Thursday, May 15, 2008

Issues at El Faro

Effective, Non-Violent Resolution of Water Related Conflicts

By: Cristina Monge, Ecología y Desarrollo

Living ecosystems

The idea of rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers as mere pipes or stores for water has led to conflicts between countries, peoples and regions. However, seeing these natural assets as living ecosystems creates a very different picture, which requires fair and sustainable collaboration for the interests and rights of future generations. The need is now urgent for the world to go from a traditional “resource management” approach to the new and modern “ecosystem management”. The prevalence of the resource management view, linked to other problems, has led to the unsustainable exploitation and destruction of river basins world wide. The promotion of unsustainable models of development and water management not only cause ecological crises, but also create increasing imbalances and inequality between societies and territories.

Dialogue

The most effective way to find stable solutions to these kinds of conflicts is dialogue. Mediation and negotiation, can resolve these problems. Prior social participation can prevent conflict.

In Aragon the tensions provoked by the announcement of transfers of the River Ebro led to the signing of the Water Pact, in which all parliamentary parties agreed to build a series of large dams. These dams would enable thousands of hectares of new irrigated land, as a priority over any possible transfer project. However, the pact deepened resentment in Aragon. It led to conflicts between the affected villages, districts, political parties and the Community of Irrigators.

After numerous demonstrations and legal disputes blocking or delaying the projects, the possibility of a social dialogue process arose, beginning in Aragon in 2002. The Social Mediation Initiative (SMI) for the conflicts over water in Aragon was created to offer a framework to present arguments, interests and a shared vision of water management. Firstly problems were identified, a platform from which eventual agreement was made easier.

Trust

Work focused on what was wanted by the different sides. It was important to avoid specific points such as transfers, dams and the Water Pact. Soon 18 shared points of interest were agreed on and mediation led to 25 agreements, covered in a final document. Although not ratified by the communities of irrigators, the work had led to trust between the sides and a platform to build from. The media spoke of dialogue rather than confrontations. It became clear that civil society could help solve the problem. New life was breathed into the process, and a final document was drawn up for the work of the Committee for updating the Water pact in the local government of Aragon. The communication reduced tension and confrontation palpably.

Politics

After the Spanish general election of March 2004, the Decree for the Ebro Transfer was overturned. The new political climate favoured dialogue. Although at first the Water Committee tackled the difficult Yesa debate with a simple vote and no option for mediation, it later understood the need for a new approach. It began with the conflict of Santaliestra on the River Ésera, ruled illegal in the courts. The pending legal actions were discussed, the Water Committee unanimously passed judgement, and there was full agreement on the alternative of the Salvador reservoir.

Negotiation and understanding

In the Matarraña conflict, after years of strong opposition, a process of dialogue had already started, facilitating the final success of the Water Committee with the support of the SIM. In April 2006, the Matarraña was no longer a river of confrontations. It was a demonstration of negotiation and empathising with the other side to solve long-standing problems. The crucial points were the modernisation of existing irrigation practices, achieved by building reservoirs and flow control tanks on the banks of the Matarraña, together with the withdrawal (with a negative environmental assessment) of a controversial reservoir, with the active support of the Ministry of the Environment.