First International Environment Forum
for Basin Organizations

L-R: Arnold Kreilhuber, UNEP; Thomas Chiramba, UNEP; Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda; and Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP-DELC

Jean-Francois Donzier, INBO, said the governance of freshwater ecosystems is an obligation of all governments and called for sharing of good practices, capacity building and political goodwill to take the water agenda forward.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP, welcomed participants and said that one of the core purposes of UNEP is to ensure that an environmental dimension is integral to economic and social decisions that governments make about basins, as well as about the equitable allocation of water resources and responsibilities.

Max Campos, OAS, emphasized the potential of IWRM as a tool for promoting development and addressing climate challenges.

Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda, gave the official opening remarks of the high-level segment and said that since water is a shared resource, it demands shared responsibility to manage it.

Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda, chaired the high-level segment.

Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP-DELC, summarized the discussions from the technical segment, reporting that freshwater ecosystems are under threat and subject to conflicting pressures and demands.

María Eugenia Correa, Colombia, called for a regional basin forum in Latin America and Caribbean.

Bernice Adiku Heloo, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana

Saadou Ebih Mohamed El Hacen Monane, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Mauritania, spoke about the importance of using a consensus approach to decision making for transboundary basins.

John Nyaoro, Nile Basin Intiative, stressed the need for permanent basin organizations that involve all basin states.

Sylvester Matemu, Ministry of Water, Tanzania, said that in his country, using water for human use and to maintain a healthy environment is the first priority for efficient use.

Martin Grambow, Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection.

María Violeta Ramírez Morán, Lake Atitlan Basin Authority, recommended creating spaces for citizens to interact with basin organizations.

Cele Anaitte Méndez, Petén Itza Lake Basin, shared experiences from her country in promoting sustainable agriculture practices for food security, recycling solid wastes and wastewater treatment.

Harry Liiv, Estonian-Russian Transboundary Water Commission, said that water management needs the funds to improve not only the quality of water, but the quantity.

Mohamed Deramchi, National Agency for Integrated Management of Water Resources, Algeria, urged strengthening basin organizations and spoke about incorporating the principle of ‘polluter pays.’

Aloys Nonguierma, Liptako-Gourma Integrated Development Authority, called for African basin organizations to be supported in the development of information systems to enable better understanding of basin hydrography.

Amb. Raúl Rodríguez Ramos, Cuba, conveyed concerns of SIDS, calling for technical and financial support to tackle devastating impacts and water scarcity as a result of extreme weather events.

Augusto Flores, Vice-Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Nicaragua, emphasized the need for prioritization of the effects of climate change on freshwater resources.

Hossam Mohamed Moghazy, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt

Gouesse Aïdara Lancine, Ministry of Water and Forests, Côte d’Ivoire

Hassen Chourabi, Ministry of Agriculture, Tunisia

Antonio Ricarte, Brazil

Belete Tafere Desta, Minister of Environment & Forests, Ethiopia, called for financial support for basin organizations to facilitate capacity building and experience sharing.

Alfredo Mamani Salinas, Executive President, Bi-national Autonomous Authority of the Lake Titicaca, called for streamlining of NGO activities within transboundary basins to avoid overlaps and competition.

Lawrence Simitu, Ministry of Environment, Water & Natural Resources, Kenya, said communities need to be empowered to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Arvind Kumar, India Water Foundation, described challenges around basin management including lack of political will and the limited exchange of scientific information.

Solphi Joli Hamelo, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Madagascar

Reuben Habu, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission

Sylvester Clauzel, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Saint Lucia

Collins Ihekire, Executive Secretary, Niger Basin Authority, noted that his organization is now advocating the preservation of wetlands.

Sonja Koeppel, Secretariat of the UNECE Water Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, said there is no single model of cooperation for all situations, but there are some features that are essential for all basin organizations.

Yanira Ntupanyama, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Malawi, reported on the ecosystem-based management approach that riparian states of Lake Malawi are applying to maintain environmental and socioeconomic benefits of the lake.

Lenka Thamae, Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), appreciated the recognition of basin organizations’ ability to deal with issues that affect sustainable development.

Laura Meszaros, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) Secretariat, urged basin organizations to strengthen implementation of the chemicals conventions through national focal points.

Yang Youlin, Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said that it is clearly understood that water ecosystem and management issues are closely related to desertification, land degradation and drought.

Lesha Witmer, WWF International, reaffirmed the importance of the UN Watercourses Convention in providing a legal framework for shared principles in water governance.

L-R: Owen McIntyre, National University of Ireland, and Eric Garner, International Bar Association’s Water Law Committee

L-R: Jean-François Donzier, INBO, and Harry Liiv, Estonian-Russian Transboundary Water Commission

L-R: Alfredo Mamani Salinas, Executive President, Bi-national Autonomous Authority of the Lake Titicaca, and Audra Vilaly, University of Arizona

L-R: Martin Grambow, Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, and Antonio Ricarte, Brazil

Participants during a break

L-R: Iwona Rummel-Bulska, University of Nairobi, and Laura Meszaros, BRS Conventions Secretariat