In his keynote address, Ger Bergkamp, a water specialist with the Swiss-based World Conservation Union, outlined steps aimed at improving water management and safeguarding water resources.

He said that it is important to emphasize resource allocation in order to make sure water is distributed fairly among competing demands, adding that a more decentralized management approach is needed to achieve this equity.

"We need to use integrated and process oriented approaches," he said.

Other concerns he focused on were the need to assign an economic value to resources when planning a development project, and the need to motivate people into changing their behavior.

But what would motivate people to change their behavior and take an active role in managing their water systems? Bergkamp believes that a multifaceted approach including legislation, incentives, and investment in social capital is needed. But he warned that sometimes these things are not enough.

"Without moral standards and political will, the best incentives and legislation are unlikely to bring changes," he said.

Bergkamp wound up his address by stressing the need to build new coalitions and to work across sectoral boundaries.

"We must catalyst change by building partnerships," he said.

Friedrich Barth of the European Commission, who followed Bergkamp with a case study on transboundary water management in European states, also stressed the importance of working across sectors.

"Europe has stepped back from a sector-based approach," he said, adding that building trust between international partners is an important step to harmonizing management of water resources, especially river basins. He said that governments and civic leaders should involve the public, which has long been neglected in the decision making process.

Barth finished off his presentation with an enthusiastic message.

"Don't hesitate to start with integrated river management. It's not that difficult!"