2 October 2002
2002 CODATA Conference
Issues Concerning Data for Decision Making about Dam Projects
nDams and Development:  A New Framework for Decision Making, World Commission on Dams nUsing GIS to Identify Opportunities for Cooperation in International River Systems
 
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The World Commission on Dams (WCD) was established in 1997 under the auspices of the World Bank and the World Conservation Union with a three-pronged mandate of: (a) undertaking a rigorous and independent review of the development effectiveness of large dams; (b) assessing alternatives; and (c) proposing practical guidelines for future decision making. The WCD carried out its activities from May 1998 to November 2000. Overall, the WCD report proposed a highly data-intensive, decision-support system. As follow up to the WCD report, the UNEP Dams and Development Project “promotes dialogue on improving decision making, planning and management of dams and their alternatives based on the WCD core values and strategic priorities.”

Despite the growing literature on water and conflict in international river basins, little empirical work has been done to bolster common conclusions that are so widely reported.  In order to address this gap, Wolf, Yoffe, and Giordano assessed all reported events of either conflict or cooperation between nations over water resources over the last 50 years and used these events to inform the identification of basins at greatest risk of dispute in the near future (5 to 10 years).