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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES

WATER, OCEANS AND WETLANDS

This page was updated on: 12/10/10

 

 

 

Latest New Publications and Resources

Global Ocean Protection: Present status and future possibilities

New Africa Water Atlas

Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification

 

Global Ocean Protection: Present status and future possibilities

(IUCN, the Nature Conservancy, UNEP-WCMC, UNU-IAS, and Agence des aires marines protégées, November 2010)

Edited by Caitlyn Toropova, Imèn Meliane, Dan Laffoley, Elizabeth Matthews and Mark Spalding, this report provides evidence-based recommendations on improving and accelerating actions on delivering ocean protection and management through marine protected areas (MPAs). Facilitating the sharing of experiences and lessons learned, the report aims to assist in finding new and better solutions to address the various threats to marine biological diversity and productivity. The report includes chapters on: benefits and challenges of MPAs strategies; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)'s 10% target on MPAs; meeting global goals at regional scales and in the high seas; climate change; networks and broader spatial management; and conclusions and recommendations. [The publication]

 

New Africa Water Atlas

(UNEP, 2010)

The Atlas, which was compiled at the request of the African Ministers' Council on Water, was prepared by UNEP in collaboration with the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the US Department of State and the US Geological Survey. The publication features over 224 maps and 104 satellite images, as well as 500 graphics and hundreds of photos from 53 countries, showing the challenges facing Africa's water supplies. [The Atlas]

 

Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification

(UNEP and GEF, 2010)

The report details how rising CO2 emissions are altering the chemical balance of our oceans and outlines the wide-ranging consequences of this emerging issue on marine food chains and ecosystems as well as human activities such as tourism and fishing. It also analyzes the effects of ocean acidification on global food security. [The report]

 

Guide to Responsible Business Engagement with Water Policy 

(UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, November 2010)

This Guide provides strategies for companies to turn risk into opportunity by advocating for water management approaches that meet the needs of business, communities and nature. It outlines five principles for responsible business engagement in water policy, stressing the importance of: a genuine interest in efficient, equitable and ecologically sustainable water management; a clear division of public and private sector roles; inclusiveness and meaningful partnership; connections between water and other policy arenas; and transparency and accountability. [The guide]

 

Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries on the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture

(FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department; November 2010)

These technical guidelines on the ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EEA) were developed to support mainly Articles 9 and 10 of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF). Their main objective is to assist countries, institutions and policy makers in the development and implementation of a strategy to ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture sector, integration of aquaculture with other sectors and its contribution to social and economic development. [The guidelines]

 

Ramsar's Liquid Assets

(Ramsar, November 2010)

This booklet was released in anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, and will be officially launched on 2 February 2011. This 32-page commemorative booklet is a brief reflection on, and celebration of, the evolution and achievements of the Convention since 1971. [The booklet]

 

Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Outlook: Global Synthesis

(UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas, October 2010)

This publication provides the first systematic overview at a sub-global scale of the state of knowledge of marine biodiversity, the pressures it currently faces and the management frameworks in place for addressing those pressures.http://iisdrs.org/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif It highlights that marine biodiversity faces increasing pressures in all regions from land sourced pollution, ship sourced pollution and impacts of fishing. The report further shows that these pressures are serious and generally increasing despite measures in place to address them, and that they are amplified by predicted impacts of ocean warming, acidification and habitat change arising from climate and atmospheric change. The report warns that, without significant management intervention, marine biological diversity is likely to deteriorate substantially in the next 20 years, with growing consequences for resources and physical security of coastal nations. [Report website]

 

Blue Harvest: Inland Fisheries as an Ecosystem Service

(UNEP and World Fish Centre, October 2010)

This report aims to help inform future approaches to conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems by reviewing the importance of inland fisheries as an ecosystem service, the pressures upon them, and management approaches to sustain them. The report identifies the various drivers of change in inland fisheries, including climate change. In particular, it spotlights changes in runoff patterns from increases in temperature and changes in rain fall, leading to changes in flow regimes, as well as in breeding and feeding habitats.

 

The report recommends five investments: improving understanding of inland fisheries' vulnerability to environmental change; developing viable options for addressing the threats posed to inland fisheries by environmental change; building adaptive capacity among key stakeholder groups to increase resilience of inland fisheries at local, national and regional scales; improving governance of inland fisheries and their ecosystems; and developing capacity to sustain and enhance social benefits from these resources. [The report]

 

Measuring Irrigation Subsidies: Policy Recommendations from a Spanish Case Study

(IISD's Global Subsidies Initiative, September 2010)

This policy brief draws out the lessons learned from a country study estimating irrigation subsides in Spain. The country study adopted the GSI method for quantifying irrigation subsidies which encompasses the main components of the Net Cost to the Supplier approach. The study estimated subsidies to irrigated agriculture in Spain are between €906 million per year and €1.120 million per year based on conservative assumptions. The policy brief discusses a number of important issues relating to irrigation subsidies and provides recommendations on how to overcome some of the more general methodological challenges analysts face when quantifying irrigation subsidies, such as setting an appropriate price for water use, and economic principles for valuing investments of capital for irrigation infrastructure. While providing a number of general recommendation to policy makers on the need to  improve the transparency of information available on irrigation subsidies, it also provides a number of specific recommendations for policy makers in Spain, to help improve the level of information made publicly available on subsidy programs. [The policy brief]

 

GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs

(UNESCO/International Hydropower Association (IHA), September 2010)

The Guidelines are a key outcome of the UNESCO/IHA GHG Status of Freshwater reservoirs Research Project. They provide individuals responsible in this area with a comprehensive tool to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) status of freshwater reservoirs, including definitive guidance on measurement and qualification of emissions resulting from the formation of reservoirs. [The guidelines]

 

National Aquaculture Sector Overview Map Collection 

(FAO, September 2010)

This new website shows the locations of aquaculture sites and their characteristics. It uses "Google Maps and Google Earth" technology to assist the member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to inventory and monitor aquaculture. [The NASO map collection]

 

The Wealth of Waste: The Economics of Wastewater Use in Agriculture

(FAO, 2010)

This Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) water report presents an economic framework for the assessment of the use of reclaimed water in agriculture, as part of a comprehensive planning process in water resource allocation strategies to provide for a more economically efficient and sustainable water utilization. It finds that use of reclaimed wastewater in agriculture has been reported in around 50 countries on what amounts to 10% of the world's irrigated land. FAO notes that recycling urban wastewater and using it to grow food crops can help mitigate water scarcity problems and reduce water pollution, but underlines that the practice is not being as widely implemented as it should. [The water report]

 

Impact of Rising Feed Ingredient Prices on Aquafeeds and Aquaculture Production

(FAO, August 2010)

This Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper investigates and evaluates the underlying reasons for the recent dramatic rise in prices of many of the commodities used in aquafeed production and its consequences for the aquafeed industry. The document outlines initiatives to find substitutes for fishmeal and fish oil so as to position the industry to meet the challenge of securing aquafeed for sustaining aquaculture. It also provides a brief overview of coping strategies to strengthen national capacity to address the issue of aquafeed supply and to mitigate rising prices of aquafeed ingredients, including policies, research and private sector and farmers' initiatives. [The technical paper]

 

Water Storage in an Era of Climate Change: Addressing the Challenge of Increasing Rainfall Variability

(International Water Management Institute, September 2010)

This International Water Management Institute (IWMI) paper addresses the need for systematic planning in water storage and management to cope with increased rainfall variability. It describes rainfall variability and the range of above- and below-ground water storage options. It notes that water storage increases water security, agricultural productivity and adaptive capacity, but cautions that poorly planned storage is a waste of financial resources and may aggravate climate change impacts. It calls for systems that combine complementary storage options and urges consideration of uncertainty in planning. [IWMI paper]

 

The Greening of Water Law: Managing Freshwater Resources for People and the

Environment

(UNEP, September 2010) This UN Environment Programme (UNEP) publication explores the notion and the benefits of greening water law by presenting and assessing a variety of legal, procedural and policy mechanisms, for both national and international arenas, that can help to elevate the status and importance of environmental concerns in relation to other societal interests and harmonize the water needs of both people and the natural environment. It recommends that governments take environmental issues into consideration when drafting laws on the use of water to avert an impending water crisis. [The paper]

 

Deep-Sea Sponge Grounds: Reservoirs of Biodiversity

(UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series no. 32, 2010) This report draws together scientific understanding of deep-water sponge grounds alongside the threats they face and ways in which they can be conserved. It also gives up-to-date case studies of particular deep-water sponge habitats from around the world. Despite their inherent and biotechnological value, deep-water sponge grounds have been damaged by bottom fishing. This report considers the international policy context in which deep-water sponge grounds can be conserved and concludes with a series of expert recommendations for conservation managers and international policy makers. [The report]

 

Water for Sustainable Urban Human Settlements

(WWAP and UN-HABITAT, June 2010)

This joint briefing note by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) highlights critical water challenges related to today's unprecedented urban expansion – from providing access to basic services to ensuring environmental and human security. The note provides urban mayors, leaders and high-level decision makers with concrete policy options to meet these challenges, protect against potential water-related disasters and ensure the development of sustainable urban settlements. [The briefing note]

 

Application of Satellite Remote Sensing to Support Water Resources Management in Africa: Results from the Tiger Initiative

(UNESCO IHP-VII – Technical Documents in Hydrology, No. 85, 2010)

This technical document was drafted by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It presents the results provided by several different groups involved in the TIGER research and pre-operational projects. The TIGER initiative's objective is to assist African countries to overcome problems faced in the collection, analysis and dissemination of water related geo-information by exploiting the advantages of Earth Observation technology. This technical document aims to stimulate researchers worldwide to perform additional in-depth work and analysis on the exploitation of space borne remote sensing technology for water resources in Africa. [The technical document]

 

The Black Sea Box

(Every Drop Matters, June 2010)

This environmental education kit for elementary schools was launched as part of Every Drop Matters, a regional partnership between the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Coca-Cola Eurasia & Africa Group. The kit includes a teachers' book, a Black Sea map, posters on the flora and fauna of the Black Sea, educational cards and an interactive CD. The kit will educate children about the diverse biological life in the Black Sea, as well as the threat of pollution and the endangerment of certain species. The Black Sea Box website.

  

Annual Report 2009 of the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication

(UNW-DPAC)

(UN Office to Support the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015, 2010)

The 2009 annual report of the UN Office to Support the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015, which implements the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), includes a calendar of activities organized during 2009, as well as sections on, inter alia: advocacy and outreach activities; capacity building related to communication; research on communication; and development of partnerships and office capacity. The annual report.

 

Climate Change and Adaptation for Water Resources in Yellow River Basin, China

(UNESCO Office in Beijing, 2010)

This Technical Document in Hydrology is a compilation of research papers on the impact of climate change and adaptation on water resources in the Yellow River Basin under the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Achievement Fund-supported UN China initiative of Climate Change Partnership Framework (CCPF). The technical document.

 

Managing Sea Cucumber Fisheries with an Ecosystem Approach

(FAO, June 2010)

This technical paper of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presents a logical framework to assist fishery managers in choosing an appropriate suite of regulatory measures and management actions for sea cucumber fisheries. The paper then elaborates on the uses, limitations and ways to implement these measures. The paper is based on the recognition that sea cucumbers, which are important marine resources for the livelihoods of many coastal communities and ecosystems as a whole, are being overfished. The technical paper.

Measuring the Contribution of Small-Scale Aquaculture

(FAO, June 2010)

This technical paper of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presents methods and indicators for evaluating the contribution of small-scale aquaculture to sustainable rural development based on an expert workshop. The paper contains the workshop report as well as ten technical papers presented and a detailed account of the processes undertaken in the development of an indicator system to measure the contribution of small-scale aquaculture to sustainable rural development. The technical paper.

 

A Framework for a Wetland Inventory Metadatabase

(Ramsar, June 2010)

This technical report of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands provides a framework for a standard wetland inventory metadatabase. The metadatabase standard was developed for the Ramsar Convention by the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist. The work was undertaken for the Convention's Scientific & Technical Review Panel (STRP) as part of its response to key recommendations concerning the lack of access to existing wetland inventories made by the 1999 Global review of wetland resources and priorities for wetland inventory. The framework has been designed to provide the basis for the development of an on-line web-based wetland inventory metadata system that can serve up accessible information about wetland inventories worldwide. The technical report.

 

ICRIForum WEBSITE

(International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), 2010)

Established in 2000, the ICRIForum was designed to streamline the delivery of information to ICRI Members and the general public regarding both the actions of the International Coral Reef Initiative and global coral reef conservation efforts more generally. ICRIForum has recently been redesigned. It offers a central location for all documents related to the work of the Initiative for the last 15 years. The website.

 

CRITICAL SITE NETWORK TOOL

(Wings Over Wetlands (WOW), June 2010)

This new website provides comprehensive information on 294 waterbird species from 3,020 sites, identifying priority sites and populations, and also highlighting knowledge gaps. It is designed to make information easily available on the most important sites for migratory waterbirds, at the national and international levels, and can help with implementation of international and regional agreements. It is intended to help strengthen the implementation of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The website reveals major gaps in the protection of many critical sites used by migratory waterbirds across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia. The CSN Tool.

 

GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS IN ASIA: A REGIONAL COOPERATIVE PROGRAMME

(GEOHAB report nº6, May 2010)

This report outlines the justification and research priorities for the study of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Asia on the basis of reviews on regional HAB issues. GEOHAB, The Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms Programme, sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is an international programme to foster and promote cooperative research directed toward improving the prediction of harmful algal bloom (HAB) events. The report.

 

SEARCHING FOR POLLUTION IN THE CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

(IAEA Bulletin Vol. 51-2, April 2010)

This publication describes an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-supported project that applies nuclear techniques to research, document pollution and other marine problems, and technically assists States facing threats to their seas and coastal waters. The project, titled "Use of Nuclear Techniques to Address the Management Problems of Coastal Zones in the Caribbean Region," has been supported by the IAEA since 2007. Other project partners include the UN Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility. The bulletin.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF WATER

(UN-Water, June 2010)

This policy brief is addressed to practitioners and policy makers of water resources management and climate change, as well as sectoral decision makers. It aims to draw attention to the critical importance of better water resources management in adapting to climate change, and argues that it should be systematically integrated into national plans and international investment portfolios. The brief describes: climate change impacts on water; water resources management under present climate variability; adaptation measures for water managers; and guiding principles for the required investments and policy shifts. These principles include: mainstreaming adaptation within the broader development context; strengthening governance and improving water management; improving and sharing knowledge and information on climate and adaptation measures, and investing in data collection; building long-term resilience through stronger institutions, and investing in infrastructure and in well-functioning ecosystems; investing in cost-effective and adaptive water management as well as technology transfer; and leveraging additional funds through both increased national budgetary allocations and innovative funding mechanisms for adaptation in water management. The policy brief.

 

UN-WATER GLOBAL ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF SANITATION AND DRINKING-WATER (GLAAS) 2010

(World Health Organization, 2010)

GLAAS is a UN-Water initiative implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to provide policy makers at all levels with analyses of the evidence to make informed decisions in sanitation and drinking-water. Sub-titled "Targeting resources for better results," this report finds that over 2.6 billion people live without access to improved sanitation facilities, and nearly 900 million people are not receiving their drinking-water from improved water sources. It highlights where efforts stagnate in achieving the Millennium Development Goal Target 7.C. – to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking-water and basic sanitation. It also outlines the post-2015 challenges that need to be addressed by the UN system to collectively support its member States. The report.

 

WATER ISSUES: CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESS OF CSD 18/19

(UN-Water and UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, 2010)

This background document was prepared for the 18th and 19th sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 18/19). It highlights water-related aspects of the current CSD thematic issues of mining, sustainable production and consumption, chemicals, transport and waste management. The document.

 

VULNERABILITY IN INLAND FISHING COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA: LESSONS LEARNED

(The WorldFish Center, May 2010)

Some of the key messages from this report include: the need to move away from classical fishery definitions that consider only the resource and harvest methods and, instead, recognize that fisheries operate across broad domains including the natural resource and its ecosystem, people and livelihoods, institutions and governance systems, and external drivers; household vulnerability analysis structured around these four domains is a powerful tool for understanding the diversity of vulnerability and identifying interventions; when critical immediate needs cannot be met, the community's focus on short-term survival takes precedence over any consideration of long-term sustainability. The report.

 

THE NATURAL SCIENCE SECTOR AND THE PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME – RESPONDING TO LOCAL NEEDS

(UNESCO, 2010)

This brochure aims to provide an overview of the natural sciences-related projects proposed by the member States for funding under the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Participation Programme. The priorities for the current biennium (2010-2011) are: policies and capacity building in science, technology and innovation for sustainable development and poverty eradication; and sustainable management of freshwater, ocean and terrestrial resources including renewable sources of energy, as well as disaster preparedness and mitigation. The brochure.

 

UN-WATER GLOBAL ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF SANITATION AND DRINKING-WATER (GLAAS) 2010

(World Health Organization, 2010)

GLAAS is a UN-Water initiative implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to provide policy makers at all levels with a reliable, easily accessible, comprehensive and global analysis of the evidence to make informed decisions in sanitation and drinking-water. Sub-titled "targeting resources for better results," this report finds that over 2.6 billion people live without access to improved sanitation facilities, and nearly 900 million people are not receiving their drinking-water from improved water sources. It highlights where efforts have stagnated in achieving the Millennium Development Goal Target 7.C.  – to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking-water and basic sanitation. It also outlines the post-2015 challenges that need to be addressed by the UN system to collectively support its member States. GLASS 2010.

 

WATER ISSUES: CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESS OF CSD 18/19

(UN-Water and UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, 2010)

This background document was prepared for the 18th and 19th sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 18/19). It highlights the water-related aspects of the current CSD thematic issues of mining, sustainable production and consumption, chemicals, transport and waste management. The document.
 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND BASIN DEVELOPMENT PLAN REGIONAL STAKEHOLDER FORUM

(Mekong River Commission Secretariat, 2010)

This Forum took place from 15-17 October 2009, in Chiang Rai, Thailand, under the theme "Unfolding Perspectives and Options for Sustainable Water Resources Development in the Mekong River Basin." The Forum brought together over 250 participants from diverse backgrounds and aimed to: share knowledge of the Basin's water resources development and promote a better understanding of the water-related issues for sustainable basin planning; seek stakeholders' inputs to the approaches for the assessment of the socioeconomic and environmental implications; facilitate dialogue on the opportunities, challenges and acceptable options for sustainable water resources development in the Lower Mekong Basin; and strengthen partnerships. The proceedings.

 

WOW FLYWAY TRAINING KIT

(Wings Over Wetlands project, May 2010)

Launched during the 14th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity, this training kit is designed to build capacity to plan, implement, monitor and engage in effective flyway-scale conservation of migratory waterbirds and wetland habitats in Africa and Eurasia. The package includes three modules with comprehensive text, case studies and exercises supported by ready-to-use presentations, as well as accompanying CDs with a range of additional material. The kit is designed to assist in targeted trainings that can be customized by topic as they relate to flyway conservation, wetland management and migratory waterbird conservation. The training kit.

 

DRINKING WATER, BIODIVERSITY AND POVERTY REDUCTION: A GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE

(Convention on Biological Diversity, 2009)

This guide addresses the linkages between drinking water, biological diversity and development/poverty alleviation. It aims to raise awareness of sustainable approaches to managing drinking water that have been tested globally. The guide introduces the available techniques, technologies and procedures that optimize social and environmental outcomes in the management of drinking water. It also outlines  the connections between drinking water, development and biodiversity, and assists parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in strengthening national and sub-national drinking water development policies, strategies, plans and projects that integrate poverty alleviation and biodiversity. Finally, it provides sources and references where readers can find more detailed information. The guide.

 

WATER AND CEREALS IN DRYLANDS

(FAO, 2010)

This volume discusses drylands and their uses, with an emphasis on cereal production. It considers the roles of livestock, placing the various technologies and practices that enhance water availability to crops in drylands in their technical, agro-ecological and socioeconomic perspective. The volume.

 

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN AGRICULTURE

(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2010)

This report shows that that while agricultural water consumption decreased in some countries, especially in Eastern Europe, some OECD countries such as Greece, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Turkey recorded large increases since the 1990s. It also examines the policy experiences of OECD countries in managing their resources, and recommends what countries should be doing and why. Report summary.

 

SECOND STATE OF THE BASIN REPORT

(Mekong River Commission, 2010)

This report describes the status of the Lower Mekong Basin's water and related resources. It provides information about the ecological health of the Mekong river system, highlighting its resilience to current human induced pressures and other threats. The report outlines some of the development challenges for the Basin, including hydropower development, land use change and climate change. Press release on the report.

 

COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND FOOD SECURITY - ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

(FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, April 2010)

This paper proposes methods for quantifying the contribution of aquaculture to national economies, poverty alleviation and food security in order to improve the political and financial support to the sector for its adequate development. Ways to measure the three dimensions of food security – availability, access, contribution to food utilization – are described and explained. The technical paper.
 

PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT: THE DELPHI METHOD

(FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, April 2010)

This paper uses a Delphi method to identify and analyze opportunities and major impediments to aquaculture development globally and by region. The study found that although results varied among regions, there was a general consensus that aquaculture should be encouraged given, among other reasons, its potential contribution to food security and poverty alleviation and the role of aquaculture in reducing pressure on wild fisheries. The paper also contains information for policy makers wishing to promote aquaculture. The technical paper.

ASSESSMENT OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN AQUACULTURE: FRAMEWORK AND APPLICATION ON SELECTED SPECIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

(FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, April 2010)

This paper illustrates the concept of comparative advantage and some of its policy implications by presenting two case studies: the first on shrimp exporting countries and the second on freshwater aquaculture production of carp, catfish and tilapia. The paper weighs relative costs and indicates the species and markets where there is the greatest likelihood of success. It is meant as a tool for planners who devise aquaculture strategies and for individual fish farmers. The technical paper.

 

FISHSTAT PLUS

(FAO, March 2010)

This universal software for fishery statistical time-series of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been updated with the most recent global production statistics. Users can consult individual datasets on Global Fishery Production, Capture and Aquaculture Production from 1950 to 2008. FishStatPlus and Online query panel.

 

SICK WATER

(UNEP Grid Arendal, March 2010)

This e-book of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Grid Arendal identifies the transformation of wastewater from a major health and environmental hazard into a clean, safe and economically-attractive resource as a key challenge in the 21st century. The e-book.

 

WATER, WETLANDS AND FORESTS: A REVIEW OF ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND POLICY LINKAGES

(CBD Technical Series No. 47, March 2010)

This report of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was produced in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and other partners. It aims to foster better awareness of the crucial role that forests and wetlands play in sustaining the availability and quality of water critical for human well-being. Some of the key messages of the report include: about a third of the world's largest cities obtain a significant portion of their drinking-water supply directly from forested protected areas; water, wetlands and forests interact to produce healthy and productive ecosystems; forest and wetland mismanagement can adversely impact water quality and biodiversity; and forests regulate soil erosion and pollution, preventing desertification and salinization. The report.

 

ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK FOR THE ARAB REGION: ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN WELL-BEING

(UNEP, 2010)

This UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report outlines the multiple challenges facing the Arab region, from climate change and food insecurity to decreasing water availability and unemployment. It provides a comprehensive and integrated assessment of the state of environment in the region, and was compiled at the request of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE). The report emphasizes that: the region is one of the most water-scarce in the world; biofuels and food security are among a suite of emerging and intertwined challenges facing the region; and the region is predicted to be among the hardest hit by the potential of direct and indirect climate change impacts. Report website.

 

PROGRESS ON SANITATION AND DRINKING-WATER 2010 UPDATE

(WHO/UNICEF, 2010)

This report of the World Health Organization /UN Children's Fund (WHO/UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation provides the most recent data for drinking-water and sanitation, along with the implications and trends these new data reveal for reaching the basic sanitation and safe drinking-water Millennium Development Goals. The report concludes that the world is on track to meet safe drinking-water standards, but more effort is needed to improve sanitation. It further states that water and sanitation both need to overcome challenges, notably in rural and poor areas, to ensure continued progress. The report.

FRAMING THE FLOW: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND, PROTECT AND VALUE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ACROSS LINKED HABITATS 
(UNEP/WCMC, 2010)

This report of the UN Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP/WCMC) provides a synthesis of the current state of knowledge regarding the natural capital of water-related ecosystems and habitats, and offers an overview of the innovative approaches that can support the analysis of the links between interconnected ecosystems. It analyzes the linkages across coastal ecosystems and the 'value added' in terms of ecosystem services provided by these linkages as opposed to the services provided by just one system studied in isolation. The linkages between ecosystems are examined under consideration of environmental, economic, management and social aspects and recommendations are provided for integrating this new paradigm into cross-sectoral environmental practices. The report.

 

WETLANDS FOR THE FUTURE FUND: BENEFITTING WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

(Ramsar Secretariat, February 2010)

This report was prepared by the Americas Team of the Ramsar Secretariat, and funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the State Department of the US. It highlights the contribution that the Wetlands for the Future Fund (WFF) has made over the past 12 years to the on-the-ground implementation of the three pillars of the Ramsar Convention as well as to the Ramsar Strategic Plan. It compiles the outcomes and lessons learned of many successful projects in the thematic areas of Training and Capacity Building, Awareness-Raising Activities, Documentation, Wetland Management and Tools, Academic and Research, and Networking. The report.

 

RAMSAR ADVISORY MISSION NO. 62: MOZAMBIQUE

(Ramsar, 2010)

This report summarizes the findings of the Ramsar Advisory Mission that visited the Marromeu Complex Ramsar Site in Mozambique from 16-20 August 2009, to undertake consultations there and at the national, provincial and district levels. The report also presents 24 recommendations for short- and long-term action, including suggestions for sources of further external support. The Mission included a representative of the Secretariats of the Convention on Migratory Species and the Agreement on African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The report

 

FLYWAY CONSERVATION AT WORK – ACROSS AFRICA AND EURASIA

(Wings Over Wetlands (WOW)UNEP-GEF African-Eurasian Flyways Project, 2010)

This newsletter provides an overview of the WOW project and the latest achievements of this flyway initiative in the African-Eurasian region. The newsletter showcases the flyway-scale conservation work and materials being developed under the project. It includes sections on: bird migration and flyways; the Critical Site Network (CSN) Tool; the flyway training programme; and demonstration projects. The newsletter.

 

AQUACROP PRACTICAL EXERCISE

(FAO, 2010)

Aquacrop is the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) crop-model to simulate yield response to water of several herbaceous crops. This new Aquacrop practical exercise tests users on their ability to create climate files using the Aquacrop software. The step-by-step solution is also provided. The exercise. The solution.

 

DEEP WELLS AND PRUDENCE: TOWARDS PRAGMATIC ACTION FOR ADDRESSING GROUNDWATER OVEREXPLOITATION IN INDIA

(World Bank, March 2010)

This report provides a menu of practical and politically-feasible strategies for managing groundwater use in India. The options are designed to be possible to implement in the current environment. Amongst the suggestions to prevent overexploitation and make groundwater use more sustainable, the report calls for community management of ground water wherein the user community is the primary custodian of groundwater and is charged with implementing management measures. The report also showcases a community groundwater management model adopted in Andhra Pradesh that has produced the first global example of large scale success in self-regulation of groundwater use. The report.

 

EAST ASIAN SEAS STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2009

(Coordinating Body of the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) of the UN Environment Programme, 2009)

This report underlines that the East Asian seas are facing multiple threats as a result of factors including unsustainable development, pollution, alien invasive species and climate change. The report recommends a more systematic and integrated approach to managing coastal and oceanic issues allied to improved data collection and management and economic incentives to encourage private sector involvement in environmental protection efforts. The report.

 

HASHIMOTO ACTION PLAN II

(UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, February 2010)

The Hashimoto Action Plan II (HAP II) focuses on two areas, namely integrated water resources management (IWRM) and water and disaster. On IWRM, the Plan aims to apply IWRM more effectively and manage the rapidly increasing need for water to adapt to climate change. The HAP II recognizes that since climate change has already begun to alter the global meteorological pattern with its effects being amplified in the water cycle, IWRM offers the best available framework for building the resilience needed to adapt to climate change. The plan.

 

WWDR-3 MESSAGES

(World Water Assessment Programme, 2010)

In addition to the general overview of key messages of the third UN World Water Development Report (WWDR-3), the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) has produced 10 four-page messages to decision makers and will be releasing more soon. The messages are targeted to: business leaders; development agencies; financiers; ministers of finance; non-governmental organizations; parliamentarians; political leaders and cabinet ministers; religious leaders; urban mayors and local governments; and youth. The messages.

 

TOOTHED WHALES REPORT

(UNEP/CMS, February 2010)

This report, launched by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), warns that large-scale fishing operations are seriously threatening the lives of the majority of toothed whale populations. It notes that some 86% of all toothed whale species are at risk from entanglement and death in gillnets, traps, weirs, longlines and trawls. Further, lack of food and forced changes in diet as a result of overfishing pose additional threats to 13 of the 72 toothed whale species. Many populations are also suffering from: the ingestion of marine debris; habitat loss; and the effects of chemical and noise pollution. The report.

 

SUBMARINE CABLES AND THE OCEANS: CONNECTING THE WORLD

(UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 31, January 2010)

Published by UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the International Cable Protection Committee Ltd, this report provides a factual description of the submarine cable industry and the interaction of submarine telecommunications (which route 95% of all international communications traffic) with the marine environment. It seeks to focus and guide deliberations and decision making on the wise conservation and protection of the oceans in concert with their sustainable management and use. The report.

 

TRANSBOUNDARY FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT: EXPERIENCES FROM THE UNECE REGION

(UNECE, January 2010)

This UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) study presents preliminary recommendations and case studies prepared by the Task Force on Water and Climate, under the UNECE Water Convention. The study describes: problems and progress made regarding transboundary flood management in 10 transboundary river basins in the UNECE region; tools for managing transboundary flood risk, for joint flood forecasting, flood warning and exchange of data, joint flood risk management planning and implementation; and useful legal and institutional arrangements for cooperation. The study.

 

MANAGING EXTREME FLOOD EVENTS

(German IHP/HWRP Secretariat, December 2009)

This publication summarizes the research status of the Risk Management of Extreme Flood Events (RIMAX) programme. The RIMAX programme is a German contribution to the International Hydrological Programme of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO-IHP) International Flood Initiative (IFI). Although the geographical research focus of the RIMAX programme is on Central Europe, the tools, procedures and strategies are universally applicable and provide assistance to operational hydrological services globally. The publication.

 

ASSESSMENT OF SNOW, GLACIER AND WATER RESOURCES IN ASIA

(German IHP/HWRP National Committee, December 2009)

The individual contributions of this publication are based on lectures given at the Workshop on "Snow, Glacier and Water Resources in Asia," held in November 2006, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The workshop was jointly organized by UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Almaty Cluster Office, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), and the Institute of Geography, Republic of Kazakhstan. The publication.

 

REHABILITATING LAKE FAGUIBINE ECOSYSTEM

(UNEP, December 2009)

Mali's Lake Faguibine dried up in the 1970s with far-reaching implications for the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people living in its hinterland. At the request of the Government of Mali, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a project to rehabilitate the Lake Faguibine ecosystem and is studying the Lake's ecosystem and looking at ways in which the management of land and the hydrological cycle could be improved. The factsheet.

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: A HIDDEN RISK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(UNDESA, December 2009)
This policy brief was prepared by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Sustainable Development, and reviews the topic of ocean acidification and current UN actors that are considering oceans issues. It also presents policy options related to: international action on mitigating carbon dioxide emissions; information generation and dissemination; improving capacities in developing countries; and raising awareness. The brief was prepared by the DSD with input from the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and members of UN-Oceans. The policy brief.

SCIENTIFIC SYNTHESIS OF THE IMPACTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(CBD, December 2009)
This publication of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) highlights the direct link between climate change, ocean health and human well-being. Prepared in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the study is based on the analysis of over 300 scientific papers. According to the study, the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide has resulted in changes to the chemical balance of the oceans, causing them to become more acidic. It is predicted that by 2050, ocean acidity could increase by 150%. This dramatic increase is 100 times faster than any change in acidity experienced in the marine environment over the last 20 million years, giving little time for evolutionary adaptation within biological systems. Among other findings, the study shows that increasing ocean acidification will mean that, by 2100, some 70% of cold water corals will be exposed to corrosive waters. In addition, given the current emission rates, it is predicted that the surface water of the Arctic Ocean will become under-saturated with respect to essential carbonate minerals by the year 2032, and the Southern Ocean by 2050 with disruptions to large components of the marine food source. The publication.

30TH ISSUE OF THE CIRCULAR OF THE NETWORK FOR COOPERATION IN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
(ECLAC, December 2009)
This issue of the Circular of the Network for Cooperation in Integrated Water Resource Management for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean includes articles on global economic crisis and public services; regulatory accounting (Argentina); new regulatory model (Bolivia); National Water Programme (Mexico); New Water Resources Law (Peru); internationalization and business strategies in the electric industry; UNECE Water Convention; Regional Conference on Policies for Drinking Water and Sanitation Services; and International Seminar "Infrastructure 2020." The circular.

THE RURAL WATER LIVELIHOODS INDEX
(FAO, 2009)
This working paper
attempts to assess some of the more fundamental, water-related components that influence rural livelihoods and can support rural poverty reduction. In this way, it seeks to help decision makers target investments more effectively, ensuring funds get allocated to where there is most need. The working paper.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
(UN Food and Agriculture Organization, December 2009)

This collection of three technical papers addresses: the physical and ecological consequences of climate change on marine and freshwater environments; impacts on fisheries and local communities with a focus on adaptation and mitigation measures; and impacts on aquaculture with a review of potential adaptation and mitigation measures. The studies highlight that fisheries and aquaculture make a minor, but still significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions throughout the sectors' supply chain. The report notes that ecosystem approaches to aquaculture and fisheries, as well as precautionary management, can help improve the resilience of the sectors. It calls for the integration of fisheries and aquaculture into national climate change and food security policies. The report.

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