A
variety of processes have led to excessive use of water resources,
and the even greater demand projected for coming years is expected
to pose a serious challenge to the functioning of freshwater ecosystems
and maintenance of biodiversity.
Threats include the construction of dams,
conversion of wetlands, introduction and invasion of exotic species
and the contamination of large surface aquifers such as rivers,
lakes, and even groundwater, that are vitally important for human
consumption. Along with lowered quality and a reduction in the
quantity of water available, valuable ecological services are
also being lost, such as water purification, biodiversity maintenance,
control of flows, and others. These benefits are largely unknown
outside of academic circles, since little dissemination to citizens
and resource users is occurring.
To address this problem, the World Conservation
Union (IUCN) is developing a Global Freshwater Initiative aimed
at better management of these ecosystems. This world-level initiative
is carried out in three regions: Central America, Southern Africa,
and South and South East Asia.
Currently IUCN is identifying priority areas
and activities, and thus is calling for global and regional groups
of experts to help provide guidelines for the initiative. There
are many global and regional efforts already well underway in
the discussions on Integrated Resource Management, such as the
Global Water Partnership (GWP), the World Water Council (WWC)
and the World Council on Dams (WCD.)
The IUCN initiative seeks to improve the capacity
of members and partners in recognizing threats to freshwater resources
and ecosystems, and in designing and implementing measures for
their conservation and sustainable use.
The role of the initiative will be to bring
institutions together concerning the issue of sustainable water
use and catalyze innovative work in freshwater management and
conservation. It will also focus on wetlands that are IUCN Secretariat
work zones, and on activities relevant to members and commissions.
The three main objectives of the initiative
are:
- To synthesize existing knowledge and use it for creating awareness
in decision makers and water resource administrators regarding
problems related to conservation and sustainable use of freshwater;
- In association with the IUCN Secretariat and members, prepare
management instruments and build capacity in working with decision
makers and water resource administrators, encouraging them to
adopt new practices of sustainable freshwater use; and
- Implement actions at levels ranging from small sub-catchments
to international river basins, to improve and facilitate cooperation
among institutions involved in the conservation and wise use
of freshwater resources.
The program will be based on actions for "Integrated
Catchment Management" (ICM.) This process utilizes a two-way
approach to integration: water and soil resources are managed
in such a way that activities on dry land do not have adverse
effects on aquatic resources and vice versa. It also involves
bringing communities and government agencies together so they
can manage and protect catchments.
In principle, the initiative will be carried
out over a period of three years. IUCN has provided modest funding,
and is searching for support from donor agencies and international
cooperation.
In Central America the initiative will place
more emphasis on growing threats to aquatic resources and the
urgent need to define and implement strategies for their sustainable
management.
Loss of regional ecosystems is mainly due
to poor sanitation and inadequate treatment of effluents, causing
lakes and rivers to become polluted. Deforestation is another
factor, along with the degradation of farmland, which results
in heavy loads of sediment. Another major problem is the drainage
and conversion of wetlands, which greatly affects water purification
capacity and the storage functions of riverine systems.
The Freshwater Initiative's main challenge
is the development and implementation of integrated catchment
management based on an ecosystem approach. This emphasizes natural
resource planning and management intervention based on the capacities
and limitations of ecosystems, rather than optimizing resource
use in the short term. Although there are a number of actions
being carried out in the region, there is no clear vision to orient
activities as a whole toward integrated catchment management for
freshwater ecosystems.
Ger Bergkamp, Water Resources Specialist
Coordinator of the IUCN Freshwater Initiative
IUCN
Rue Mauverney 28 CH 1196
Gland Switzerland Tel: +41 22 9990262 Fax: +41 229990025
E-mail: [email protected]
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