KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
WATER, OCEANS AND WETLANDS
This page was updated
on: 01/12/10
OCEAN
NOISE: TURN IT DOWN
(IFAW, December 2008)
This report highlights the dramatic increase of undersea noise from
human activities in recent decades. It notes that this increase is set
to continue and, unless tackled, poses a potentially major threat to
marine animals of many kinds worldwide. The report calls for
wide-ranging action, including a requirement that builders and owners of
all vessels factor noise reduction measures into vessels' design and
operation. The
report.
ESTABLISHING RESILIENT MARINE PROTECTED AREA NETWORKS – MAKING IT HAPPEN
(IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, 2008)
This document represents a synthesis of the expertise, knowledge and
views of leading experts in marine protected area network design and
implementation. It highlights global commitments for marine conservation
and shows how to move from individual MPA sites to an effective system
of national regional MPA networks. The
report.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON HYDROLOGY
AND WATER RESOURCES OF THE UPPER BLUE NILE RIVER BASIN, ETHIOPIA
(International Water Management
Institute, November 2008)
This research report evaluates the impacts of climate change on the
hydrological regime and water resources of the Blue Nile River Basin in
Ethiopia. It starts from the construction of climate change scenarios
based on the outcomes of several general circulation models, uses a
simple hydrological model to convert theses scenarios into runoff, and
examines the impacts by means of a set of indices. The
report.
OIL SPILL IN
THE KERCH STRAIT
(UNEP, November 2008)
Subtitled "Ukraine Post-Disaster Needs Assessment," this report, which
was drafted by UNEP and the European Commission, reviews their efforts
to help Ukraine complete its recovery from the oil spill that occurred
in the Kerch Strait in November 2007, when a severe storm caused the
Volgoneft-139 to release over 1,300 tonnes of fuel oil into the sea. The
resulting, extensive physical damage to the sea and land led to property
losses, contamination of the marine and coastal flora and fauna, as well
as high clean-up costs and significant revenue losses for local
industries. The report provides a series of recommendations to improve
oil spill preparedness and response in Ukraine. Recommendations are
particularly targeted at strengthening strategic policy, contingency
planning, information management, environmental monitoring and
assessment, and waste management. The
report.
GENDER AND
EQUITY IN THE PROTECTED AREAS OF WEST AFRICA
(IUCN and the Fondation Internationale du Banc d'Arguin (FIBA), 2008)
This report examines the role of gender equity in protected area
management in West Africa. Featuring several case studies of marine and
coastal protected areas, the report discusses the relationship between
conservation and social equality between the sexes. It also offers
several recommendations for applying an equity-based approach to
protected area management in West Africa and elsewhere. The
report.
PRETENDING TO BE GUIDED BY SCIENCE – TIMELINE OF A FISHERY FAILURE
(WWF, November 2008)
This chronology provides background information on the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and what WWF
qualifies as "its so far ineffective efforts to prevent the
Mediterranean bluefin fishery following the trajectory of collapse
already illustrated in the northern and western Atlantic bluefin
fisheries." The
timeline.
CONTINUING CCAMLR'S FIGHT AGAINST IUU FISHING
FOR TOOTHFISH
(WWF
Australia, TRAFFIC, 2008) While the Commission for the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) carries out estimates of the
illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) catch of Patagonian Toothfish
Dissostichus eleginoides and Antarctic Toothfish Dissostichus
mawsoni, there has been no recent trade analysis to compare those
estimates with trade-based estimates of catch.
This paper
uses available data to: estimate the total annual trade in toothfish
over the period 2003–2007; calculate the total live weight equivalent of
that trade as a basis for estimating global catch; compare the estimated
global catch with CCAMLR's CDS records of landings; and estimate the
level of IUU catch. The analysis is then used to assess the
effectiveness of CCAMLR's monitoring, control and surveillance regime
for toothfish, including the Catch Documentation Scheme, in addressing
IUU fishing and as a basis for recommendations to improve the
effectiveness of that regime. The
paper.
FORESTS AND WATER
(FAO, 2008)
Written by L.S. Hamilton, this Forestry Paper of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a thematic study prepared in the
framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. The paper
suggests that forest cover's importance in regulating hydrological flows
has often been overestimated, stating that reforestation to prevent or
reduce floods is effective at only a local scale of a few hundred
hectares. The author notes that forests' most significant contribution
to the hydrological balance of watershed ecosystems is in maintaining
high-quality water.
FAO Forestry Paper 155.
INCIDENTAL CATCH OF MARINE TURTLES IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: CAPTURES, MORTALITY,
PRIORITIES
(WWF, 2008)
After outlining the relevant parameters for assessing the impact of
fishing activity on marine turtle populations, as well as the fishing
gear, parameters and mitigating measures, this report describes the
three species of marine turtles in the Mediterranean Sea. The author
then provides an overview of the legal framework for the protection of
marine turtles in the region and of the Mediterranean fishing fleet. The
report then outlines the various interactions with fisheries in the
Mediterranean and the possible conservation measures and strategies for
marine turtles in the Mediterranean. The author concludes with a series
of proposed priority actions to address the intentional and
unintentional killings of marine turtles as well as general measures for
their conservation. The
report.
GLOBAL
GROUNDWATER MAP
(UNESCO, 2008)
This UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) map
of shared aquifers is the first-ever global inventory of this
resource. The map shows the delineations of aquifers that are shared by
at least two countries and provides information about the quality of
their water and rate of replenishment. So far, the inventory comprises
273 shared aquifers: 68 are on the American continent; 38 in Africa; 65
in Eastern Europe; 90 in Western Europe; and 12 in Asia. The
map.
ESTABLISHING MARINE PROTECTED AREA NETWORKS - MAKING IT HAPPEN
(IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, 2008)
This guide captures the emerging experience on building marine protected
area (MPA) networks and was published with the support of the US
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The Nature
Conservancy. It aims to help better understand the role of MPAs and MPA
networks at local and regional scales to achieve marine conservation. It
utilizes current scientific knowledge, institutional experience and
global case studies to outline the latest information pertaining to
building resilient and functional MPA networks. The Guide also
highlights global commitments for marine conservation and shows how to
move from individual MPA sites to an effective system of national and
regional MPA networks. The
guide.
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF
OCEAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES
(DOALOS, 2008)
This UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS)
interdisciplinary manual focuses on the development and implementation
of an ecosystem approach to the management of human activities and their
impacts on the marine environment within a national context, while
meeting regional and international obligations. The manual will form a
basis for the delivery of a training workshop, organized by DOALOS in
the context of the Train-Sea-Coast Programme, and in collaboration with
the UN Environment Programme and other partners, to be held in Mombasa,
Kenya, from 27 October to 1 November 2008. The objective of the workshop
is to provide government officials and managers with the necessary
knowledge and skills to develop and implement an ecosystem approach to
the management of ocean-related activities. The
manual.
AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE TO AND MEASURES THAT MAY BE TAKEN BY DEVELOPING
STATES
(DOALOS, 2008; Document A/63/342)
This study was prepared by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law
of the Sea (DOALOS) and focuses on the least developed States and Small
Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as coastal African States, to
help them realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development
of marine resources and uses of the oceans within the limits of national
jurisdiction. The
study.
SUNKEN BILLIONS: THE ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION FOR
FISHERIES REFORM
(World Bank –FAO; 2008)
This joint World Bank-UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) report finds that economic losses in
marine fisheries resulting from poor management, inefficiencies and
overfishing add up to US$50 billion per year. The study also argues that
well-managed marine fisheries could turn most of these losses into
sustainable economic benefits for millions of fishers and coastal
communities. The two agencies recommend the following measures:
strengthening fishing rights to provide fishers and fishing communities
with incentives to fish in an economically efficient and socially
responsible manner; phasing out subsidies that enhance redundant fishing
capacity; and increasing transparency in allocation of fish resources
and public accountability for fisheries management and health of fish
stocks, to help eco-labeling initiatives to certify sustainable
fisheries. The
study.
INTERACTIVE AQUASTAT MAPS
(FAO,
2008)
AQUASTAT is the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization's (FAO) global information system on water and
agriculture developed by the Land and Water Division. It collects,
analyzes and disseminates data and information by country and by region.
It aims to provide users interested in global, regional and national
analyses with comprehensive information related to water resources and
agricultural water management across the world, with emphasis on
countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The FAO has
released interactive maps as part of the AQUASTAT website,
with population and water
indicators.
AQUASTAT website.
TEACHER'S MANUAL:
INTERNATIONAL
WATERCOURSES/RIVER BASINS INCLUDING LAW, NEGOTIATION, CONFLICT
RESOLUTION AND SIMULATION TRAINING EXERCISES
(FAO, 2008)
This new UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) Water Teachers Manual features exercises and
activities that can help participants to explore their behaviors in the
study of international water law and conflict resolution. The manual
addresses issue like trust, encourages learning, and seeks to contribute
to improved performance and interaction between group members.
The
manual.
GLAAS
2008 PILOT REPORT
(WHO, 2008)
The Global Annual Assessment
of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) is a UN-Water
pilot initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO). UN-Water
GLAAS constitutes a new approach to reporting on progress in the
sanitation and drinking-water sectors that aims to strengthen
evidence-based policy-making towards and beyond the Millennium
Development Goals. The purpose
of the GLAAS pilot report is to present the concept of a possible
global, periodic, comprehensive reporting mechanism to inform
policy-making in the sanitation and drinking-water sectors.
The GLAAS pilot report does not draw conclusions on the sector status,
but it is meant to stimulate discussion on how to improve reporting on
the sanitation and drinking-water sectors. The
report.
REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
(ICES, 20908)
This resource is the report of the third and final workshop of the
Environmentally Sound Fishery Management in Protected Areas project
(EMPAS), which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2-4 June 2008.
Coordinated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
(ICES), the three-year EMPAS project has aimed to develop fisheries
management plans for Natura 2000 sites within the German EEZ of the
North Sea and Baltic Sea. It is also meant to serve as a pilot for
development of similar plans throughout offshore EU waters. The
publication and
EMPAS project website.
PROCEEDINGS FROM THE FIRST
CONFERENCE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MPAS NETWORK
(Port-Cros National Park, 2008)
This resource reviews the proceedings from the First Conference of the
Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network (MedPAN), which met
from 24-27 October 2007, on the Island of Porquerolles, France. The
conference's objective was to promote the development of a
comprehensive, representative and effectively managed network of MPAs
throughout the Mediterranean region. The
proceedings.
ECONOMIC VALUATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT CLOSURES
(Fisheries Centre at the University of British Columbia (Canada),
2008)
This report estimates the cost to fisheries of closing areas, using a
spatial model of fleet operations. Focusing on protected sea lion
habitat in the eastern North Pacific, the report links spatial
variability of fisheries biomass and profitability over time to
environmental variables. It also develops estimates of opportunity costs
of time and area closures to the fishing industry at various scales. The
authors suggest that their findings have direct applications to
evaluating boundary changes to existing Marine Protected Areas and other
spatial management decisions. The
report.
SELFISH
EUROPE
(ActionAid, 2008)
According to this report, subtitled "How the Economic Partnership
Agreements would further contribute to the decline of fish stocks and
exacerbate the food crisis in Senegal," West African seas are being
devastated by legal and illegal overfishing, while local fishing
industries decline. The study focuses on the role played by Europeans in
overexploiting Senegal's marine resources, before dealing with the issue
of the Economic Partnership Agreements. The report finds that
overfishing of West African coastal waters, often by large European
trawlers and sometimes by "fishing pirates" who trawl without any
authorization, has largely depleted local fish stocks. The
report.
TARIFF
HIKES WITH LOW INVESTMENT: THE STORY OF THE URBAN WATER SECTOR IN ZAMBIA
(UNDP International Poverty Centre, June 2008)
This one-pager, written by Hulya Dagdeviren and Degol Hailu, discusses
why Zambia is unlikely to meet the MDG on water. Main bottlenecks
include unaffordable tariffs, low investments in infrastructure, and
failure of privatization schemes. The authors indicate that the
proportion of the population in Zambia with access to safe drinking
water declined from 72% in 1992 to 57% in 2002. The
one pager.
PROGRESS
ON DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(UNICEF and WHO, July 2008)
This
UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and
the UN World Health Organization (WHO) report finds that, despite recent
progress, more than 2.5 billion people lack access to improved
sanitation, while nearly 1.2 billion people defecate without sanitary
facilities, posing a major health threat to their communities.
At
present, 87% of the world's population can access improved water sources
with the figure expected to rise to 90% by 2015. The report also
indicates that rural dwellers without access to improved water sources
outnumber their urban counterparts by four to one. The
report.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER
(IPCC, June 2008)
The sixth in the IPCC Technical Paper series addresses issues of
freshwater and climate change. The paper notes "abundant evidence that
freshwater resources are vulnerable and have the potential to be
strongly impacted by climate change, with wide ranging consequences for
human societies and ecosystems." It also notes projections for increased
flooding and drought, increased water pollution, and the need for
integrated adaptation strategies on both the demand and supply sides.
The paper was developed by an interdisciplinary team of authors from the
three IPCC working groups, and has been subject to expert and government
review, although it has not been considered by the IPCC for its
approval. The
paper.
TRACING
POWER AND INFLUENCE IN NETWORKS: NET-MAP AS A TOOL FOR RESEARCH AND
STRATEGIC NETWORK PLANNING
(IFPRI, 2008)
This International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) report,
authored by Eva Schiffer and Douglas Waale, notes that, believing that
stakeholders should have a say in policies that concern them,
policymakers have begun to promote the development of stakeholder forums
and organizations to address governance issues such as water management.
This paper presents an innovative empirical research
toolNet-Mapdeveloped to better understand multi-stakeholder governance
by gathering in-depth information about governance networks, goals of
actors, and their power and influence. Researchers and implementers
alike can use Net-Map to collect qualitative and quantitative
information in a structured and comparable way. It can be used both as a
research tool and as an instrument for organizational development and
strategic network planning. A case study on the development of a
multi-stakeholder water governance body in northern Ghana illustrates
the application of this research method. The method can be used on many
different levels, from the community, to national or even international
levels. The
report.
WATER AND THE RURAL POOR INTERACTIVE MAPS
(FAO-IFAD, 2008)
These maps are an electronic complement to the
Food and Agriculture Organization-International Fund for Agricultural
Development (FAO-IFAD) joint report
Water and the Rural Poor. Their purpose is to enable users to make comparisons
between various categories of mapped data in order to establish
similarities and patterns in areas involving water and rural
livelihoods. The
maps.
GREEN HARBOURS: HONG KONG AND SHENZHEN - REDUCING
MARINE AND PORT-RELATED EMISSIONS
(Civic Exchange, June 2008)
This report, which was based on consultations with stakeholders from
government and the private sector, highlights the fact that many private
sector port operators and ship-owners have already taken voluntary
measures to improve environmental performance, and are willing to do
more. The report identifies the need for the government of China to
create a level playing field for all, so that slow implementers do not
reap competitive advantage from non-action. The report also outlines
case studies of best practice from European and US ports and proposes a
framework for the Governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to take the lead
in setting strategies for emissions reductions. The
report.
GLOBAL
CORRUPTION REPORT 2008: CORRUPTION IN THE WATER SECTOR
(Transparency International, 2008)
This report demonstrates that the onset of climate change and the
increasing stress on water supply around the world make the fight
against corruption in water more urgent than ever. It also shows that
the corruption challenge needs to be recognized in the many global
policy initiatives for environmental sustainability, development and
security that relate to water. A number of encouraging initiatives are
described, showing success in tackling water corruption. The
report.
REAL AND PRESENT DANGER:
FLAG STATE FAILURE AND MARITIME SECURITY AND SAFETY
(WWF and International Transport Workers Federation, June 2008)
This study, authored by Matthew Gianni, found that
as flags of convenience countries seldom exercise adequate
control over the operation of ships registered to fly their flags, their
ships also dominate records on sub-standard shipping, poor safety,
maltreatment of crew and pollution of the marine environment. The report
cites the number of fishing vessels registered to States without fishing
authorizations and the extent to which these vessels have been mentioned
in connection with illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
WWF calls for the establishment of a UN Committee to negotiate a new
implementing agreement to the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that sets out
enforceable measures to ensure flag states fulfill their
responsibilities under UNCLOS and prevents States from operating vessel
registers in breach of regulations and international agreements. The
study.
ASSESSING
MANAGEMENT REGIMES IN TRANSBOUNDARY RIVER BASINS: DO THEY SUPPORT
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT?
(Ecology and Society, 2008)
This paper presents an overview of regime features that support adaptive
management, focused on transboundary river basin management. It
inventories the features that have been claimed to be central to
effective transboundary river basin management and refines them using
the adaptive management literature. It then collates these features into
a framework describing actor networks, policy processes, information
management, and legal and financial aspects. Subsequently, this
framework is applied to the Orange and Rhine basins. The paper concludes
that the framework provides a consistent and comprehensive perspective
on transboundary river basin management regimes, and can be used for
assessing their capacity to support adaptive management. The
paper.
TOWARDS A NEW GOVERNANCE OF HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY
(IDDRI, 2008)
This report of the seminar entitled the seminar "Towards a New
Governance of High Seas Biodiversity," which took place from 20-21 March
2008, in Monaco, and addressed the management of marine biodiversity in
areas beyond national jurisdiction. The seminar was organized by the
Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI)
and convened experts from international organizations, national
governments, NGOs and research centers. The
report.
US COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MPA COMPLIANCE AND
ENFORCEMENT
(US Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee, May 2008)
This set of management principles for enhancing compliance and
enforcement in marine protected areas (MPAs) was adopted by the US MPA
Federal Advisory Committee during its meeting in Silver Spring,
Maryland, US, from 22-24 April 2008. The
recommendations.
LEASING AND OWNERSHIP WITHIN OCEAN AND COASTAL
WATERS A CONSERVATION PRACTITIONER'S TOOLKIT
(The Nature Conservancy and
partners, 2008)
This online toolkit describes how land and resources in ocean and
coastal waters can be leased or bought for conservation purposes. It
describes the policy basis and rationale for such conservation efforts,
and walks practitioners through the processes of acquiring
marine-related resources and implementing private management. The
toolkit provides 24 case studies, eight country assessments, and 24 US
state assessments, as well as other resources. The
toolkit.
ECOSYSTEM-BASED ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF
INCREASING TRAWL SELECTIVITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
(WWF Mediterranean, April 2008)
This
report encourages the switch from the unselective
diamond-mesh nets currently used by bottom-trawlers in the Mediterranean
to more selective square-mesh nets, sooner than the obligatory deadline
of 2010 stipulated under European legislation (EU Council Regulation
1967/2006). The WWF report is based on new ecosystem-based management
analyses that use computer models to assess the effects of square-mesh
nets on marine ecosystems and fishing fleets. Results show that
square-mesh nets will make trawling more selective – meaning the capture
of less immature juveniles and non-target species, and reducing discards
– and thus allowing the Mediterranean's fragile marine life to begin
recovery. The
report.
REGIONAL
EUROMEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (SMAP)
(SMAP, 2008)
The SMAP programme constitutes the environmental component of the
Euro
Mediterranean Partnership. It builds on the Barcelona
Declaration. It has recently launched a weekly Press Review service,
which check press sites across the Mediterranean region for environment
news. The
resource.
GLOBAL EXTENT OF ILLEGAL FISHING
(MRAG/FERR, April 2008)
This report, published by the Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG)
and the Fisheries Ecosystems Restoration Research (FERR), Fisheries
Centre, University of British Columbia, represents the first detailed
quantitative analysis of the problem of illegal fishing on a global
scale and reveals that global annual losses from illegal fishing could
be double earlier estimates, at $10 to $23 billion annually. The report
follows a similar recent study by the Institute for Security Studies,
which stated that the scale of illegal fishing now threatens around ten
million African people who depend on fishing for an income. The
report.
EXPORTING SEAFOOD TO THE EU
(International Trade Centre, April 2008)
This bulletin provides a guideline on how to export seafood products to
the EU. It describes, inter alia, the required EU system of
official assurances, the main regulations and requirements for the
Competent Authorities and operators along the value chain. The
bulletin.
WETLAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING – A
GUIDE FOR SITE MANAGERS
(IUCN, WWF, Wetlands International, Ramsar, 2008)
This guide is intended to provide a summary of the steps to develop
wetland management planning processes and deals with several pragmatic
aspects: building trust, participation and capacity; assessing wetlands
values; and setting achievable objectives. The
guide.
SQUARING THE DIAMOND MESH – HOW
SQUARE-MESH TRAWL NETS WILL BENEFIT FISH AND FISHERMEN IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN
(WWF, April 2008)
This WWF report encourages the switch from the unselective diamond-mesh
nets currently used by bottom-trawlers in the Mediterranean to more
selective square-mesh nets, sooner than the obligatory deadline of 2010.
The WWF report is based on new ecosystem-based management analyses that
use computer models to assess the effects of square-mesh nets on marine
ecosystems and fishing fleets. WWF also advocates that further
management measures, like one-day-a-week closures and a reduction in
fishing capacity, are needed in parallel to the mesh change for a
meaningful recovery of severely depleted stocks. The
report.
TYPOLOGY OF CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS AND RESPONSE OPTIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN
SELECTED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(FAO. 2008)
This interactive map aims to help devise decision-support systems that
include monitoring and forecasting and observations of ongoing
socio-economic drivers. Such systems can indicate to decision makers the
envelope of potential planned action, from timing of new infrastructure
to governance and capacity building in the water management sector. The
map.
CLIMATE CHANGE-INDUCED WATER
STRESS AND ITS IMPACTS ON NATURAL AND MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS
(Ecologic, IEEP and SYKE, 2008)
This study explores which ecosystems will be most impacted and analyzes
how the effects of climate change act as causes of additional emissions,
thereby reinforcing global warming in a positive feedback loop. The
paper was prepared for the European Parliament by Ecologic jointly with
the Institute for European Environmental Policies (IEEP) and the Finnish
Environment Institute (SYKE). The study also highlights existing policy
and management approaches, identifies gaps in the regime and concludes
with sector-specific policy recommendations. The
study.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
IN PROGRESS TOWARDS CANADA'S COMMITMENT TO A NATIONAL NETWORK OF MPAs BY
2012
(Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, 2008)
This report presents the results of the assessment by the Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) of the challenges delaying Canada's
progress towards its international commitment to establish a network of
MPAs by 2012. It also identifies opportunities for reaching the 2012
goal. An accompanying document, entitled "Myth and Madness: Conquering
the tragedy of marine protection in Canada," presents a summary of key
findings and recommendations from the Report. The
report. The
accompanying document.
SAVING WATER: FROM FIELD TO FORK
– CURBING LOSSES IN THE FOOD CHAIN
(Stockholm International Water Institute, May 2008)
This report stresses the link between food production and water use, and
indicates that the magnitude of current food losses presents challenges
and opportunities. It outlines a number of steps to reduce by half, by
2025, the amount of food that is wasted after it is grown, such as
supporting farmers with improved harvesting and water storage
facilities; benchmarking standards for businesses to minimize waste in
processing and transport; and educating consumers on the impacts of
over-eating and food waste on water resources. The
report.
Water and the Rural Poor
(FAO and IFAD,
2008)
This publication, by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), addresses the
linkage between water and rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks
to help decision-makers make informed choices on where and how to
invest, and emphasizes matching investments in infrastructure with
interventions in institutions, knowledge and finance. The
report.
FRESHWATER ECOREGIONS OF THE WORLD
(WWF and Nature Conservancy, May 2008)
Launched in May 2008, this collaborative project displays biodiversity
in all the world's freshwater ecosystems. Including a map and a
database, the project was designed: to be a
tool for
underpinning global and regional conservation planning efforts,
particularly to identify outstanding and imperiled freshwater systems;
for serving as a logical framework for large-scale conservation
strategies; and for providing a global-scale knowledge base for
increasing freshwater biogeographic literacy.
Freshwater Ecoregions of the World website.
STATUS REPORT ON IWRM AND
WATER EFFICIENCY PLANS FOR CSD16
(UN-Water, 2008)
This new report aims to illustrate progress made on meeting the target
to "Develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency
plans by 2005, with support to developing countries, through actions at
all levels" which was agreed as part of the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation during the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable
Development. The new report is based on a survey covering 104 States and
recognizes that countries use different terminology for their water
resources management plans. It provides an objective and comprehensive
overview of the current status of water resources management and
includes information gathered by the more informal surveys conducted
earlier by the Global Water Partnership and the African Development
Bank. The
report.
GEF Knowledgebase for Lessons Learned and Best
Practices in the Management of Coral Reefs
(GEF, 2008)
This website aims to formalize the experiences, outcomes and lessons
learned from previous Global Environment Fund (GEF) projects, as well as
major non-GEF initiatives involving coral reefs and associated
ecosystems. Its objective is to identify, analyze, and translate lessons
into good practices and information resources, and then disseminate this
information globally for use in future project design and development.
The resulting "Toolkit" will be updated on a quarterly basis to provide
the latest information available on coral reef management issues. Also
available online are an e-mail listserve and a weblog space for coral
reef managers to discuss their ideas and experiences. The
website. The
listserve.
Minutes and Decisions of the
first general
meeting of the Mexico-US ICRI Secretariat
The first general meeting of the Mexico-US International Coral Reef
Initiative (ICRI) Secretariat and the official international launch of
the International Year of the Reef was held from the 22- 25 January,
2008 in Washington DC, US. The decisions adopted by the meeting include:
the adoption of the Action Plan for the period 2007-2009;
the request to the ICRI Secretariat to take forward the planning of the
ICRI Regional Workshop on Sustainable Tourism in the Caribbean; and the
request to ICRI Secretariat to consider the question of the relationship
of ICRI to its Operational Networks, making recommendations to the next
ICRI General Meeting in July 2008.
The
meeting website. The
Action Plan and meeting minutes.
StatuS of Caribbean Coral reefS After bleaChing And hurriCaneS in
2005
(Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and partners, 2008) This report
documents the devastating impact that the hottest summer and the most
active hurricane season ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere had on
the coral reefs of the Caribbean and Atlantic Basins. The report
predicts that coral bleaching will be occur more frequently by 2030 and
is likely to be an annual event by 2100, and acknowledges that
atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations must be maintained below
double the pre-industrial levels if coral reefs are going to survive in
something resembling their current form. The
report.
Climate change-induced water stress and its
impacts on natural and managed ecosystems
(European Parliament, 2008)
This study explores which ecosystems will be most impacted and analyses
how the effects of climate change act as causes of additional emissions,
thereby reinforcing global warming in a positive feedback loop. The
paper was prepared for the European Parliament by Ecologic jointly with
the Institute for European Environmental Policies and the Finnish
Environment Institute. The
study.
Gulf of Maine Ecosystem-Based
Management
Toolkit Survey
Report
(Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, March 2008)
The Gulf of Maine Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Toolkit Survey was
conducted in 2007 to help determine the types of tools and information
needed to put EBM into practice. The survey included 55 people involved
in ocean and coastal management in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and US and Canadian federal waters. The
report provides region-specific information on management issues to
which practitioners seek to apply EBM, critical obstacles to
implementing EBM, and tools and information needed to put EBM into
practice. The
survey report.
Summary
Report for the Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management Course Needs
Assessment
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services
Center, 2008)
This assessment looks at results from about 250 respondents to a survey
carried out by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Coastal Services Center regarding their Ecosystem-Based Management
knowledge, attitudes, use, obstacles, and data, tools, and training
needs. The
survey assessment report.
Economic Valuation of Large Marine
Ecosystems
(IUCN, 2008)
This report offers proceedings from an IUCN workshop that took place in
Cape Town, South Africa, from 29-30 July 2007, on the economic valuation
of large marine ecosystems (LMEs). The workshop provided an overview of
economic valuation as a tool in LME management, and profiled several
cases of LME valuations worldwide, including for the Benguela Current,
Caspian Sea, and Yellow Sea. The
report.
ILLEGAL FISHING IN ARCTIC WATERS
(WWF, April 2008)
This report shows that pervasive and profitable illegal fishing for
Atlantic cod and Alaska pollock in the Arctic threatens the health of
these globally important fisheries and their resilience to climate
change. The authors advocate that stopping IUU fishing in the Arctic is
an urgent matter for policymakers and outline a series of
recommendations as preconditions for saving the arctic marine ecosystems
for future generations. The
report.
Adaptation to Climate Change in Marine Turtles
(WWF, 2008)
This website aims to provide a platform for the public, educators,
conservationists and scientists to share information and projects to try
to gain a better picture of how climate change will affect turtles and
what might be done to combat the impacts. By 2010, the project hopes to
understand the current state of knowledge about the impacts of climate
change on marine turtles and their habitats with a global network of
marine turtle and climate specialists, and make management
recommendations for their conservation. The website
is an initiative of WWF through a grant from the MacArthur Foundation
and support from Hewlett Packard. It hosts free downloads, information
and scientific research. The
website.
Mechanisms for the Protection of Water Resources in Arab Countries
(UNEP/GPA, 2008)
As one a contribution to the International Year of Sanitation, the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-Based Activities (GPA)
Coordination Office, jointly with the Arab Water Council, the Egyptian
Ministry for Water Resources and Irrigation, and Delft-Environment,
coordinated the delivery of a regional training course on wastewater
management for decision-makers from Arab Countries, held 3 -5 January
2008 in Cairo, Egypt. This is the final report of this course, which was
subtitled "Improving Municipal Wastewater Management." The
report.
EMPOWERS Guidelines, Methods and
Tools
(Euro-Med Participatory Water
Resources Scenarios (EMPOWERS), 2007)
Authored by Patrick Moriarty,
Charles Batchelor, Firas T. Abd-Alhadi, Peter Laban, and Hazem Fahmy,
this book contains guidelines, methods and tools for use in processes of
planning and dialogue within and between local and intermediate levels.
It describes a practical and logical framework of activities based on
the involvement of those who use and manage water. The guidelines
advocate a process of collaboration through dialogue, to bring about a
change in the way water sector professionals and water users work with
each other. The
book.
Background to Guidelines and Key
Concepts
(Euro-Med Participatory Water
Resources Scenarios (EMPOWERS), 2007)
Authored by Patrick Moriarty,
Charles Batchelor, Peter Laban, and Hazem Fahmy, this booklet provides
an explanation of the conceptual background to the EMPOWERS approach to
water governance and is a companion volume to EMPOWERS Approach to
Water Governance: Guidelines, Methods and Tools. This background
booklet looks at the nature of water governance and its role in
intergrated water resource management. It examines how stakeholder
dialogue can improve the nature of multi-stakeholder platforms and
outlines how the role of the expert is changing from someone who
provides solutions to someone who helps stakeholders to address their
problems and to develop their own solutions. The
booklet.
How to Climate
Proof Development: Adapting to the Inevitable - Challenges in a Water
Stressed World
(Swedish Water House, 2008)
On 5 February 2008, the Swedish Water House, the UN Development
Programme and the Stockholm International Water Institute convened a
seminar titled "Adapting to the Inevitable – Challenges in a Water
Stressed World: How to Climate Proof Development." The seminar used the
recommendations from the 2007/2008 Human Development Report as an entry
point to discuss water-related issues that remain central to both
climate change adaptation and development.
Seminar report.
Wings Over
Wetlands Project Website
The Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) Project is a partnership of organizations
involved in the conservation of waterbirds and their wetland habitats.
It is a collaborative effort between Wetlands International and BirdLife
International, with support from the United Nations Office for Project
Services and UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Environment Facility
(GEF). WOW supports the implementation of both the African-Eurasian
Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands, and is sponsored by the GEF through UNEP, the German Federal
Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the
AEWA Secretariat, and several other donors. The
project's website.
UNASYLVA –
FORESTS AND WATER
(UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 2007)
The latest issue of this publication of the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization focuses on the theme of forests and water. Articles
address, inter alia: water pollution filtration by forest
ecosystems; forests and water in arid lands; and policies for
integrating forests, water and people. The
publication.
MPAs local and
TRADITIONAL fishing community perspectives
(International Collective in Support of Fishworkers, 2008)
This website provides perspectives on the planning tool from local and
traditional fishing communities. It includes an overview of MPAs, an
outline of international legal instruments protecting the resource
rights of local communities, and summaries of case studies from five
countries (Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand). The
website.
Race for the
last bluefin
(WWF, March 2008)
This report contains an analysis of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fleet
and shows it conservatively has twice the fishing capacity of current
quotas and more than three and a half times the catch levels recommended
by scientists to avoid stock collapse. WWF reports that the size of the
fleet would require illegal fishing to cover its costs, and indicates
that the countries with the highest over-capacity are Turkey, Italy,
Croatia, Libya, France and Spain. The
report.
Coping with water scarcity in
developing countries: What role for agricultural biotechnologies?
(FAO, 2007)
This document provides a summary of the moderated e-mail conference,
hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 5 March to 1 April 2007, on
the role agricultural biotechnologies can play in helping developing
countries cope with water scarcity. The summary outlines the main issues
discussed during this e-mail conference, namely the application of
biotechnologies to develop crops with improved drought resistance or
water-use efficiency; the use of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi in
water-limited conditions; and the use of biotechnology in wastewater
treatment. The
summary.
WATER
ALTERNATIVES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL ON WATER, POLITICS AND
DEVELOPMENT
(Water Alternatives, 2008)
This online, free journal will include articles addressing
water resources development, management and
use, and their relations with society and the environment. It will be
published three times a year, with the first issue to be released 1 June
2008. The
journal.
IN DEAD WATER: MERGING OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH
POLLUTION,
OVER-HARVEST, AND INFESTATIONS IN THE WORLD'S FISHING GROUNDS
(UNEP,
February 2008)
This report,
which was compiled by researchers including many from various UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) offices, suggests that at least
three-quarters of the world's key fishing grounds may become seriously
impacted by changes in circulation as a result of the ocean's natural
pumping systems fading and falling. The report draws on a range of new
and emerging science, including the latest assessment report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Meteorological
Organization. The
report.
Global fishery resources of tuna and tuna-like
species
(FAO
Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 483, 2008)
This
Technical Paper, authored by Jacek Majkowski, reviews the state of
fishery resources of tuna and tuna-like species on a global scale,
concentrating on the most important commercially. The paper also
outlines the potential improvements in knowledge of the status of
stocks, and the outlook for this status and catches in the future. The
paper.
Global costs of attaining the Millennium Development Goal for water
supply and sanitation
(WHO,
January 2008)
This study,
carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank,
estimates the cost of achieving the WHO's water and sanitation target by
2014. From 2005 to 2014, an estimated US$ 70 billion (EUR 48.2 billion)
needs to be spent annually on water and sanitation, of which US$ 18
billion (EUR 12.4 billion) would increase coverage to the currently
unserved population and US$ 52 billion (EUR 35.8 billion) would maintain
existing coverage. The study recommends that the preferences of service
users should be considered in the planning of water and sanitation
services. The
study.
SCARCE WATER, PLENTY OF CONFLICTS? LOCAL WATER
CONFLICTS AND THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
(Institute
for Development and Peace, March 2008)
This Policy
Brief, authored by Annabelle Houdret, analyses the causes of intrastate
water conflicts and introduces the main challenges for international
development cooperation. By typologizing water conflicts and showing
corresponding policy options, the paper provides an overview of possible
strategies to cope with water conflicts. Finally, the Policy Brief
offers recommendations on how to better identify, resolve and prevent
conflicts in the water sector. The
policy brief.
World Water Day website
(UN-WATER,
2008)
UN-WATER
officially launched its website for World Water Day 2008, which will be
celebrated by the UN on 20 March. In 2008, the day will highlight issues
on sanitation in accordance with the International Year of Sanitation
2008. The Website features factsheets, videos and news on the upcoming
World Water Day celebrations in Geneva. The
website.
A GLOBAL MAP OF
HUMAN IMPACTS TO MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
(National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 2008)
The goal of the research presented in this map is to estimate and
visualize, for the first time, the global impact humans are having on
the ocean's ecosystems. The analysis shows that over 40% of the world's
oceans are heavily affected by human activities and few, if any, areas
remain untouched. The
map.
WWF BY-CATCH
INITIATIVE
(WWF, 2008)
This online resource provides up-to-date information on by-catch (the
capture of non-target creatures in fishing gear) and how to reduce it.
This website is aimed at fishers and consumers and identifies by-catch
problems and proven or potential solutions. The
website
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A SECTOR ASSESSMENT
(ADB, 2007)
India's vast hydropower potential can contribute to the country's energy
security in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible
manner. Hydropower projects also contribute to irrigation, flood control
and river navigation, among others. This report provides an assessment
of the hydropower development potential in India and highlights how
water can provide power for all by 2012. The
report.
HOSTAGE
TO POLITICS: THE IMPACT OF SANCTIONS AND THE BLOCKADE ON THE HUMAN RIGHT
TO WATER AND SANITATION IN GAZA
(Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, January 2008)
This report shows that sanctions imposed on the Gaza administration by
both Israel and western States and Israel's closure of Gaza's border
crossings has left more than 250,000 people without adequate water
supply, and the restrictions on fuel may leave 1.5 million people
without water and sewage services. The report includes a series of
recommendations to Israel, the Gaza administration, the Government of
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, donor States, the Arab
League, the UN and to UN member States. The
report.
MANUAL ON THE RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION
(Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, 2007)
This Manual, which has been produced by the Centre on Housing Rights and
Evictions, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Science and
Human Rights Programme and the UN Human Settlements Programme
(UN-HABITAT), offers a tool to assist policy makers and practitioners as
they develop strategies for implementing the human right to water and
sanitation. The
manual.
WATER AND
ENERGY FUTURES IN AN URBANISED ASIA: SUSTAINING THE TIGER
(Center for Strategic and International Studies,
2007)
This paper addresses the problems of water shortages in Asia, noting
that, in spite of Asia's bleak environment picture, there are
opportunities for actualizing sustainable development in the region,
especially in the fields of technology and governance. The paper also
proposes new approaches to environmental governance that can be
implemented in China and neighboring developing countries. The
paper.
UPDATE
AFTER FIVE YEARS OF MARINE TURTLE MONITORING IN GAMBA, GABON
(Association for the Protection and Understanding of the Environment,
2007)
This technical report presents the result of five years of monitoring of
sea turtles in Gabon by the NGO Ibonga-ACPE in collaboration with WWF
and his partners. After presenting the geographical context, the report
describes the different conservation activities, provides the final
results and analyzes them to end with suggestions for future activities.
The
report.
ACCESS TO
WATER - THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SMALL MUNICIPALITIES
(Energy
Research Centre, University of Cape Town, 2007)
This case study emphasizes that, despite uncertainties around
quantitative assessments of climate change impact and water resource
management, climate change will have an effect on water resources.
Focusing on the economic consequences of water resource scarcity on poor
and small municipalities, the study aims to assist municipal planners to
develop appropriate strategies to ensure the sustainability and
affordability of long term water supplies. The
case study.
ASIAN WATER
DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK 2007
(Asian Development Bank, 2007)
This report on future Asian water development is cautiously optimistic,
stating that Asian countries should not experience a water crisis
in the future. It argues that the region has enough knowledge,
technology, and expertise to solve existing and future water problems.
However, the report states that if a crisis materializes, poor water
management more than water scarcity would likely be the cause. The
report.
LIFE AND
EUROPE'S WETLANDS - RESTORING A VITAL ECOSYSTEM
(European Communities, 2007)
This brochure illustrates the LIFE programme's contributions to a large
number of projects supporting the conservation of wetland ecosystems
within the Natura 2000 network. LIFE ("The Financial Instrument for the
Environment") is a programme launched by the European Commission
and coordinated by the Environment Directorate-General. The 68-page
brochure presents a selection of wetland projects that have received
LIFE co-funding since 1992. The majority of case studies focus on the
restoration and management of wetlands, while a number also target key
wetland species. The
brochure.
WATER
IMPLICATIONS OF BIOFUELS PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES
(National Research Council, 2007)
This study was written by a US National Research Council
committee that was convened to look at how
shifts in US agriculture to include more energy crops, and potentially
more crops overall, could affect water management and long-term
sustainability of biofuel production. Among its findings, the committee
found that agricultural shifts to growing corn and expanding biofuel
crops into regions with little agriculture, especially dry areas, could
change current irrigation practices and greatly increase pressure on
water resources in many parts of the US. The
study.
ANNUAL EC REPORT ON MEMBER
STATES' EFFORTS DURING 2006 TO ACHIEVE A SUSTAINABLE BALANCE BETWEEN
FISHING CAPACITY AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
(European Commission, December 2007)
This report is based on the most recent annual reports provided by
member States on their fleets, together with data from the EU Fishing
Fleet register. The Commission concludes that: the quality of the
reports from member States is not satisfactory and does not allow it to
draw clear conclusions regarding the overcapacity of the EU fleet;
nominal capacity continued to decline in 2006 at a slow but steady rate;
and this reduction is too little, given the big reductions in fishing
effort required for the sustainable management of several key commercial
fish stocks. The
report.
BENCHMARKING STUDY ON
INTERNATIONAL AQUACULTURE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMMES
(WWF Switzerland and Norway, 2007)
In this study, WWF has identified four main areas of concern that must
be addressed by any certification programme aiming to influence the
long-term sustainability of the aquaculture industry: environmental
issues; social issues; animal welfare and health; and standard
development and verification procedures. The
study.
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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