Social science contributions to groundwater governance

All environments have been modified by human activity and those interactionsproduce 'winners' and 'losers'. Improvements require changes in humanbehaviour, especially when these activities deny opportunities for futuregenerations. However, changing human behaviour can be difficult to accomplish.We need to establish better ways to reach and implement sound decisions.For social researchers, a key assumption is that complex and difficult naturalresource management (NRM) issues are often best addressed by engagingstakeholders in processes that involve dialogue, learning and action ' that is,by engaging and building human and social capital. In this chapter we identifysome of the social research principles and practices that will enhance groundwatergovernance. Social researchers have developed principles and approaches foreffective stakeholder engagement, social impact assessment, collaborativeapproaches for NRM governance and changing the use and management ofland and water by rural landholders. We conclude with a discussion of someof the challenges for social scientists contributing to larger integrated programs.