Preface: Hydrological processes and water security in a changing world

sponses to stresses at local, regional and global scales is The 8th Global FRIEND conference was co-organized critical for addressing these water issues, including water by UNESCO and Government of China from 6–9 Novem- resources planning and management for everywhere on the ber 2018 in Beijing, with the focus on the theme of hydrolog- planet. [...] ical processes and water security in a changing world, under In order to advance the knowledge of hydrological pro- which eight thematic topics were discussed during the con- cesses and flow regimes in different regions, UNESCO ini- ference: (1) hydrological observations under the changing tiated in the 1980s the Flow Regimes from International environment and scarcity; (2) river regimes and hydro. [...] tion and operation; (6) integrated watershed management in- It aims to develop better understanding of hydrological vari- cluding eco-hydrology and socio-hydrology; (7) water qual- ability and similarity across time and space, through the mu- ity and sediment transport; and (8) river health and ecolog- tual exchange of data, knowledge and techniques at the re- ical baseflow under changing environm. [...] It highlighted the advance drought events, pollutions and water scarcity, underlie the in hydrological science and innovation in water management, climate-soil-vegetation dynamics and control the most basic as well as the solutions to improve this relationship, partic- ecological patterns and processes, both for biota and materi- ularly in view of contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the als. [...] For the first time the two IHP programs zation can emphasize the comprehension and role of the hy- FRIEND and Ecohydrology jointly organized a side event drological template that regulates ecohydrological function- about the importance to bring ecological solutions to hydro- ing of the nature.