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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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