Water Policy Fellowships

Elizabeth Hendriks

Elizabeth Hendriks completed a BA in International Development and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. After exploring and working on development projects, both abroad and within Canada, her passion for sustainable Canadian development was born. Following her undergraduate interests in water policy and sustainable development, she continues her education in the graduate program of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo.

Her thesis research addresses both the theory and application of the water soft path concept within industrial water management processes, particularly in the pulp and paper industry. For her Fellowship project she is working with Friends of the Earth (FoE) Canada, identifying the technical and political barriers and opportunities to implementing a soft path management concept in pulp and paper mills in Canada. This policy fellowship provides a unique opportunity to capitalize on the current drive in Canada for improved sustainable water management, particularly in the areas of "best practice" policies and "capacity building" between stakeholders. Liz's research will contribute to a joint FoE and FPAC (Forest Product Association of Canada) multi-stakeholder water workshop taking place in October, 2006.

Liz has identified five factors that play a vital role in the success of implementation of the water soft path concept: policy; economic instruments; regulation; technical capability and corporate attitude. These factors can be examined independently but it must be recognized that they simultaneously interact with each other and form the environment in which water management decisions are made.