Water

       

 

Climate change now seems to be unavoidable. One of the first consequences will be a change in the hydrological cycles. 

 

Changes in precipitations and hydrological cycles have already started and will undoubtedly be felt by 2040 or 2050, i.e. in less than a generation

 

Global and climate changes will lead to more extreme events with greater intensity. Floods, droughts and accidental pollution warning networks should, in particular, be established, improved, developed and coordinated to better respond to natural disasters caused by water and to protect lives and property.  

 

There is definitely a link (nexus) between water, energy and food, and it  should be considered in basin management programs.

 

Better water governance is more than ever a priority when this resource is already a limiting factor for sustainable development in many countries of the 

world and that the impact of global and climate changes will worsen the situation. 

 

While it is assumed that most Millennium Development Goals, -including in the water sector-, will not be met, and that thinking has started for defining the UN post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, INBO members consider essential to include water resources management in the top priorities as this more and more scarce resource is essential for economic, social and environmental development. 

 

Unprecedented institutional and citizen mobilization is essential for humanity to win the water battle today and for the future. 

 

Susitainable delevelopment Goal

 

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all	Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

                

 

Ref : INBO GA 2013 FORTALEZA DECLARATION - EN – FINAL VERSION V07 - 08/15/2013

Issues

Local Issues

• Cost of developing new water resource
• degradation of soil in irrigated areas
• depletion of ground water
• water pollution and degradation of water related eco systems
• wasteful use of already developed water supplies
• subsides and distorted incentives that influence water use
• Flooding and water inundation

• Water harvesting
• Water conservation
• Water recycling & reuse
• Waste water treatmentStorm water drain

Water use and management have become central to the global debate on sustainability. Sustainability experts can look forward to more help from ISO. 

A new standard ISO 14046 coming up soon to help standardise the approach to calculating and implementing sustainability initiative through a systematic management of watr footprint. 

What is a water footprint assessment?

According to ISO 14046, a water footprint assessment:

1. Relies on a life-cycle assessment
2. Is modular (that is, the different life-cycle stages of the water footprint can be summed up to represent the water footprint)
3. Identifies potential environmental impacts related to water
4. Includes relevant geographical and temporal dimensions
5. Identifies the quantity of water used and changes in water quality
6. Utilizes existing hydrological knowledge

Wetlands

1. work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
2. designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
3. cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

• Strategic Goal 1 : Addressing the Drivers of Wetland Loss And Degradation
  • Human impacts on wetlands are growing. Influencing the drivers of wetland degradation and loss and the integration of the role of wetland values (monetary and non-monetary) into planning and decision making requires the development of a methodology that enables wetland resources and ecosystem benefits to be assessed so that the multiple environmental functions and benefits are understood widely within societies. Contracting Parties, the Secretariat, Regional Initiatives and IOPs will enhance their engagement with relevant stakeholders in order to diminish threats, influence trends, restore wetlands and communicate good practices.
    • 1. Wetland benefits are featured in national/local policy strategies and plans relating to key sectors such as water, energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, urban development, infrastructure, industry, forestry, aquaculture, fisheries at the national and local level
    • 2. Water use respects wetland ecosystem needs for them to fulfil their functions and provide services at the appropriate scale inter alia at the basin level or along a coastal zone.
    • 3. The public and private sectors have increased their efforts to apply guidelines and good practices for the wise use of water and wetlands.
    • 2. Water use respects wetland ecosystem needs for them to fulfil their functions and provide services at the appropriate scale inter alia at the basin level or along a coastal zone.
    • 4. Invasive alien species and pathways of introduction and expansion are identified and prioritized, priority invasive alien species are controlled or eradicated, and management responses are prepared and implemented to prevent their introduction and establishment
• Strategic Goal 2: Effectively Conserving and Managing the Ramsar Site Network
  • Ramsar Sites constitute the largest network of officially recognized internationally important wetland areas in the world. This network constitutes the backbone of a larger network of wetlands. Parties must commit themselves to efforts to protect and effectively manage the existing Ramsar Sites and enable the full and effective participation of stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as to expanding the reach of the Convention by continuously working to add more sites and areas of wetlands recognized under the Convention.
    • 5. The ecological character of Ramsar sites is maintained or restored, through effective planning and integrated management
    • 6. There is a significant increase in area, numbers and ecological connectivity in the Ramsar Site network, in particular underrepresented types of wetlands including in under-represented ecoregions and Transboundary Sites.
    • 7. Sites that are at risk of change of ecological character have threats addressed
• Strategic Goal 3: Wisely Using All Wetlands
  • The wise use of all wetlands requires that Parties ensure they are addressing wetlands beyond those currently included in the Ramsar Site network. This work may occur at the national, subnational, regional, and transboundary levels, including at basin level. Mainstreaming recognition of ecosystem functions, services and benefits into a wide range of sectors and with a broad array of actors will help ensure the success of this effort.
    • 8. National wetland inventories have been initiated, completed or updated and disseminated and used for promoting the conservation and effective management of all wetlands
    • 9. The wise use of wetlands is strengthened through integrated resource management at the appropriate scale, inter alia, within a river basin or along a coastal zone.
    • 10.The traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities relevant for the wise use of wetlands and their customary use of wetland resources are documented, respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention, with a full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities at all relevant levels.
    • 11.Wetland functions, services and benefits are widely demonstrated, documented and disseminated
    • 12.Restoration is in progress in degraded wetlands, with priority to wetlands that are relevant for biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and/or climate change mitigation and adaptation
    • 13.Enhanced sustainability of key sectors such as water, energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, urban development, infrastructure, industry, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries, when they affect wetlands, contributing to biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods
• Operational Goal 4: Enhancing Implementation
  • It will be vital for the survival of wetlands and the success of the Convention for Parties to enhance implementation of the Strategic Plan. Various approaches will help strengthen the implementation of the three Strategic Goals, and ultimately of the Convention itself. They involve critical actions to be undertaken by Contracting Parties themselves, and in partnership with other Parties and other entities, in particular with regard to scientific and technical advice and guidance, resource mobilization, public awareness, visibility and capacity building. The Ramsar Secretariat will also play a vital role in raising awareness and visibility of the Convention, as well as mobilizing resources to support enhanced implementation.
    • 14.Scientific guidance and technical methodologies at global and regional levels are developed on relevant topics and are available to policy makers and practitioners in an appropriate format and language
    • 15.Ramsar Regional Initiatives with the active involvement and support of the Parties in each region are reinforced and developed into effective tools to assist in the full implementation of the Convention
    • 16.Wetlands conservation and wise use are mainstreamed through communication, capacity development, education, participation and awareness
    • 17.Financial and other resources for effectively implementing the fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016 – 2024 from all sources are made available
    • 18.International cooperation is strengthened at all levels
    • 19.Capacity building for implementation of the Convention and the fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016 – 2024 is enhanced

International declarations

National Initiatives

1. Holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement 
2. Improvement in biodiversity and ecosystem through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework. 
3. Contribute to reduction of pollution loads and improvement in 

• biodiversity 
• the goods and services provided by these water bodies to the stakeholders

1. The inventorization and information system on lakes and wetlands, 
2. National level directive on criteria for lakes and wetlands, 
3. Regulatory Framework (Revisiting the Wetlands Rules, 2010), 
4. Capacity building at State Government and local body levels, 
5. Evaluation 

Accreditation

Water Balance

Sustainability Performance indicators