Integrative modelling for sustainable water allocation: Editorial notes on the special issue

This special issue of the Journal of Environmental Management includes selected papers presented in the Session 'Integrative Modelling for Sustainable Water Allocation of the International Congress' on Modelling and Simulation MODSIM 2003, which was held in Townsville, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. The conference was attended by more than 400 researchers working in the area of modelling of natural systems, economics and resources. The Session on Integrative Modelling for Sustainable Water Allocation was held within the Natural Systems section of the conference. Its aim was to bring together scientists whose research interests fall within the area of modelling of the agricultural system in irrigated regions. The major problem which scientists working in this area are faced with is that the description of these systems requires a multidisciplinary approach. In other words, modelling of irrigated agricultural systems requires integration of models recruited from a variety of different natural and behavioral scientific disciplines.