View Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025)
Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development
Published: 2025-03-03

challenges, concepts and new approaches

  • Fig. 1 Zenu Ancestral Hydrotechnology, Colombia (Source: Jordi Morató Farreras, 2020).
    Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future
    Jordi Morató, José Luis Martín, Olga Lucia Sánchez

    The Mediterranean region faces worsening climate challenges, including rising temperatures, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation. Climate projections indicate a temperature increase of up to 6.5°C by 2100, with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation exacerbating water shortages, particularly in agriculture, which consumes 70–80 per cent of the region’s water. Competition for freshwater, declining agricultural productivity, and salinization of coastal aquifers further threaten sustainability. Ancient hydro-technologies—traditional water management systems developed by ancient...

  • Fig.1 Qanats of Bam (Source: S.H. Rashedi, 2014. Nomination File, © S.H. Rashedi, whc.unesco.org/en/documents/141554).
    Qanats: Ancient Innovations Nurturing Sustainable Futures in Water Management
    Vladimiro Andrea Boselli, Massimiliano Borroni, Jalal Kassout, Mhammad Houssni, Athmane Kettouch, Simone Cristoforetti

    The qanat, a timeless testament to human ingenuity, emerged on the arid Persian Plateau around three millennia ago as a sustainable solution to water scarcity. This technique channels water from aquifers using gravity through gently sloping sub-horizontal tunnels, avoiding over-extraction and ensuring a delicate balance between human needs and environmental preservation. By naturally regulating water flow according to aquifer levels, qanats prevent excessive depletion, serving as a model for sustainable water resource management. This study explores the fascinating journey of qanats,...

Announcements

Water Film Prize "Back to Our Future"

2025-02-24

Opening on March 22, 2025, the Water Film Prize: "Back to Our Future" invites filmmakers, students, and researchers to create short films (3-5 minutes) showcasing Ancient Hydro Technologies (AHTs) as innovative solutions to modern water challenges. Organized by the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET) and Let’s Talk About Water (LTAW), winning films will premiere at the 6th International Conference of WAMU-NET in Brasilia (November 2025) and screen at major festivals, culminating at the 2027 World Water Forum in Riyadh. This initiative highlights how visual storytelling can transform complex water science into engaging narratives that inspire action.

Read more about Water Film Prize "Back to Our Future"