View - ResearchGate

operation is thus a critical element in regional water management, when inter-basin watertransfers may in certain cases be a preferred option. Quantity and quality must be consideredsimultaneously and jointly when thinking about co-operative or co-ordinated management ofwater among users and across political boundaries (UNESCO, 2002).Changing water practices to achieve goals of IWRM and of IRBM requires change of attitudesin individuals, institutions, professionals and organisations within civil society. The key toencouraging an IWRM and IRBM oriented civil society lies in the creation of shared visions,through joint diagnosis, creation of options, implementation, and monitoring. This itselfrequires broad stakeholder participation in water planning and operating decisions, and isanother strong tool for encouraging such new civil orientation (GWP-ToolBox, 2003).Towards this, the CDM involving all stakeholders that are related to water resourcesmanagement is suitable mechanism in achieving IWRM goals in Langat Basin.COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING (CDM)Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) is an important mechanism in water resourcesmanagement because of its potential in improving the present water resources managementsystem. The definition of CDM is a joint effort among government agencies, private sectors,NGOs, the public, universities and other relevant stakeholders aimed at improving the presentmanagement system through increased information exchange among the various parties in thecommunity and improved decision support tools (Elfithri et al., 2002, 2004a,c; Mokhtar et al.,2004).CDM offers an opportunity for more proactive and collaborative approaches to resolvingenvironmental problems, and it can be used in water resources management related issues. Inturn, this will require the participation and involvement from stakeholders within a largercontext of shared understanding. Particular attention is paid to the issues that emerge as aresult of multiple stakeholder involvement within environmental problem situations. Figure 1show the key elements of CDM.CDM is an appropriate and best way to practice collaboration among agencies that can be donethrough consensus and consultation. The participation and involvement of related stakeholdersin water resources management, including the relevant federal and state agencies, privatesectors, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), universities, public and local authoritiesare needed to incorporate their data and information into decision making process in the CDMmechanism (Mokhtar & Elfithri, 2005).Economic Efficiency Equity Environmental SustainabilityEnabling EnvironmentINTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IWRM)INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT (IRBM)Institutional FrameworksCOLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING (CDM)Managing Water for SustainabilityManagement InstrumentsFigure 2. Framework of IWRM and IRBM that showed the importance of CDM (Source: Elfithri 2006)CDM is needed in order to improve the existing water management system, where the agenciesand other related bodies have to sit together to discuss about the settlement of the issuestogether. CDM is a suitable and appropriate way within framework of IWRM and IRBMwhere CDM is needed as enabling environment towards IWRM, mechanism of CDM allowand provide institutional frameworks, at the same time CDM can also become a tool formanagement instruments (Figure 2).DiscussionParticipationCoordinationCollaborationCDMCommunicationCooperationPartnershipThe concepts of CDM are being used and applied in several countries involving many aspectsof natural resources management. Several groups are pursuing collaborative approaches tonatural resource management and their experiences offer valuable insights into the process, thepeople, the successes, and the pitfalls. This study use CDM within the context of IWRM as acomprehensive approach to the development and management of water that needs theinvolvement of various stakeholders, especially in Langat River Basin, Malaysia.InvolvementSharingCDM IN LANGAT RIVER BASINJoint EffortExchangingWork TogetherFigure 1. Key Elements of CDM (Source: Elfithri 2006)The Langat River Basin, administratively involves two states and a federal territory viz.Selangor State, Negeri Sembilan State and the Putrajaya Federal Territory. Therefore thisstudy has been carried out by taking into account the agencies and institutions that are relatedto water resources management in three areas within the basin and focus on how they arecommunicate, cooperate and collaborate among each other.WWW-YES 2008, Paris 13 – 16 May 2008 89WWW-YES 2008, Paris 13 – 16 May 2008 90