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| UNESCO WATER PORTAL WEEKLY UPDATE No. 168: WATER AND MIGRATION IN COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT’S DAY (18 December)15 December 2006 |
2005-2015 is the International Decade For Action 'Water for Life' NEWS | Chixoy reservoir,
Guatemala
© UNESCO – Inguat-Samajoa |
Outcomes of the UNESCO Workshop on GHG emissions from freshwater reservoirs, Paris, FranceRecent research on freshwater reservoirs has included the monitoring of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions above the water surface, both within the reservoir area and immediately downstream of the retaining infrastructure, using various methodologies
A workshop was convened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on 5-6 December 2006, to discuss the scientific issues related GHG emissions from freshwater reservoirs. At this workshop, government officials, scientists, and reservoir managers reviewed research and field measurements concerning GHG emissions, assessed a common understanding on this topic, identified knowledge gaps and research needs, and discussed roles for future actions. At the end of the workshop, participants approved a joint statement. Read more  New European Directive for cleaner groundwater
On Tuesday 12 December 2006, on the second day of their Plenary in Strasbourg, France, the members of the European Parliament approved a new legislation that should improve the cleanliness of water by much stricter measures against pollution by preventing ‘hazardous substances’ such as cyanide, arsenic, biocides and phytopharmaceutical substances seeping into the water. The scope of the directive was broadened so that its aim will now be to protect groundwater ‘against pollution and deterioration’ and not only ‘against pollution’. Member States will be required to take ‘all measures necessary to prevent inputs into groundwater of any hazardous substances’. The measure is particularly important as in many areas groundwater is the largest source of public drinking water and the most sensitive freshwater resource. Member States will have two years to transpose the directive into national law, it should therefore take effect from early 2009. Press release  Just published: Water Resources Systems Planning and Management - An Introduction to Methods, Models and Applications
By Daniel P. Loucks and Eelco van Beek Droughts, floods and pollution are frequently viewed as constraints to economic and social development. How too little, too much or over-polluted water is managed can determine the extent to which this critical resource contributes to human welfare. ‘Water Resources Systems Planning and Management’ considers how water resources management can become more integrated and sustainable. It introduces the science and art of modelling in support of water resources planning and management. The authors draw on their extensive experience to provide a variety of management tools that can be used in water resources system planning, development and management projects worldwide. The information, examples, case studies and range of exercises included in this book will facilitate the process of becoming a skilled water resources systems modeller, analyst and planner. It will serve many students, teachers, and practising water resource engineers and planners in the years to come. Read more VACANCIES
Job vacancy for Ramsar Secretary General
Deadline for submission of applications: 12 January 2007 The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is seeking to appoint a new Secretary General. The principal qualities required of the incumbent are a commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use, proven leadership qualities, demonstrated high level representational skills in an international context, and the ability to motivate staff and others. Applicants should have a university degree (preferably a post-graduate degree) or an equivalent demonstrated level of knowledge in at least one subject relevant to wetland conservation and sustainable use, such as geography, biology, hydrology, marine sciences, natural resources management, land-use planning, and socio-economic aspects of sustainable development. Extensive work experience and evidence of achievements in the area of nature conservation and/or sustainable use issues, and a minimum of ten years' work experience in senior positions, are indispensable.
More information 
EVENTS 1st Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health
17-19 January 2007, Geneva, Switzerland -Organizers: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe)
2nd Congress on Rivers and Wetlands Restoration
23-25 January 2007, Tarragona, Spain -Organizers: Catalan Water Agency, Spain; New Water Culture Foundation, Spain International Symposium on Wetland Restoration 2006
27-29 January 2007, Otsu Shiga, Japan -Organizers: Shiga Prefecture Department of Lake Biwa, Japan; Environmental Policy Office; Japan ‘Time to Adapt - Climate Change and the European Water Dimension’ Conference
12-14 February 2007, Berlin, Germany -Organizer: Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
International Symposium on Flood Defence (ISFD4)
14-16 May 2008, Toronto, Canada -Organizer: Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Canada
DID YOU KNOW...? FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT WATER AND MIGRATION- Migration is considered one of the defining global issues of the early 21st century, as more and more people are on the move today than at any other point in human history.
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that now there are about 192 million people living outside their place of birth, which is about 3% of the world's population. From these migrants, there are at least 25 million environmental refugees.
- People who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption (natural and/or triggered by people) that jeopardized their existence and/ or seriously affected the quality of their life are called ‘environmental refugees’.
- Water scarcity leads to migration to other areas with better living conditions and/or where usable water is still available in sufficient quantities.
- When global warming takes hold, there could be as many as 200 million people overtaken by disruptions of monsoon systems and other rainfall regimes, by droughts of unprecedented severity and duration, and by sea-level rise and coastal flooding.
- While Sub-Saharan remains the prime locus of environmental refugees, there are sizeable numbers in other regions and countries. At least 6 million of China’s 120 million internal migrants should be regarded as environmental refugees, having been obliged to abandon their farmlands due to shortages of agricultural plots following decades of population growth. In Mexico there are 1 million new environmental refugees each year; some move to cities definitely, and a few return home, leaving a cumulative total of at least 2 million in 1995. Finally there 10 million new refugees per year displaced involuntarily because of public works projects, notably large dams, (with a cumulative total of 50 million in just China and India).
- Mass migration is a major consequence of desertification. Some 60 million people are expected to move from the desertified areas of Sub-Saharan Africa towards Northern Africa and Europe between 1997 and 2020.
- Large displacements of population can cause instability or conflict in the host country, country of origin, or within a region. They entail depletion of scarce resources, overcrowding, shortage of potable water and unsanitary conditions that can lead to disease epidemics. If sustainable systems are not put in place, water sources may be depleted and/or contaminated, which eventually could be a source of serious friction with local host communities.
- In the Brazilian northeast, during times of drought, most men migrate for wage employment and women become the heads of the household. These women are known as widows of the drought.
Information from the 2nd United Nations World Water Development Report, 'Water, a shared responsibility', from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) website, from the publication ‘International Cooperation and Migration’ [PDF format -1.37 MB], from the publication ‘Linking Water Scarcity to Population Movements: From Global Models to Local Experiences’ [PDF format - 916 KB], from Chapter IV ‘Women and desertification: a dynamic relationship’ [PDF format - 364 KB] of the UNEP publication ‘Women and the Environment’, from the ‘Facts and Figures: Desertification and Drought’ section of the International Year of Freshwater website and from the paper ‘Environmental Refugees: An Emergent Security Issue’ [PDF format – 24 KB].
PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO WATER AND MIGRATIONLinking Water Scarcity to Population Movements: From Global Models to Local Experiences [PDF format - 916 KB]
By Kirstin Dow and Edward R. Carr, Annelieka Douma, Gouyi Han and Karl Hallding. © Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). 2005. This publication reviews forecasts of global water scarcity, and evaluates linkages between these forecasts and understanding of migration in order to better focus research and policy addressing the role of the environmental factors that contributing to population movement and ‘environmental refugees’. The paper focuses on various issues of exposure to water scarcity and water stress provided by global scenarios and forecasts. It reviews major efforts to estimate future water stress and notes the limitations to these in terms of drawing connections between water scarcity and people’s livelihoods and vulnerability.Finally, the paper explores the relation between migration and environmental degradation, of which water scarcity is an important component. Access the full publication [PDF format - 916 KB]
LINKS ABOUT WATER AND MIGRATIONInternational Organization for Migration (IOM)
IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.This website contains information on policy, research, activities, publications and facts and figures. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
This website offers data on refugees, internally displaced persons, the world’s stateless people, resettlement, etc. It explains that providing adequate water for refugees goes beyond assuring the quantity and quality of water supplies – the way in which water is provided is also crucial. The website also offers information on environmental concerns during refugee protection operations, a brochure on providing water and sanitation to refugees, publications and news. Population movement and displaced people section This section of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies’ website provides a definition of different types of moving and displaced people and gives information on the related Federation operations, on the Platform for European Red Cross Cooperation on Refugees, and related links.
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