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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
WATER, OCEANS AND WETLANDS
This page was updated
on: 01/12/10
6
WORKSHOP
CONCLUSIONS ON MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING
(UNESCO, 2006)
An international workshop on marine spatial planning has produced
conclusions and next steps on what it calls "ecosystem-based, sea-use
management." The UNESCO-organized workshop, held in November 2006 in
Paris, involved 50 invited participants from around the world. Its main
purpose was to review and document the state-of-the-art and good
practices of marine spatial planning. The
conclusions.
TSUNAMI,
INDIA TWO YEARS AFTER
(UN, World Bank and ADB, 2006)
The report is a joint initiative by the UN, the World Bank and the Asian
Development Bank to reflect on the pace and extent of progress on
tsunami recovery efforts in India over the last two years. The
report.
VALUING
WETLANDS: GUIDANCE FOR VALUING THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM WETLAND
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(Ramsar and CBD, 2006)
This report, published jointly as Ramsar Technical Report No. 3 and CBD
Technical Series No. 27, provides guidance and updates on methodologies
for wetland economic valuation. Rudolf de Groot and Miska Stiup of
Wageningen University and the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD)
in the Netherlands led the preparation of the report, which updates
Ramsar's 1997 Economic valuation of wetlands: A guide for policy
makers and planners by Barbier, Acreman, and Knowler. The
report.
WATER LAW AND STANDARDS ONLINE DATABASE
(WHO and FAO, 2006)
The databases on this website represent an output from inter-agency
collaboration between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Legal Office and the World Health Organization (WHO) Water, Sanitation
and Health Programme on a number of initiatives linked to water law,
health and development. The database of national water legislation is
ready for use and is linked to FAO's existing FAOLEX database of
legislation on natural resources, whereas the database of national water
quality standards is under construction. The legislative section of the
database contains an analysis of the legal frameworks governing water
resources in selected countries of the world. The water standards part
of the database contains detailed information on the water quality
standards of all countries in the world for which information has been
provided to date. The
website.
NATIONAL
AQUACULTURE LEGISLATION OVERVIEW FACT SHEETS
(FAO, 2006)
These 38 national Aquaculture Legislation Overview (NALO)
Fact Sheets were
prepared by the FAO Development Law Service in collaboration with the
FAO
Fisheries
Department for these producing nations. The
fact sheets.
RAINWATER AND THE MDGs
(UNEP, 2006)
This report, compiled by UNEP and the World Agroforestry Centre-ICRAF,
emphasizes that all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depend on
the availability of water to meet their targets. The report highlights
the potential of rainwater harvesting in Africa to act as a buffer
against climate-linked extreme weather events, in addition to improving
agriculture and drinking water supplies. Access the
report.
THE
"GENUINE LINK" CONCEPT IN RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES: LEGAL ASPECTS AND
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
(FAO November 2006)
This Legal Paper Online from the FAO Development Law Service discusses
the role of flag States in the implementation of responsible fisheries
management, together with other complementary enforcement measures such
as trade-related measures, port State control, State control over
nationals and information retrieval and exchange. The
paper.
PROTECTING GROUNDWATER FOR HEALTH
(WHO, 2006)
This document fits within the framework of the World Health Organization
(WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and offers a comprehensive
analysis of the hazards posed to groundwater resources, attempting to
uncover areas of high concern.
The
publication
looks
specifically at a number of issues of growing global concern, including
management of pollution sources for the effective protection of
groundwater resources. The
publication.
A REEF MANAGER'S GUIDE TO CORAL BLEACHING
(US National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and IUCN,
2006)
This guide provides reef managers with the latest scientific information
on the causes of coral bleaching and new strategies for responding to
this threat, including actions that can be taken before, during and
after bleaching events. The guide makes several references to protected
areas, such as identifying the key role that marine protected area
networks can play in helping reefs rebound from bleaching events via
larval connectivity. The
report.
GEMSTAT
(UNEP)
UNEP, through its GEMS/Water Programme, has launched a new capability
for its scientific resource, GEMStat. It is now geospatially referenced
to Google Earth, which means that all 2,743 GEMStat stations can be
geospatially located with 3-dimensional satellite pictures, making the
physical features and characteristics of each GEMStat monitoring station
visible, such as land use, deforestation, and proximity to a factory or
a city. The
website.
CORAL REEF
RESILIENCE AND RESISTANCE TO BLEACHING
(IUCN- The Nature Conservancy,
2006)
This report by Gabriel Grimsditch and Rodney Salm outlines survival
strategies for coral reef resilience and resistance to bleaching for
coral reefs threatened by climate change. The strategies rely on
managing stressors other than global warming so that corals are more
resilient and able to survive in a warming world. According to the
report, by fighting other stress factors such as pollution, overfishing,
or unsustainable coastal development impacting coral reefs, the reefs
will be able to better adapt to climate change impacts. The
report.
CAPACITY
BUILDING FOR ECOLOGICAL SANITATION - CONCEPTS FOR ECOLOGICALLY
SUSTAINABLE SANITATION IN FORMAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
(International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), 2006)
This publication deals with educational aspects and guidelines linked to
ecological sanitation (ecosan) capacity building and is the result of a
collaborative effort between UNESCO's IHP and the German Agency for
Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The concept behind ecosan is that
sanitation problems could be solved more sustainably and efficiently if
the resources contained in excreta and wastewater were recovered and
used rather than discharged into the water bodies and the surrounding
environment. The
report.
FISHERIES, INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(ICTSD, October 2006)
This policy discussion paper aims to inform negotiations for
multilateral, regional and domestic trade rules and policies in the
fisheries sector so that they support sustainable development. It
addresses key issues and trade policy tools, such as tariffs, subsidies,
standards and eco-labeling, that impact the sustainability and
development of the fisheries sector, assessing their impact on social
development, employment and food security. The
paper.
THE STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: TRENDS AND
PROCESSES
(UNEP and GPA,
2006) The UNEP/GPA Coordination office released this report,
which will be presented to governments attending the second
intergovernmental review of the Global Programme of Action for the
Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA)
(16-20 October, Beijing, China). The report says good progress has been
achieved in persistent organic pollutants, radioactive substances and
oils. It notes mixed progress in heavy metals and sediment mobilization,
and worse progress in sewage, nutrients, marine litter and the physical
alteration and destruction of habitats. The report estimates that an
additional $56 billion is needed annually to address the global
wastewater problem and qualifies sewage as the most serious issue within
the GPA framework. The
report.
PROGRESS FOR
CHILDREN: A REPORT CARD ON WATER AND SANITATION
(United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), September 2006) This report contains
mixed conclusions on the advances made towards the Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) that calls for halving the proportion of people
without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation
by 2015. The report finds that global coverage of safe drinking water
increased from 78 percent to 83 percent between 1990 and 2004, and that
Latin America and the Caribbean and South Asia are on schedule to
achieve the MDG ahead of schedule. Global access to basic sanitation has
risen from 49 percent in 1990 to 59 percent today, with South Asia more
than doubling its numbers during the period. In East Asia and the
Pacific, the proportion jumped from 30 percent to over 50 percent.
However, some 1.5 million children under five die from diarrhea each
year because they still do not have safe drinking water or basic
sanitation. The report suggests that those deaths could be reduced by
more than a third with improved sanitation, while better hygiene
practices could cut the death rate by another third. The
report.
ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT TOOLS NETWORK
(EMB Tools
Network, 2006) Ecosystem-Based Management (EMB) Tools Network is a new
website that provides access to an array of software and models for
applying coastal and marine ecosystem-based management. The EBM Tools
Network offers a searchable database of EBM tools, training and funding
opportunities, data sources, relevant meetings and conferences, and
other resources. The network is an international alliance of tool
developers, practitioners, and training providers for coastal and marine
EBM. The
website.
UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE AT RISK: MANAGING
NATURAL AND HUMAN IMPACTS
(ICOMOS, 2006)
This report was released by the International Council on Monuments and
Sites (ICOMOS) and features more than 30 articles on the risk that
underwater cultural heritage is exposed to, including multiple case
studies, reflections on the 2001 UNESCO Convention, and discussions of
the role of MPAs in protection. The
report.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF FISHING
ON VULNERABLE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
(UN, July 2006) The Report of the Secretary-General, "The Impacts of
Fishing on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems: actions taken by States and
regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give
effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of General Assembly resolution 59/25 on
sustainable fisheries, regarding the impacts of fishing on vulnerable
marine ecosystems" (A/61/154) has now been released. The report
describes some of the most vulnerable marine ecosystems, some fishing
practices that, in specific circumstances, may be harmful, and the types
of damage that may be caused, either directly or indirectly, by certain
fishing practices.
More information.
ADDENDUM TO THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON
OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA
(UN,
August 2006) The
Advance, Unedited Text of the Addendum to the Report of the
Secretary-General on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (to be issued as
Document A/61/63/Add.1) has been released. The report has been prepared
as an addendum to the main annual report in order to present the General
Assembly with an overview of developments relating to the implementation
of UNCLOS and the work of the organization, its specialized agencies and
other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea
since the preparation of the main report in February 2006.
More information.
SEPTEMBER EDITION OF GPA OUTREACH
(UNEP/GPA and Stakeholder Forum, September 2006) GPA Outreach is a
monthly newsletter for stakeholders that supports the preparatory work
for the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting (IGR-2) of the Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-based Activities (GPA), being held in Beijing, China on 16-20
October 2006. The September edition
includes:
an update on the final preparations for IGR-2; an overview of IGR-2
Official Documents; a review of the consultation on the GPA held at
World Water Week in Stockholm; partnership spotlights; and a roundup on
the third GEF Assembly.
More information.
FINAL REPORT AND SYNTHESIS DOCUMENT OF THE FOURTH
WORLD WATER FORUM
(World
Water Council, September 2006) The Final report and synthesis document
of the Fourth World Water Forum, which took place in Mexico from 16-22
March, and was organized around the theme "Local actions for a global
challenge" are now available online. The
report. The
synthesis.
THE IMPACTS OF FISHING ON VULNERABLE MARINE
ECOSYSTEMS
(UN,
September 2006) A Report of the Secretary-General has been issued on
"The Impacts of Fishing on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems: actions taken
by States and regional fisheries management organizations and
arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of General Assembly
resolution 59/25 on sustainable fisheries, regarding the impacts of
fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems" (A/61/154). The report
describes some of the most vulnerable marine ecosystems; some fishing
practices that, in specific circumstances, may be harmful; and the types
of damage that may be caused, either directly or indirectly, by certain
fishing practices. The
report.
THE STATE OF WORLD AQUACULTURE 2006
(FAO,
2006) This report shows that while in 1980, nine per cent of the fish
consumed by human beings came from aquaculture, that figure has jumped
to 43 per cent today. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) most
recent global assessment of wild fish stocks found that out of the
nearly 600 species groups monitored, 52 per cent are fully exploited
while 25 per cent are either overexploited, depleted or recovering from
depletion. Twenty per cent are moderately exploited, with just three
percent ranked as underexploited. The report estimates that an
additional 40 million tonnes of aquatic food will be required by 2030
just to maintain current levels of consumption. The
report.
URBAN WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES; AN IWRM
APPROACH
(GWP,
2006) This background paper released by the Global Water Partnership (GWP)'s
Technical Committee considers how the rapid pace and scale of
urbanization represents a considerable challenge for water resources
management, the delivery of essential water and sanitation services, and
environmental protection. The paper explores how an integrated water
resources management (IWRM) approach recognizes intersectoral
competition for resources (physical, social and financial), the role of
the urban sector in meeting national developmental priorities, and
negative impacts of urban provision practices on other parts of the
economy. The
paper.
MEETING THE MDG DRINKING-WATER AND SANITATION
TARGET: THE URBAN AND RURAL CHALLENGE OF THE DECADE
(WHO, 2006) Within the framework of the International Decade for Action,
Water for Life, 2005–2015, this World Health Organization (WHO) report
looks at the challenge of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
target for drinking water and sanitation. Achieving the MDG drinking
water and sanitation target poses two major challenges: a rapid pace of
urbanization, which requires a major effort even to keep up the current
coverage levels; a huge backlog of rural people unserved with basic
sanitation and safe drinking water, which calls for an intensive
mobilization of resources to reduce the vast coverage gap between urban
and rural populations.
More information.
AFRICA'S LAKES: ATLAS OF OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
(UNEP, 2006) This Atlas is produced by UNEP and compares and contrasts
spectacular satellite images of the past few decades with contemporary
ones.
Through a
combination of these images and narrative based on extensive scientific
evidence, this publication illustrates how humans have altered their
surroundings and continue to make observable and measurable changes to
Africa's lakes and their environment.
More information.
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK'S DAMS AND DEVELOPMENT
E-PAPER: A RESERVOIR OF KNOWLEDGE
(ADB,
August 2006) Dams store water, prevent floods, irrigate agricultural
lands, and generate large amounts of electricity. However, dam
constructions also often invite social, economic, political, and
environmental debates that become complicated for dam planners and
decision makers. This e-paper considers these issues relating to
planning and implementing projects involving dams. The
report.
REPORT OF THE SIXTEENTH MEETING OF STATES
PARTIES TO UNCLOS
(UN, August 2006) The report of the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties
to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which convened from 19-23
June 2006 at UN headquarters in New York, US, is now available online in
all UN languages. The
report.
UNICPOLOS-7 REPORT
(UN,
August 2006) The report on the work of the seventh meeting of the UN
Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the
Sea (UNICPOLOS-7), as well as the
presentations in the discussion panel on ecosystem approaches and
oceans, which took place from 12-16 June 2006 at UN Headquarters in New
York, US, are now available. The
report.
WORLD WATER WEEK SPECIAL SERIES OF
GPA OUTREACH
(GPA/Stakeholder Forum, August 2006) The Stakeholder Forum, with the
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands and in collaboration with the
UNEP/GPA Coordination Office and the Stockholm International Water
Institute, has produced a World Water Week Special Series of
GPA Outreach. This
publication was produced every day during the World Water Week, which
took place from 21 to 25 August 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Special
Series of GPA Outreach aims to raise awareness about the
importance of linking coastal, marine, and freshwater environments and
about the importance of the role of the GPA. This newsletter provided
information about the GPA and the upcoming IGR-2, details of GPA-related
activities taking place at World Water Week, brief profiles of
partnerships developed to implement the GPA, and related articles of
interest. More
information.
ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY IN DEEP WATERS
AND HIGH SEAS
(UNEP,
2006) This publication highlights recent scientific advances and their
implications for management, as well as identifying policy principles,
tools and options for charting a course for the conservation and
sustainable use of marine habitats and life forms in deep waters and the
open ocean. It has a special focus on areas beyond national
jurisdiction. The
report.
DIRECTORY OF NEOTROPICAL WETLANDS
(Ducks
Unlimited, 1986/2006) The Directory of Neotropical Wetlands
was first published in 1986 by Ducks Unlimited. While it is now
partially out of date and incomplete, it has recently been made
available online, and remains the only standardized wetland inventory at
the continental level and is now available online. The
Directory.
THE FUTURE OCEANS: WARMING UP, RISING HIGH, TURNING
SOUR
(WBGU,
2006) This publication, which was published by the German Advisory
Council on Global Change (WBGU), argues that the failure to limit carbon
dioxide emissions globally will have "severe consequences for the
world's oceans." It raises concerns about both continued warming and
ocean acidification, warning that "critical system limits" in the ocean
are in danger of being reached. The report recommends halving global
emissions by 2050 compared with 1990 levels, limited temperature rise to
two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial era levels, and taking steps to
bolster the resilience of marine ecosystems and limit sea-level rise.
Regarding carbon dioxide capture and storage, the report also cautions
against introducing carbon dioxide into seawater and argues that storing
carbon dioxide in geological formations under the sea should be used on
as an "emergency solution for a transitional period." The
full report.
AUGUST EDITION OF THE GPA OUTREACH
(UNEP/GPA
and Stakeholder Forum, August 2006) GPA Outreach is a monthly newsletter
for stakeholders that supports the preparatory work for the Second
Intergovernmental Review Meeting (IGR-2) of the Global Programme of
Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based
Activities (GPA), being held in Beijing, China on 16-20 October 2006.
The August edition contains: a
welcome by the Coordinator of UNEP/GPA;
GPA issues updates on indicators for assessing progress in
ecosystem-based management, and on the physical alteration and
destruction of habitats; and details of GPA-related events taking place
at World Water Week in Stockholm. The
newsletter.
JULY EDITION OF THE
GPA OUTREACH
(UNEP/GPA
and Stakeholder Forum, July 2006) GPA Outreach is a monthly newsletter
that supports the preparatory work for the Second Intergovernmental
Review Meeting of the Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-based Activities (GPA), being held in Beijing,
China from 16-20 October 2006. The July edition contains: a
welcome
by the Coordinator of UNEP/GPA; the GPA Issues Update: Wastewater; a
report from the IGR-2 Informal Preparatory Meeting in Paris; and
a review of the outcomes of key conferences that took place during the
month. The July edition also features an article on the UN Open-Ended
Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS).
More information.
BUSINESS IN THE WORLD OF WATER
(WBSCD,
2006) This report by the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development (WBCSD) finds that water shortages pose potentially as
serious a challenge as climate change. It explores three future
scenarios to understand how businesses can contribute to sustainable
water management, including an analysis of innovation in water
efficiency, security of water supply and water rights. The
report.
RICH COUNTRIES, POOR WATER
(WWF,
2006) This report offers one of the first comprehensive overviews of
water issues in the developed world, highlighting the impacts of water
problems in countries such as Australia, Spain, Japan, the UK and the
US. It shows that a combination of climate change and drought and loss
of wetlands that store water, along with poorly thought-out water
infrastructure and resource mismanagement, is making this crisis truly
global. The
report.
IMPLEMENTING THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH IN OPEN
OCEAN AND DEEP SEA ENVIRONMENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF STAKEHOLDERS, THEIR
INTERESTS, AND EXISTING APPROACHES
(United
Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, June 2006) This study
aims, inter alia, to provide a first step towards a comprehensive
survey and dialogue on mapping stakeholders' interests in open ocean and
deep sea environments, with the ultimate goal of improved conservation,
sustainable use and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from ocean
spaces and their resources. The
report.
JUNE ISSUE OF "WATER FIGURES"
(IWMA,
June 2006) Water Figures is the quarterly newsletter of the
International Water Management Institute. The newsletter reports on
recent research, projects, activities and changes within the institute.
The June 2006 issue focuses on the Comprehensive Assessment of Water
Management in Agriculture (CA) and the imminent launch of its findings
after five years of intensive research and consultation. It includes an
editorial on Gender Mainstreaming in Water Management for Agriculture.
The
newsletter.
ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY IN DEEP WATERS AND
HIGH SEAS
(UNEP, 2006) This study, which was issued jointly by UNEP and the World
Conservation Union (IUCN), argues that lessons learned on conserving
coastal waters should be adapted and applied across the marine world,
including in areas beyond national jurisdiction. With more than 90
percent of the planet's living found in the oceans, the report
underlines the value of the deep seas and open oceans and highlights how
the scientific community is only now beginning to comprehend and
understand the wealth of life, natural resources and ecosystems existing
in the marine world. The
report.
JUNE EDITION OF THE GPA OUTREACH NEWSLETTER
(UNEP/Stakeholder
Forum, June 2006) GPA Outreach
is a
monthly newsletter for stakeholders that supports the preparatory work
for Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting of the Global Programme of
Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based
Activities (GPA), scheduled to be held from 16 - 20 October 2006, in
Beijing, China. The June Edition of GPA Outreach contains, inter alia:
details on the Informal
Preparatory Meeting, which will be held in Paris at the
end of June; an article by Sylvia Earle and Dan Laffoley on
Saving The Worlds Last Frontier: Our
High Seas; UNEP Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Report;
information about the GPA Online Stakeholder Dialogue; and an article on
the UN Fish Stocks
Agreement Review Conference.
More information.
REPORT OF THE FISH STOCKS REVIEW CONFERENCE
The UN
Division on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) has released
the advance and unedited draft report of the Review Conference on the
Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the Conservation and
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks
(22-26 May 2006, New York, NY).
More information.
GLOBAL NETWORK OF WATER ANTHROPOLOGY LAUNCHED
(NETWA, 2005/2006) UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme has
launched the Global Network of Water Anthropology (NETWA), which was
announced during the Fourth World Water Forum in March 2006. The NETWA
is a global computerized network of anthropologists, covering both
researchers and institutions, dedicated to collect resources related to
water, including water engineering and policy, in order to reach the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The network promotes the
integration of the cultural dimension of water, as well as UNESCO's
policy in education, human rights, ethics and governance promoting best
practice.
More
information.
GPA OUTREACH
(Stakeholder Forum, May 2006) The Secretariat of the Global Programme of
Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based
Activities (GPA) is collaborating with the Stakeholder Forum to produce
GPA Outreach, a newsletter regarding preparations for the Second
Intergovernmental Review Meeting (IGR-2) of the GPA, scheduled to take
place in Beijing, China on 16-20 October 2006. The May issue focuses on
the first day of the IGR-2, which will be dedicated to National
Programmes in the implementation of the GPA.
GPA Outreach (May 2006).
STRATEGIC THINKING TO ACHIEVE WATER MDGs
(ADB,
March 2006) This discussion paper shows the importance of water and
sanitation provision for delivery of MDGs in general and health goals in
particular. It outlines the investment requirements for water and
sanitation targets, and argues for a two-pronged strategy for
sustainable human development that must include the provision of
drinking water and sanitation. The
report.
INFOWETLAND
(CREHO, June 2006) In the coming weeks, the Ramsar Regional Center for
Training and Research on Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO) will
launch an electronic newsletter, INFOWETLAND. This quarterly newsletter
will be an informative service of CREHO directed to organizations,
networks and the general public interested in wetlands. The objectives
of the newsletter are to: disseminate up-to-date information about
wetlands in the Americas; inform about the achievements of the countries
in the region in terms of declaration of Ramsar sites and specific
actions towards the wise use and conservation of wetlands; inform about
CREHO's activities, the Ramsar Secretariat and partner organizations
working in the region; provide a space for stakeholders to publish key
information related to wetlands; and provide relevant information about
workshops, symposiums and meetings related to wetlands in the region.
More
information.
REPORT OF THE
INDEPENDENT PANEL ON THE ADB'S WATER FOR ALL POLICY
(ADB, May
2006) The ADB has concluded a year-long
process to review the implementation of its Water for All policy. The
review aimed to provide the ADB and its stakeholders with an assessment
of progress regarding the implementation of the water policy, as well as
recommendations to improve the Bank's water investments and operations.
The review was led by an independent panel of experts. The panel's
report was received in April 2006 and was circulated to the Board of
Directors as an information paper. The report includes an assessment of
the implementation of ADB's water policy, as well as a roadmap for
action to achieve the ADB's vision of water for all. The key
recommendations of the panel to the ADB include: increase ADB's
commitments and develop ADB's capacities; develop long-term partnerships
with stakeholders and donors; focus the implementation of IWRM on
stakeholder needs and ownership; promote "business unusual"; and improve
processes to ensure effective policy implementation. The
report.
WATER FOR FOOD - WATER
FOR PROFIT
(Bread for the World, 2006) This publication is one of the latest
additions to a series of papers backing the campaign "Water as a Human
Right." The book argues that the World Bank uses its influence on the
water policies in many developing countries to promote the construction
of new mega dams and other big hydraulic infrastructure, the
privatization in irrigation agriculture, and the introduction of
economic water management instruments like cost recovery and tradable
water rights. The book argues against such policies on the grounds that
they do not support sustainable agricultural development. Instead, the
report supports giving a priority to erosion control, rainwater
harvesting and small scale agriculture to achieve an economically,
socially and ecologically sustainable rural development. The
report.
REPORT FROM FOURTH
WORLD WATER FORUM SESSION ON THE INCLUSION OF IWRM IN NATIONAL PLANS
(UN-WATER, May 2006) The report and conclusions of the session on "The
Inclusion of IWRM in National Plans" are now available online. This
session was held during the Fourth World Water Forum in March 2006, and
was organized by the World Water Assessment Programme, the Global Water
Partnership, UNDP and UNEP. The session aimed to examine to what extent
and how countries have adopted and implemented the principles of IWRM,
provide an overview of on-going monitoring activities regarding IWRM
planning and implementation, and develop a set of conclusions and
recommendations as to how best to promote the inclusion of IWRM in
national planning. The
report.
MEETING THE
COMMITMENTS ON OCEANS, COASTS, AND SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES MADE
AT THE 2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: HOW WELL ARE WE
DOING?
(Global
Oceans, June 2006) This report provides
a synthesis of information available on the implementation of WSSD/MDG
targets on oceans and, whenever available, on each of the WSSD/MDG
goals. The report relies in large part on the expert judgments of
participants gathered at the Global Conference, which held its third
conference at UNESCO in Paris from 23-28 January 2006. Participants
addressed the questions of progress achieved, or lack thereof, in a
series of facilitated dialogues. Conference participants were also given
an opportunity to complete an informal multistakeholder survey during
the global conference regarding their perceptions on progress achieved
on implementation of global oceans targets. The
report.
FOLLOW THE LEADER:
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE AND BEST PRACTICE IN REGIONAL FISHERIES
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
(WWF, May
2006) This report identifies some
overarching recommendations aimed at addressing some of the common
impediments to improved performance by regional fisheries
management organizations, the principal form of governance of the
world's oceans and fisheries. These
recommendations are directed towards strengthening the will and capacity
of regional fisheries management organizations and their member States,
promoting the adoption of precautionary and ecosystem approaches to
management, facilitating continuous improvement and accountability, and
maximizing opportunities for collaboration and transparency. The
report.
UN
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA
(UNDOALOS, May 2006) The UN
Division for Ocean
Affairs and the Law of the Sea has released the
UN Secretary-General's report on Oceans
and the Law of the Sea to the 61st session of the General Assembly. The
report will serve as a basis for discussion at the seventh meeting of
the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of
the Sea, which will take place from 12-16 June 2006 at UN headquarters
in New York. The report contains information on developments and issues
relating to ecosystem approaches and oceans, the topic chosen for the
seventh meeting, as recommended by the General Assembly. The
report.
SUSTAINABLE
FINANCING OF PROTECTED AREAS
(IUCN, May 2006) The report, "Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas:
A Global Review of Challenges and Options", details a broad range of
financing mechanisms available to protected areas - from charging user
fees, to attracting voluntary donations, to establishing enterprise
funds, and more - and describes opportunities and pitfalls of each, as
well as case studies from marine and terrestrial sites. The
report.
RAMSAR REGIONAL
TRAINING AND RESEARCH BOARD MEETS
The annual Board meeting of the Ramsar Regional Center for Wetland
Training and Research in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO), based in
Panama, was held on 2 May 2006. The Board emphasized the need for
conservation and wise use of wetlands, through strengthening technical
capacities of decision makers and wetland managers in the Americas, and
highlighted the role of CREHO as a driving force of capacity building
processes.
Ramsar statement, 9 May 2006.
REPORT OF THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON
STRADDLING FISH STOCKS
(UN, 26
April 2006) The report from the Fifth round of Informal Consultations of
States Parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions
of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the Conservation
and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish
Stocks (20-24 March 2006, New York) is now available. These
Consultations served as preparation for the Review Conference for this
Agreement, to be convened by the Secretary-General from 22-26 May 2006,
in New York. Also in preparation for the Review Conference, the UN
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea has posted submitted
information and views from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission,
the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific, and the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.
Report of the consultations.
Further Information and views.
AGENDA FOR UNICPOLOS-7
(UN DOALOS,
April 2006) The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea has
recently posted the format and annotated provisional agenda of the
seventh meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative
Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, which is scheduled to take
place at UN Headquarters in New York from 12-16 June 2006. The
agenda.
DRAFT AGENDAS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING
COMMISSION AND SUB-COMMITTEES
The
International Whaling Commission has released the provisional annotated
agenda of the 2006 Annual Commission, as well as the draft agendas of
the aboriginal subsistence whaling sub-committee, of the infractions
sub-committee, of the whale killing methods and associated welfare
issues workshop, and of the conservation committee.
More information (May 2006).
MEDWET REGIONS
DVD
(MedWet,
April 2006)
A DVD of the results of the Action programme for wetlands in the
Mediterranean region, also known as MedWet Regions, is available in
Spanish.
More information.
GLOBAL
WATER QUALITY DATABASE
The
GEMStat is a searchable database of global surface and ground water
quality data and statistics collected from the GEMS/Water Global
Network. This tool is run by UNEP's Global Environmental Monitoring
System (GEMS) Water Programme has expanded GEMStat, which now has made
it an an open Internet service. The
database.
More
information.
WHSRN SITE ASSESSMENT TOOL
(WHSRN,
March 2006) This tool was launched by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird
Reserve Network (WHSRN) and incorporates methods developed by IUCN–The
World Conservation Union, BirdLife International, The Nature Conservancy
and WWF. It aims to review the state of conservation at WHSRN sites,
identify critical threats and conservation actions need, as well as look
at the management effectiveness of these protected areas. The
report.
Ramsar press
briefing, 7 April 2006.
BEYOND MORE CROP PER DROP: WATER MANAGEMENT FOR
FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(IWMI,
March 2006) This brochure highlights various key areas for action,
including: increasing blue and green water productivity and access to
water resources; balancing water for food and other ecosystem services;
and investing in water security to aid poverty alleviation. It also
identifies cross-cutting actions such as integrated water resources
management, capacity building and continued research. It aims to present
opportunities in the water-food-environment nexus, in terms of specific
interventions that have large potential benefits for society.
More information.
COSTING MDG ON WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION
(World
Water Council, March 2006) This publication aims at assessing the
progress made and what remains to be done in order to achieve the target
of halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access
to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The
publication.
CHALLENGES TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS: REGIONAL
ASSESSMENTS IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
(UNEP, 2006) This
Global
International Waters Assessment (GIWA) Final
Report reviews the most important findings from the GIWA regional
reports, including the major transboundary concerns and their
environmental and socio-economic impacts. The Report:
http://www.giwa.net/publications/finalreport/
http://www.giwa.net/publications/finalreport/giwa_final_report.pdf
WATER, A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
(UN, 2006) The Second UN World Water Development Report, "Water, a
Shared Responsibility," reviews the state of the world's freshwater
resources and seeks to provide decision makers with the tools for
sustainable water use. The report was formally launched during World
Water Day, on 22 March 2006, at the 4th World Water Forum (WWF). The
report.
TRADE AND
MARKET-RELATED INSTRUMENTS TO REINFORCE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT MEASURES TO
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES
(OECD's High Seas Task Force, March 2006) This report identifies measures that can be
applied to strengthen the linkages between trade policy, fisheries
management, and sustainable development. The measures examined include
policies and practices used to monitor and track seafood products from
the time the fish are caught through to when it is sold to final
consumers. Particular attention is given to measures that shape the
incentives faced by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) operators.
More information.
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE BLUE
PLAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK
(UNEP, April 2006) This report was prepared under the auspices of the UN
Environment Programme's Mediterranean Action Plan, which warns that if
current trends continue, Mediterranean countries will suffer from
increasingly saturated coastal development over the next 20 years, 63
million people will lack sufficient water, and desertification will
worsen rural poverty and biodiversity loss. The report calls for a new
regional agreement aimed to ensure greater private and public financing
to reduce pollution, the development of demand-driven management and
local sustainable development policies, and multi-stakeholder inclusion
in policies integrating environment and development. The
report.
WATER AND AGRICULTURE: SUSTAINABILITY, MARKETS AND
POLICIES
(OECD,
2006) The new OECD publication, "Water
and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies, is drawn from an
OECD Workshop on Water and Agriculture, held in Adelaide, Australia, in
November 2005. The
publication.
SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN ASIAN
CITIES
(IGES,
March 2006) On 17 March, at the World Water Forum, the Institute for
Global Environmental Strategies released the report "Sustainable
Groundwater Management in Asian Cities." This report consists of
recommendations for sustainable groundwater management in Asian cities,
a situation analysis and a summary of case studies. The
report.
PUTTING INTO PRACTICE THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO
FISHERIES
(FAO,
2005) This booklet describes the ecosystem approach to fisheries, the
benefits of this approach, the requirements and threats to its
implementation, the management measures currently available, and
outstanding research needs. The
booklet.
FAO TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES
(FAO,
2005) These FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries focus on
"Increasing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty
alleviation and food security." The
guidelines.
COSTING MDG ON WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION
(WWC,
2006) This publication, "Costing MDG Target 10 on Water Supply and
Sanitation: Comparative Analysis, Obstacles and Recommendations," is a
comparative cost analysis produced by the World Water Council for
reaching the water-related millennium development goals (MDGs). The
document assesses the progress made, what remains to be done, and which
regions need the most help from the international community to achieve
the target of halving by 2015 the proportion of people without
sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The
document.
REPORT ON THE WORKING GROUP ON BIODIVERSITY IN
AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION
(UN, 2006)
The advance, unedited report on the work of the UN Ad Hoc
Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the
conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond
areas of national jurisdiction, which was held at UN Headquarters from
13 to 17 February 2006, is now available. The
report.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON OCEANS AND
THE LAW OF THE SEA
(UN, 2006)
The advance and unedited reporting material to be issued as the report
of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the 61st
session of the General Assembly is now available. The report will serve
as a basis for discussion at the seventh meeting of the UN Open-ended
Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, and
contains information on the topic chosen for this meeting: developments
and issues relating to ecosystem approaches and oceans. The
report.
UN WORLD
WATER DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2
(UN Water,
22 March 2006) The Second United Nations World Water Development
Report, "Water, a shared responsibility," seeks to present a
comprehensive review of the state of the world's freshwater resources,
and to provide decision-makers with the tools for sustainable use of
these resources. The report was formally launched on World Water Day, 22
March 2006, at the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City. The
report.
RAMSAR INFORMATION SHEET 2006-2008
(Ramsar,
2006) The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) is the datasheet
adopted by the conference of the parties to the Ramsar Convention in
1990, and amended several times since. The RIS assesses the
international importance of each listed wetland against the agreed
criteria; supplies ecological data; identifies the threats to an
effective management of the site; and provides information on the
virtues of the site for the public. The RIS is available at:
http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris.htm.
34TH
MEETING OF THE RAMSAR STANDING COMMITTEE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE
(Ramsar
Secretariat, 2006) The documentation for the upcoming 34th
meeting of the Ramsar Standing Committee taking place in April 2006 is
now available online at:
http://www.ramsar.org/sc/34/key_sc34_agenda_papers.htm.
GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS ASSESSMENT REPORT
(UNEP, 21
March 2006) The UN Environment Programme has launched a report at the
4th World Water Forum that warns of freshwater shortages leading to
environmental damage over the next 15 years. The report also highlights
the growing impacts of agriculture on freshwater supplies. The report
was launched on 21 March 2006.
More information.
In
addition, UNEP's Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) Water
Programme published its 2005 State of the UNEP.GEMS/Water Global Network
and Annual Report in January 2006. The
report.
IWRM SURVEY PUBLISHED
(IWRM,
February 2006) The Global Water Partnership has now completed and
published the results of its second informal survey of the status of
2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development target for countries to
develop national integrated water resources management (IWRM) and Water
Efficiency Plans by 2005. According to the Partnership, the results are
"encouraging," showing progress since a previous survey held two years
earlier. GWP press
briefing, March 2006. The
report, February 2006.
Closing the net – stopping illegal fishing on the
high seas
(HSTF,
March 2006) This publication, which is the final report of the High Seas
Task Force on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, was
approved at a meeting of fisheries ministers attending the final Task
Force gathering on 2-3 March 2006 in Paris, France. The ministerial
report identifies key measures that the members will begin to implement
immediately to address IUU fishing. It also proposes measures that it
will endeavor to implement in collaboration with the wider global
community to achieve more comprehensive solutions to this problem.
Task Force press briefing, 3 March 2006. The
report.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR THE REVIEW OF THE
FISH STOCKS AGREEMENT
The United
Nations Secretary-General's report on the conservation and management of
straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks is now
available. The report is to assist the Review Conference on the
Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the Conservation and
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,
which will take place at UN headquarters in New York, from 22-26 May
2006. The Review Conference is convened to assess the effectiveness of
the Agreement in securing the conservation and management of straddling
fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks.
More information.
IN THE FRONT LINE: SHORELINE PROTECTION AND OTHER
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FROM MANGROVES AND CORAL REEFS
(UNEP-WCMC, January 2006) The economic value, ecosystem benefits and
shoreline protection offered by coral reefs and mangroves are examined
in a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme-World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). The report underlines the
vital role these natural features play in tourism, stemming coastal
erosion, and acting as nurseries for fish, including those in the
multi-million dollar aquaria trade. The report was produced
by
UNEP-WCMC in collaboration with the International Coral Reef Action
Network and IUCN-the World Conservation Union. The
report.
REPORT OF THE PANAMA BAY RAMSAR SITE WORKSHOP
(Ramsar,
2006) This report provides information on a workshop held from 12-16
December 2005, and organized by the Group for Technoecology and
Conservation Research (GITEC), to familiarize the local Chinina and
Aquendo communities with various tools to understand and use their
wetland wisely. By applying a participative approach, the workshop
covered such topics as the sustainable use of the mangroves, the
environmental problems of wetlands, and options for their management.
The theoretical sessions were complemented by field visits. The
report (available in Spanish).
PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE PORTS
(HSTF,
2006) This report, which was adopted by members of the High Seas Task
Force, reviews the port State measures that have been adopted and
compares these to the FAO Port State Model Scheme. It presents
recommendations to strengthen both national port State measures and
develop regional arrangements on port State controls. The
report.
2006 WORLD WATER DAY WEBSITE
In 2006,
World Water Day (March 22) will be guided by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization under the theme 'Water
and Culture." UNESCO's webpage dedicated to the Day is now available
online at
http://www.unesco.org/water/wwd2006/.
OVERVIEW OF WETLANDS STATUS IN VIET NAM FOLLOWING
15 YEARS OF RAMSAR CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION
(VEPA,
IUCN et al.) Viet Nam signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
fifteen years ago, and recently designated a second wetland site to the
List of Wetlands of International Importance according to Ramsar
criteria. This new report a collaborative effort of the Viet Nam
Environment Protection Agency (VEPA), Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity
Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme, and IUCN – is intended to
serve as a benchmark for progress and trends in wetlands management and
protection in the last fifteen years, highlighting recommendations for
the future. The
report.
THE ENVIRONMENT IN ASIA PACIFIC HARBORS
(Springer Publishing, 2006) This new book by Eric Wolanski and others
considers experiences and lessons learned from coastal urbanization and
the growth of "mega harbors."
More information.
PROGRESS ON UNEP/GPA NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION
(NPA) PROGRAMME
(UNEP/GPA,
January 2006) The UN Environment Programme's Global Programme of Action
for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land- Based Activities
(UNEP/GPA) website has posted an update on progress on countries'
National Programmes of Action, region-by-region.
More
information.
MANAGING CONFLICT IN WATERSHEDS OF SRI LANKA
(ARD,
Inc., 2005) ARD, Inc. prepared this report for USAID. It examines the
effect of the 20-year civil war and increasing demands of a growing
population on forest and water resources. The
report.
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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