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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
WATER, OCEANS AND WETLANDS
This page was updated
on: 01/12/10
MANAGING RIVERS WISELY – LESSONS FROM
WWF'S WORK FOR INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT
(WWF, 2003) WWF believes that
integrated river basin management is the most promising vehicle for
addressing and overcoming the global water crisis. Launched by WWF
Living Waters Programme, this publication comprises 14 global case
studies on freshwater management drawn from its river basin programme
portfolio. The book can be downloaded at:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/freshwater/managingriversintroeng.pdf
THIRSTY CROPS – OUR FOOD AND CLOTHES:
EATING UP NATURE AND WEARING OUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
(WWF, 2003) This 20-page WWF
booklet explains the importance of agriculture and water, and outlines
potential solutions and WWF initiatives that contribute to addressing
the issue. The book can be downloaded at:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/freshwater/wwfbookletthirstycrops.pdf
FROM OCEAN TO AQUARIUM:
THE GLOBAL TRADE IN MARINE ORNAMENTALS
(UNEP-WCMC,
2003) The United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation
Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC) has published a report entitled - From
Ocean to Aquarium: The Global Trade in Marine Ornamentals. This
65-page report examines the profitable international aquarium trade in
which over 20 million tropical fish, 10 million animals such as
mollusks, shrimps and anemones, and up to 12 million stony corals are
harvested annually. Noting the irreversible environmental damage often
caused in catching wild species, the report recommends implementing
appropriate quotas and catch size limits, the designation of marine
reserves and greater use of permits. In addition, it calls for greater
local farming of commonly traded species in order to take off the
pressure of wild stocks. A full copy of the report can be found at:
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/latenews/aquarium.htm
EJF CONSUMER GUIDE TO PRAWNS
(EJF, 2003) The Environmental Justice
Foundation, together with TV chef Ken Hom, has published a consumer
guide to shrimps, highlighting abuses associated with the prawn farming
industry. This includes hazardous forms of child labor, illegal land
seizures, large-scale destruction of mangrove forests, and pollution of
water and agricultural land. The guide is intended to improve consumer
awareness of the consequences of the shrimp they purchase. A copy of the
guide can be found at:
http://www.ejfoundation.org/pdfs/ejf_prawn_consumer_guide.pdf
NEW WEB RESOURCE ON LARGE MARINE
ECOSYSTEM
The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Programme (BOBLME), one of the
largest LMEs managed jointly by Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, has launched a website to
provide information regarding the LME and contact details of national
coordinators and members of the programme's steering committee. The
website can be found at:
http://www.fao.org/fi/boblme/website/index.htm
FRESHWATER LIFE PORTAL
An international collaborative web-based project bringing together
information on freshwater habitats, research methods, and policies and
regulation has been launched. Freshwater Life also organizes freshwater
information based on geographic area, allowing users to navigate by
continent, country or river basin. The website can be found at:
http://www.freshwaterlife.info/index.jsp
MANAGING RISK AND
UNCERTAINTY IN DEEP-SEA FISHERIES: LESSONS FROM ORANGE ROUGHY
(WWF and
TRAFFIC, 2003) This report highlights the adverse effects of illegal,
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly on deep-sea
species. With case studies from New Zealand, Australia, and the Southern
Indian Ocean and Northeast Atlantic Oceans, the report
shows that
the management of Orange Roughy fisheries has failed due to: lack of
understanding of the biological characteristics of the species;
inadequate stock assessment models; failure to reduce capacity of
fishing fleets; lack of political will to impose rigorous management
decisions; and ineffective monitoring, control and surveillance
measures. A full copy of the report can be downloaded from:
http://www.traffic.org/OrangeRoughy.pdf
RIGHT TO WATER WEBSITE
WaterAid, an international NGO
dedicated to providing safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene
education has launched a new website on water as a human right.
The website explains the
development of international water policies together with international
human rights law, and promotes the use of the right to water as a tool
for community empowerment and advocacy. The new site can be found at:
http://www.righttowater.org.uk/
WATER AND WETLAND
INDEX-CRITICAL ISSUES IN WATER POLICY ACROSS EUROPE
(WWF, 2003) The
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has recently published a report revealing
that nearly two-thirds of 23 European countries surveyed are failing to
manage water resources effectively and are taking ineffective measures to
tackle such regional water problems as pollution and over-consumption.
Finland, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium earned high marks for
preserving wetlands and managing floods and pollution through legislation,
while
Italy, Greece, and Spain
were ranked the lowest across a range of water issues. A copy of the
report can be found at:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/europe/wwireport.pdf
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND WATER
(FAO, 2003)
Prepared as part of the UN's World Water Development Report, the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published
independently a report on the role of water in food production, the
contributions from rainfed and irrigated agriculture, and food security
and the right to adequate food in the world. A copy can be downloaded
from:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/agricfoodwater.pdf
NEW SPANISH WATER WEBSITE LAUNCHED
Boletín de
Noticias – Agua y saneamiento is now available online. Jointly published
by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the
IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre in the Netherlands, the
website provides up-to-date information on water and sanitation related
issues, particularly in Latin America. The website can be found at:
http://www.irc.nl/source/lges/index.php
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION IN EUROPEAN
TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT
(IWA, November 2003) Edited by
J. Timmerman and S. Langaas, this book describes the role and use of
environmental data and information in transboundary water. It aims to
bridge the gap between the providers and users of environmental
information and pave the way for greater and more effective research in
this field. More information is available at:
http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843390388
ASSESSING MICROBIAL SAFETY OF DRINKING
WATER IMPROVING APPROACHES AND METHODS
(IWA, November 2003) This
guidance document seeks to respond to a call by the OECD for concerted
action to improve the assessment and management of the world's sources of
drinking water. The product of a shared initiative between the OECD and
the World Health Organization, this review aims to contribute to the
revisions of the WHO's Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. More
information is available at:
http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843390361
ASIAN WATER SUPPLIES: REACHING THE URBAN
POOR
(Asian Development Bank, August 2003) This
book, written by former Asian Development Bank senior water supply
specialist Arthur McIntosh, focuses on the inequities of water costs and
distribution in Asian cities, as well as sheds light on urban water
issues, and confronts the philosophies of many civil society groups that
claim to be protecting the poor from high water rates by protesting tariff
increases. It also includes 19 city water profiles, 6 case studies on
utilities, and 6 examples of small-scale water providers. A copy of the
book is available online at:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/books/asian_water_supplies/default.asp
WETLANDS AND AGRICULTURE
(International Scientific Publications,
2003) This publication is based on the proceedings of the Global
Biodiversity Forum, which took place in November 2002 at the 8th
Conference of the Parties (COP-8) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in
Valencia, Spain. It includes several papers presented at a workshop
entitled Agriculture, Wetlands and Water Resources. More
information is available at the Ramsar website:
http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.html
FROM OCEAN TO AQUARIUM:
THE GLOBAL TRADE IN MARINE ORNAMENTALS
(UNEP-WCMC,
2003) This report, released by the United Nations Environment Programme's
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), takes an in-depth look
at the international ornamental marine species trade, highlighting the
number of fish, corals and other animals being taken from coral reefs and
brought to public aquariums and fish tanks in Europe and the United States
from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The report recommends: the continued
development and wider application of
third-party certification schemes that empower consumer choice;
implementation of appropriate quotas, catch size limits, the designation
of marine reserves and greater use of permits; and greater local farming
of commonly traded species. The authors of the report hope that the data
presented will enable more informed and effective decision-making at the
policy, industry and consumer levels in order to safeguard wild fish stock.
A full copy of the report is available at:
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources/publications/WCMC_Aquarium.pdf
WATER AND SANITATION IN THE WORLD'S CITIES
(UN-HABITAT,
2003) As water and sanitation are the theme of this year's World Habitat
Day, UN-HABITAT has released a publication that gives an overview of water
and sanitation problems facing the world's cities. A copy of the
publication can be downloaded at:
http://www.unhabitat.org/register/publications_download_statistics.asp
RUNNING PURE: WORLD BANK-WWF REPORT
(World Bank/WWF, August 2003) A new study by World Bank/World Wildlife
Fund for Nature (WWF) Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use
shows that protecting forest areas provides a cost-effective means of
supplying many of the world's biggest cities with high quality drinking
water, providing significant health and economic benefits to urban
populations. The report is available at the following site:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/freshwater/runningpurereport.pdf
REPORT: IMPROVING SHIP WASTE MANAGEMENT IN
PACIFIC ISLANDS
(SPREP, 2003)
The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme's report presents the
findings of an assessment of the current situation relating to
reception and management of ship-generated waste in Pacific island ports;
and makes recommendations for strategies to improve these arrangements.
The report is the first stage in the development of a comprehensive
strategy for the management of ship-generated waste in the Pacific islands
region. A full copy of the report is available at:
http://www.sprep.org.ws/publication/webpage/003ship_waste/index.htm
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DESIGN
(IWA Publishing and the Water
Environment Federation, August 2003) Presenting the key design principles
and professional experience in wastewater engineering, this textbook aims
to provide an educational tool for instructors to assist students to
better learn the theory and practice of wastewater treatment. The resource
is also targeted at practicing engineers responsible for the planning and
design of wastewater treatment facilities. More information is available
at:
http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843390248
SMITHSONIAN SEAFOOD COOKBOOK
(Smithsonian Institution Press,
2003) One Fish, Two Fish, Crawfish, Bluefish: The Smithsonian
Sustainable Seafood Cookbook, features more than 140 recipes using
seafood caught or farmed in ways that protect the long term health of both
the species and the oceans as whole. With coverage of seafood species
ranging from the east and west coasts, as well as the Gulf coast, of the
US, the book aims at diversifying seafood consumption and educating
consumers on the growing problems associated with overfishing and the
depletion of once abundant fish and shellfish ocean species. For more
information visit:
http://www.sipress.si.edu/books/titles_books/1-58834-169-0.html
WORLD DISASTER REDUCTION INFORMATION KIT
The 2003 World Disaster Reduction Campaign information kit is now
available online. The information kit provides information related to the
campaign theme – Living with Risk: Turning the Tide on Disasters towards
Sustainable Development – with special emphasis on activities highlighting
the importance of reducing the impacts of water-related hazards. The
information kit can be found at:
http://www.unisdr.org/unisdr/campaign2003/campaign2003.htm
FLOW - THE ESSENTIALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
FLOWS
(IUCN, 2003) IUCN and its Water
and Nature Initiative have published a new river guide entitled
Flow-the Essentials of Environmental Flows. The guide is aimed at
helping different interest groups to implement environmental flows in
order to improve the health of river basins throughout the world. It
explains technical methods, as well as how to change laws, negotiate with
stakeholders, and find the means of financing. The concept of environment
flows is to ensure that enough water is left in rivers and is managed to
ensure downstream environmental, social and economic benefits. This
includes planned releases of water from dams and other infrastructure.
Visit the following site for a copy:
http://www.waterandnature.org/flowlaunch.html
BENEFITS BEYOND
BOUNDARIES: THE FISHERY EFFECTS OF MARINE RESERVES
(TREE, 2003) This new study published
in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution (TREE) shows that protected
marine reserves help depleted fish stocks recover. The study analyzes
information from more than 60 different marine protected areas around the
world, revealing that reserves not only preserve species and their
habitats, but also supply fisheries beyond their boundaries. A copy of the
report can be downloaded at:
http://www.panda.org/downloads/marine/benefitsbeyondbound2003.pdf
LAKES & RESERVOIRS:
RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
(ILEC) A
publication of the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC),
Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management aims to promote
environmentally sound management of natural and artificial lakes,
consistent with sustainable development policies. The journal, which
publishes international research on the management and conservation of
lakes and reservoirs, is available online at:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code=lre
FINANCING STRATEGIES FOR WATER AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE
(OECD, May 2003) Co-edited by the Danish Ministry of the Environment's
Corporation for Environment in Eastern Europe (DANCEE), this volume
presents a method to develop financing strategies for investment-heavy
environmental infrastructure, such as urban water supply, wastewater
collection and treatment, and municipal solid waste. It focuses on the
importance of realism, affordability and the cost-effective use of
resources in achieving infrastructure development and environmental goals.
A copy can be obtained at:
http://oecdpublications.gfi-nb.com/cgi-bin/oecdbookshop.storefront
(You will need to perform a title search.)
WATER STORIES
(IRC, 2003)
The International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) is releasing a new
book, entitled Water Stories. The book, consisting of personal
stories, quotes, photographs and facts about water, will be presented
during the sixth Water Information Summit to be held in the Netherlands
from 9-12 September 2003. The IRC, an independent, non-profit organization
supported by the Netherlands government, the United Nations Development
Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health
Organization, the World Bank and the Water Supply and Sanitation
Collaborative Council,
facilitates the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge of water and
sanitation services, particularly in developing countries. For more
information on Water Stories, visit:
http://www.irc.nl/page.php/5
REVISED WEBSITE FOR LAKE
MANAGEMENT
LakeNet,
a global network of people and
organizations in more than 90 countries dedicated to the conservation and
sustainable development of lake ecosystems, has improved its website to
include a more comprehensive online database of over 2,000 lakes
worldwide. The site also includes: links to over 1,500 organizations and
resources useful to lake managers and others working to protect and
restore lakes; a database of more than 250,000 lake basin maps; and a
section dedicated to the Lake Basin Management Initiative, a global
initiative to document and share experiences and lessons learned in lake
management. Visit the site at:
http://www.worldlakes.org
CONVENTIONS AND CORAL REEFS
(UNEP/WWF, 2003) The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Coral Reefs Advocacy Initiative have published
a brochure that provides an analysis of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation in relation to coral reef
issues. It also highlights the work of 14 multilateral environmental
agreements, programmes, partnerships and networks relevant to the
protection and conservation of coral reefs and the WSSD Plan of
Implementation, including the CBD, Ramsar, CITES, World Heritage,
UNFCCC, MAB, CMS, ICRI and ICRAN. Visit the following site for a copy:
http://ramsar.org/w.n.unep_coralbook.pdf
HANDWASHING AND ARI PREVENTION
(Tropical
Medicine and International Health Journal, August 2003) In a recent
editorial in the Tropical Medicine and International Health Journal, Sandy
Cairncross of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, writes
on the positive effects of handwashing in the prevention of disease. In an
editorial entitled: "Handwashing with soap – a new way to prevent Acute
Respiratory Infections (ARIs)," Cairncross highlights that handwashing
reduces the risk of not only diarrhea and other waterborne diseases, but
ARIs as well. For more information, visit:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/abstract.asp?ref=1360-2276&vid=8&iid=8&aid=1&s
INDIGENOUS WATER SITE
The Indigenous
Water Initiative has launched a website with the aim of promoting better
understanding of indigenous perspectives on water and development among
non-indigenous water professionals. Visit the site at:
http://www.indigenouswater.org/
ONLINE CORAL IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has added a
coral identification guide to its website. The main aims of the guide are
to inform the public about the increasingly threatened status of coral,
and help the public, UK customs officers and CITES officers around the
world to identify the corals that are controlled under CITES. Visit the
site at:
http://www.arkive.org/coral/Coral/coral.html
WORLD WATER COUNCIL VIRTUAL WATER
DISCUSSION
Starting mid-August, the World Water Council will launch an email
discussion organized around several key water questions. The outcomes of
the discussion, which will be synthesized and published on the Web and in
a report, is intended to serve as an important input in water policy
discussions related to water, food, environment and poverty. To subscribe,
visit the following site:
http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/virtual_water.shtml
IWMI LAUNCHES TWO NEW ECO-HYDROLOGICAL
DATABASES
The
International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has launched two new
databases, which focus on management of specific eco-hydrological
information. The first Database deals with quantification of the
hydrological functions of inland wetlands, while the second focuses on
methodologies for environmental flow assessment. The databases can be
found at:
http://www.lk.iwmi.org/ehdb/wetland/index.asp
INTERNATIONAL SITE NETWORKS FOR MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS
A new
interactive set of maps and information links on the three international
Site Networks for migratory waterbirds (shorebirds, cranes, ducks, geese
and swans) in the East Asian-Australasian region has been established
under the Asia-Pacific Migratory
Waterbird Conservation Strategy. Visit the site at:
http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/waterbirdstrategy/docs/Flyway-Website/main.htm
WATER FOR THE FUTURE
(UNEP, 2003) To mark World Water
Day and the International Year of Freshwater, UNEP has compiled a
bibliography of more than 600 water publications from a wide range of UN
bodies and specialized agencies. The bibliography is organized
thematically by topics such as: drinking water; freshwater resources;
water and sustainable development; water and health; marine resources;
water treatment; water in agriculture; and water in urban areas. It also
contains a directory of contacts for UN
organizations involved with water, a list of water-related websites,
various United Nations Resolutions on water, as well as selected UNEP
Governing Council decisions concerning water issues. The bibliography is
available online at:
http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=67&ArticleID=3594
IUCN INTERNATIONAL OCEAN GOVERNANCE REPORT
(IUCN, 2003)
An updated and translated version of the IUCN publication "International
Ocean Governance: Using International Law and Organizations to Manage
Marine Resources Sustainably" by Lee A. Kimball is now available. This
report evaluates the effectiveness of international agreements and
organizations, and recommends numerous improvements. It includes a series
of tables, which present a problem-oriented summary of global and regional
legal instruments and an indication of the scientific, technical, and
legal guidance offered by international bodies. It also includes a series
of maps, which demonstrate the geographic relationships in eight ocean
regions between regional marine and regional fisheries conventions, large
marine ecosystems, major river basins, marine protected areas and national
jurisdiction. For more information visit:
http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&
XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iucn.org%2Fdbtw-wpd
%2Fcommande%2F&TN=iucn&SN=AUTO824&SE=1548&RN=0&MR=20&RF=WebRes&
DF=WebAff&RL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0
IDEAS FOR LOCAL ACTION
IN WATER MANAGEMENT
(Global Water
Partnership, 2003) Recently published by the Global Water Partnership,
this book, which brings together information on activities undertaken by
local governments, civil society and the private sector and by those who
facilitate local water management, is designed to spread these ideas on
initiating local water resources planning, water saving, safeguarding
local water quality, clean-up programmes, promoting transparency and
turning organizations into water managers. The local actions documented in
this volume provide readers with over 100 examples of what is being done
in different parts of the world. This book follows on from 'Ideas for
Water Awareness Campaigns', an earlier book prepared by the Global Water
Partnership. A copy is available at:
http://www.gwpforum.org/gwp/library/Ideasbook%20Local%20
action%20in%20water%20management.pdf
WATER IN CHINA
(IWA Publishing, July 2003)
Edited by P.A. Wilderer, J. Zhu, N.
Schwarzenbeck, this book contains a compilation of articles on the
current situation in China with respect to surface water quality and
wastewater treatment. It provides results of specific research projects,
and considers lessons learnt from experiences in other countries,
particularly with respect to management and regulation practices. For more
information visit:
http://www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843395010
WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REVIEW 2002
(Wetlands
International, 2003) The report is organized under objectives, concepts
and principles highlighted under Wetlands International's Strategy
2002-2005 published in May 2002. Readers are provided with details,
outputs and results of activities undertaken by Wetlands International in
2002, including programmes relating to: inventory, monitoring and
assessment; wise use; and capacity building. A copy of the annual review
can be found at:
http://www.wetlands.org/pubs&/pub_online/2002AR.pdf
IRC INTERNATIONAL WATER
AND SANITATION CENTRE ANNUAL REPORT
(IRC, 2003)
Highlights of IRC's annual report include a focus on the organization's
ability to provide improved access to and promote the use of knowledge in
the water and sanitation sector and to build the knowledge sharing
capacity of Resource Centers in the South. The report can be found at:
http://www.irc.nl/page.php/348
SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN
(Springer Publishers, Berlin, 2003). Fifty
authors from 22 countries contributed to this new book,
Security and Environment in
the Mediterranean - Conceptualising Security and Environmental Conflict,
offering readers a wide range of security and environment linkages from
perspectives and disciplines of the natural and social sciences. The book
has five chapters on water issues in the Mediterranean and Middle East, as
well as two additional chapters that discuss
the role of water scarcity, cooperation and conflict in the framework of
the first three phases of a social science research on environmental
security, and the role of water in a fourth research phase on Human and
Environmental Security and Peace (HESP). More information on the book
can be found at:
http://www.afes-press.de/html/bk_book_of_year.html
NEW RAMSAR WETLANDS DATA
GATEWAY
The Ramsar Wetlands Data Gateway, developed
in collaboration with Columbia University's Centre for International Earth
Science Information Network (CIESIN), provides access to spatial and
tabular data relevant to Wetlands of International Importance listed under
the auspices of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Gateway enhances
the accessibility and utility of data on Ramsar sites by facilitating
online access, sophisticated queries and spatial data integration, and
provides access to data on 1,198 Ramsar sites designated as of 30 August
2002. To explore the Gateway, visit:
http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ramsardg/
WETLAND LINK INTERNATIONAL RELAUNCHED
Wetland Link International (WLI), endorsed
by the Ramsar Convention, is a global network of wetland education centers
aimed at sharing ideas and expertise regarding wetlands. More information
can be found at the WLI site at:
http://www.wli.org.uk/
NEW FAO FISH TELEMETRY WEBSITE
The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) has launched a new website aimed at promoting the use
of telemetry technologies in fisheries and aquaculture management. More
information can be found at:
http://www.agsci.ubc.ca/gbi/FAO%20Fish%20Telemetry/main.htm
MAINSTREAMING GENDER IN WATER MANAGEMENT
(UNDP,
2003) A Gender and
Water Resource Guide entitled 'Mainstreaming Gender in Water Management'
has been developed by UNDP in collaboration with the Gender Water Alliance
(GWA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
to assist development practitioners in mainstreaming gender within the
context of integrated water resources management. The Guide is now
available online at:
http://www.undp.org/water/genderguide/
AMERICA'S LIVING OCEANS:
CHARTING A COURSE FOR SEA CHANGE
(Pew Oceans
Commission, 2003) Prepared by the Pew Oceans Commission, this 144 page
report finds that overfishing at sea, over-development of coastal areas,
and pollution from land-based activities are causing a decline in marine
wildlife and adversely affecting marine ecosystems. This detailed report,
which is the outcome of a three-year, nationwide study of the oceans,
recommends a new US oceans governance and management system, urging a
conservation ethic that regards the oceans as a public trust, recognizes
human's dependence on healthy marine ecosystems, and applies a
precautionary approach to managing the oceans' resources. The report is
available online at:
http://www.pewoceans.org/oceans/index.asp
GROUNDWATER AND ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO
DEGRADATION: A GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND OPTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT
(UNEP, 2003). This UNEP report
provides an overview of the susceptibility of groundwater to degradation
caused by human activities. Including both quantity and quality impacts,
it examines the different issues affecting groundwater resources in rural
and urban/industrial settings, where groundwater has become an integral
part of billions of people's lives. Numerous examples illustrate the
consequent resource management issues and underline the need for active
management. A full version of the
report can be downloaded at:
http://www.unep.org/DEWA/water/groundwater/groundwater_pdfs.asp
STATE OF THE WORLD FISHERIES AND
AQUACULTURE 2002 REPORT
(FAO, 2002) The State of World Fisheries
and Aquaculture (SOFIA) is the Fisheries Department's premier advocacy
document. It is published every two years with the purpose of providing
policy-makers, civil society and those who derive their livelihood from
the sector a comprehensive, objective and global view of capture fisheries
and aquaculture, including associated policy issues. A full version of the
report can be downloaded at:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y7300e/y7300e00.htm
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS REPORT
(Wetlands International, 2003) Wetlands
International has recently published a booklet on the Use of Constructed
Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment. This booklet provides a valuable
introduction to constructed wetlands and it will raise awareness of their
value among environmental professionals. The report can be downloaded from
the following site:
http://www.wetlands.org/pubs&/ConstructedWetlands.htm
DOLPHINS, WHALES AND
PORPOISES: 2002-2010 CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR THE WORLD'S CETACEANS
(IUCN, May
2003). This new publication highlights the plight of the world's
cetaceans, providing the latest information on their status worldwide and
recommending actions that could help save the most threatened species.
This report is the most recent of three Action Plans compiled by the
Cetacean Specialist Group of IUCN's Species Survival Commission over the
past 15 years. A full version of the report can be downloaded at:
http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/actionplans/actionplanindex.htm
KEEPING THE PROMISE ON WATER
(GEF, 2003) This report outlines the Global
Environment Facility's water goals and projects, with particular emphasis
on the need for increased cooperation among countries to sustainably
manage the planet's water ecosystems. Other recommendations include the
need for integrated management of land and water resources, as well as the
protection of aquatic biodiversity for sustainable use. A full copy of the
report can be found at:
http://www.gefweb.org/Outreach/outreach-PUblications/GEFWater2003.pdf
WATER FOR PEOPLE, WATER FOR LIFE
(UNESCO, 2003) The executive summary of the
UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is now available online in seven
languages at the following site:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001295/129556e.pdf. With input
from 23 United Nations agencies and convention Secretariats, the report is
the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on the state of the world's
freshwater resources.
UNEP ATLAS OF INTERNATIONAL FRESHWATER
AGREEMENTS
(UNEP, 2003) Compiled
by Aaron Wolf of
Oregon State University, the atlas
of international freshwater agreements contains: a historical overview of
international river basin management; a detailed listing of more than 300
international freshwater agreements; and a collection of thematic maps
related to the agreements, their content, and the river basins they
represent. A link to the atlas can be found at:
http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=67&ArticleID=3813
WORLD PANEL ON FINANCING WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT
(GWP, March 2003) The Global Water
Partnership has recently published a final report on the World Panel on
Financing Water Infrastructure. The Panel, a joint initiative of the GWP,
the World Water Council and the 3rd World Water Forum, makes several
conclusions on what needs to be done to find the financing necessary for
water infrastructure, and offers specific proposals on how this can be
achieved, and by whom. A link to the final report can be found at:
http://www.gwpforum.org/gwp/library/FinPanRep.MainRep.pdf
FAO AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY CD-ROM
A new CD-Rom on aquatic biodiversity in
rice-based ecosystems, produced by the FAO Inland Water Resources and
Aquaculture Service, is now available online. The CD-ROM contains the
findings of a case study on the Tonle Sap ecosystem in Kampong
Thom Province, Cambodia. More than 100 aquatic species (fishes, reptiles,
amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, insects and plants) were collected in
rice fields and were shown to be used daily by rural households. Species
descriptions and photos are linked to information on collection tools,
uses in rural communities and traditional knowledge. A full version of the
CD-Rom can be found at found at:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/CDrom/AwarnessAgrBiodiv/default.htm
WATER-L
NEWS
IISD has released its first issue of "WATER-L News," a comprehensive
collection of water-related news, reports and editorials published every
fortnight, similar to IISD's Climate-L News resource. If you should come
across any material that would be appropriate for the next issue, please
send these to the author, Richard Sherman at
rsherman@iisd.org. For the web version of Water-L News, with clickable
links from the table of contents to each story, go to
http://enb.iisd.org/water-l/Water-L_News_1.html. A PDF version
can be found at
http://enb.iisd.org/water-l/Water-L_News_1.pdf.
DIALOGUE ON EFFECTIVE WATER GOVERNANCE:
LEARNING FROM THE DIALOGUES
(Global Water Partnership 2003)
This status report draws from experience garnered through conducting the
Dialogue on Effective Water Governance in GWP's regions over the past year
and is available online at:
http://www.gwpforum.org/gwp/library/Effective%20Water%20Governance.pdf
RAMSAR COP-8 PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE
ON CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version of last
year's Ramsar COP-8 proceedings is now available. This resource is
free-of-charge and is presented in French, English, and Spanish. It
contains the Conference Report, Resolutions, other COP-8 documents, the
National Reports, and the participants lists. This material is also
available on the Ramsar website at
http://ramsar.org/index_cop8.htm. Requests for the CD-ROM version
should be directed to Valerie Higgins,
higgins@ramsar.org
IISD LAUNCHES WATER-L LISTSERVE
WATER-L is a new peer-to-peer
announcement e-list for news and announcements related to water policy
issues. Water-L is created by the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Third
World Water Forum and the World Water Council. Subscribe to Water-L at:
http://enb.iisd.org/email/#water-l
CLEAN WATER, SAFE SANITATION: AN AGENDA
FOR THE KYOTO WORLD WATER FORUM AND BEYOND
(Institute for Public Policy
Research, 2003) Edited by David Mepham, this report integrates essays by
several water and sanitation experts with the aim of addressing key issues
and problems for the Kyoto 3rd World Water Forum, held from 16-23 March
2003, and beyond. For more information, visit:
http://www.ippr.org/home/index.php?table=pubs&id=339
WATER AND SANITATION IN THE WORLD'S
CITIES: LOCAL ACTION FOR GLOBAL GOALS
(UN-Habitat, March 2003) This
publication addresses the lack of access to safe water in
cities across the world, particularly in light of problems aggravated by
growing urban populations. This book can be ordered online at:
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3902
WATER AND THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
(IIED, February 2003) Authored by Saleemul Huq, Hannah Reid and Laurel
Murray, this report was prepared for the UN Office of the High
Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. It focuses on LDCs and the
way in which water quantity, quality, use, and management is affecting
these poorest countries. The report is available online at:
http://www.iied.org/climate_change/pubs.html#waterldcs
THE ECONOMICS OF WORLDWIDE CORAL REEF
DEGRADATION
(WWF, February 2003) This report
by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature considers the cost of coral reef
degradation to world economies, estimating a loss of nearly US$30 billion
in annual net benefits that coral reefs provide in goods and services to
tourism, fisheries and coastal protection. In addition to addressing the
economic valuation of coral reef decline, the study also includes
information on the status of coral reefs, considers causes of reef
decline, and looks at the impacts on biodiversity and people. The report
is available online at:
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/marine/news/news.cfm?uNewsID=5964
IUCN 2002 STATUS OF CORAL REEFS
(IUCN and GCRMN, 2003) IUCN, together with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring
Network (GCRMN) has released its 2002 Status of Coral Reefs of the World
report. This new report documents the current health of major reef
systems, including updated patterns of damage and recovery worldwide. More
information can be found at:
http://www.iucn.org/bookstore/Coral-reefs-2002.htm
If you
would like to submit details of
recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD
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