early-stage and their resolutions, increasing the support level by accepting and taking up the decisions, • Forming constructive dialogues, • Good collaboration among individuals representing different sectors and of different levels, • By means of awareness increase, maintaining consciousness on the positive tangible and intangible gain attained through consultation to public. Thus, by means of following such an active, effective and realistic roadmap, it will be possible to achieve the targets that used to be recognised as imaginary. The developed countries have succeeded in forming various stakeholder and public participation models based on their experiences gained through watershed management in a holistic perspective. In the model applications, the general characteristics of the country and the watershed concerned together with the life standard of the public are considered. Practices of different models heading to increase the well-being of public by proving their needs so far have shown that models to be applied may differ among watersheds and also, one of the models may be initially selected and applied for a certain period of time may then be quitted and another model may be preferred. Four of the models are referred in this study. These are; Commentary Model, Social Learning Model, Joint Planning Model and Consent/Consensus Model. Among these various models, Intermediary Centred models, Social Learning and Joint Planning Models, are considered to be more convenient ones that would fit to the watershed conditions. Within the context of model applications, various practices and studies are realized like supplying consultancy service and organizing actively participating field trips and tours, organizing meetings with volunteer monitoring groups, arranging cleaning/remediation/rehabilitation days together with training programs (schools, city groups and local organizations), conducting public surveys via internet/media targeting various focus groups. Conducting similar activities and the application of the selected stakeholder participation model for Turkey that is presenting a developing country, aiming participation in management of watersheds, and even more importantly the various steps to be followed for increasing public awareness towards sustainable utilization of natural resources will be emphasized in this study. The River Basin Protection Action Plans (RBPAP) that form the basis for the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) are completed within years 2009-2013 for the 25 watersheds of Turkey. Turkey targets to finalize the preparation of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) till 2023 for the entire watersheds in compliance with the regulation on 'Protection of Watersheds and Preparation of River Watershed Management Plans'. The involvement of stakeholders during and after the preparation of watershed management plans, during the realization of 'Preventive Measures Program' and while attaining the 'Environmental Goals' is essential. When the developed country examples are investigated, it is clearly seen that all have involved stakeholders in watershed management and based on their experiences and integrated understanding, they have selected the most convenient models regarding public participation from the experiences. Stakeholder participation in Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) is a highly new process for Turkey; and legal basis of this phenomenon have recently been formed. Notification on 'Setting of River Basin Committees, Duties, Work Methodologies and Principles' and 'National River Basin Management Strategy' have been put into force by publishing them in the Official Gazette in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Within this context, Büyük Menderes River Basin has been selected as a pilot watershed and stakeholder participation process and the most convenient model applications have been proposed. By taking into account the factors valid in the legal structure, the 'River Basin Management Committee' members are analysed in detail. The notice has stated that the members of this Committee must be between 16-25. The river basin is shared by 5 provinces. Even though the coordinator governorship is Aydın, the share of the other provinces is also significant. Thus, the number of potential members is calculated as almost 73. Moreover, public participation in this Committee is not as expected. Within the context of integrated watershed management efforts, it is considered that public share in the process is lacking, and for a better and more effective management process, a River Basin Protection Association (RBPA) under the River Basin Management Committee is proposed in this thesis. The requirement for such an organization and its structural framework will be discussed in the study. For conducting training programs and during selecting the appropriate trainees during the entire process, a thorough administrative and financial structure is to be formed. Proposals for this establishment will also be detailed. The most convenient application model at a start is selected for the Büyük Menderes Watershed by considering the current legal structure of the country. When the watershed is investigated in terms of its economic and educational level, it is seen that it is well above the Turkey's average situation. The 'Social Learning Model' is primarily selected as it is based on 'learning together to manage together 'principle. This model is considered to be applicable for the first 2-3 years of participation. In this time interval, initial training programs will be conducted for the stakeholders including public to maintain maximum awareness and to learn how the monitoring and evaluation steps required for reporting of activities that will be conducted during the entire process of management. This run is assumed to last 2-3 years. In the progressive years, 'Joint Planning Model' is considered to well fit the situation. In the study, iterative manner of management and getting feedback from the applications will also be mentioned.