Amazonian Floodplain © J. Schöngart

Summer School launched on Assessing Biodiversity and Growth Behaviour of Amazonian Floodplain Forests

Amazonian freshwater floodplain forests are one of the most species-rich floodplain forests in the world. They are endangered due to conversion into agricultural areas and pastures and through the non-sustainable use of its resources. But the ecological integrity of the floodplain forest is of crucial importance for the hydrological regime of the huge Amazonian river system, regulating landscape geomorphology, ecosystem fluxes, water quality, and the local and regional climate. In addition, the forest offers numerous habitats for an exceptional rich fauna and flora, and provides useful resources to the local population.

As a contribution to UNESCO’s Ecohydrology Programme, the INPA-Max Planck Project (Institute for National Amazonian Research, Manaus, Brazil and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany) in cooperation with the Institute of Sustainable Development Mamirauá, Tefé, Brazil will hold a summer school entitled “Assessing biodiversity and growth behaviour of Amazonian floodplain forests“ to be held on 18-31 August 2008. The summer-school is designated to researchers and post-graduate students interested in ecohydrology and sustainable use of forest resources, with special emphasis on biodiversity, population dynamics, and biomass and primary production of Amazonian floodplain forests.

For further inquiries, contact Dr. Florian Wittmann

PCCP produces new case studies in Africa and Central America

PCCP will develop a case study on the Mono River Basin, shared between Togo and Benin. A special committee was created to conduct this initiative, which gathers representatives of the Ministries of Mines, Energy and Water of both countries, representatives of the IHP National Committees and experts representing Togo and Benin. This committee met for a first workshop in Cotonou, Benin, on 30^th-31^st March 2008.

PCCP is also developing, jointly with the ISARM Programme, a case study on the Ostua Metapan aquifer, shared by El Salvador and Guatemala. A special bi-national committee was also created to conduct this activity. In addition to the representatives of IHP and ISARM from both countries, the bi-national committee brings together representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and the ministries in charge of water resources. It also includes representatives from SICA-CRRH and the Trifinio Plan and specialized experts. A first workshop was held in San Salvador, El Salvador on 24^th March 2008.

The process used for the development of these case studies is an innovative one. It has increased the degree of knowledge on the water resources in question and constitutes a point of entry for the support of a co-operative process. It therefore provides a forum for the discussion of issues related to the use of groundwater; increases the opportunities for actual co-operation, peace building and development; and supports the development of a vision for the future joint management of the water resources in question.

The Mono River and Ostua Metapan case studies are new examples of how PCCP builds on the existing political will for cooperation between countries, increases trust and confidence among stakeholders at all levels and helps nurture peace and human security.

PCCP website

Second Preparatory Meeting on the Third World Water Development Report, Perugia, Italy

From April 19^th until the 25^th, the second preparatory meeting, or “Integration Meeting,” for the Third World Water Development Report (WWDR-3) took place at the Villa La Colombella in Perugia, Italy, the new headquarters of the WWAP Secretariat. During the meeting, contributors, writers, members of the Technical Advisory Committee, co-chairs of Expert Groups, members of UN-Water and other participants involved in the development of the report discussed draft chapters and their integration. Conclusions and recommendations of the WWDR-3 were also addressed. Please see WWAP’s website for more information on the outcomes of the meeting.

WWAP website

Last call for abstracts: IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

On 15-18 October 2008, in Thessaloniki, Greece, the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management will be held. The conference organizers, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, UNESCO Chair INWEB, UNESCO-IHP, SAHRA and IGRAC, would like to announce the last call for abstracts to be submitted for the symposium.

Symposium website

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Forest hydrology – results of research in Germany and Russia

Edited by H. Puhlmann, R. Schwarze, S.F. Federov and S.V. Marunich Volume 6 in the IHP/HWRP-Berichte publications series of the German IHP/HWRP National Committee

Forests play a key role for many aspects of water resource management and environmental protection. The impact of forests on water quality and the characteristics of hydrological processes in forested catchments are of paramount importance for sustainable human development and the preservation of natural habitats. This impacts not only directly on the socio-economic situation of people living in forested environments, but also affects whole societies via the close links of forestry, sustainable water resource management and other aspects of human economic behavior such as agriculture, energy supply and trade.

This report aims at helping to clarify some of the main characteristics of forest hydrology in order to provide a sound basis for planning and operational purposes for both water managers and forest officials. It is based on scientific research in the Black Forest and Bavarian Forest (Part I), as well as a thorough study of the hydrological characteristics of Valday forests in Russia (Part II).

This publication is a contribution to the 6^th Phase of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) by the German IHP/HWRP National Committee.

Read more

Social Scientist/Researcher – International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Hyderabad, India

The Social Scientist will take the lead in developing and applying methodologies for analyzing livelihood systems, gender and poverty impacts of recommended technological and water management options, conduct research on social and institutional issues in water resource allocations. He or she will contribute specifically to studies which will result in water management strategies to improve water productivity in mixed crop-livestock farming systems. The Social Scientist will in addition contribute to a study on agrarian transformations in river basins which are experiencing water shortages, and will also be expected to participate in and advise on research methodologies for social science investigations of other studies carried out by IWMI.

Read more [PDF format]

What does it mean to be a UNESCO Water Chair?
The UNESCO Water Chair at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece is part of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme. Our main activities are to promote, through networking and twinning, two main goals: first, to contribute to bridging the gap between academic research and new knowledge on the one hand, and the implementation of this in the field on the other and, secondly, to facilitate access to new knowledge and transfer of skills in the Balkans and in developing regions outside Europe.

Our Water Chair was established in 2003, specifically for the “sustainable management of water and conflict resolution”. As a UNESCO Chair we have the flexibility to respond quickly to demands for new learning, knowledge, research, training and programme development through the transfer of knowledge across borders.

Can you tell us a bit about INWEB and what you do with them?
INWEB is an international non-governmental association of academic and non-academic institutions, operating as a network of networks, each Balkan country member having a focal point for its own members. INWEB was created by 50 water experts, all participants at a workshop organised under my coordination in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1999 in order to discuss and exchange experience on “Transboundary Water Resources Management” and how a sustainable cooperation network could be established in the Balkans.

INWEB aims to ensure the highest level of up-to-date information and communication services on water problems, concentrating on transboundary issues, resolving conflicts and developing a common approach in internationally shared basins for sustainable water management. Recent projects include web-based databases on transboundary aquifers in the Balkans and the MEDA region powered by Google Earth with exciting interactive maps providing a tour of locations in different river basins.

You are convening the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management in October.  Why should someone attend this event?
In many ways, this Symposium is a continuation of the UNESCO/Chair INWEB’s activities and builds on the experience gained from the three previous symposiums held in Mexico, the USA and, most recently, in Spain, where water managers, policy makers, academics, consultants and representatives of international organisations and NGOs shared their experiences on transboundary waters.

The aim is to adopt a multi- and trans-disciplinary approach in order to benefit from various scientific disciplines like sociology, law, economics, hydrology and conflict resolution. As the free market economy dominates the world, problems for sustainable socio-economic development, various uses of water and environmental protection become very acute. Participants at the symposium in Thessaloniki will have the opportunity to assess the state of the art and the progress recently made in the management of transboundary waters, they will benefit from the views of internationally recognised scientists and from case studies and have the chance to plan common activities in transnational cooperation programmes.

What types of activities is INWEB planning for the future?

• To promote in the Balkans and the Mediterranean major international programmes UNESCO already initiated in the field of transboundary waters, like UNESCO-ISARM and UNESCO/PC-CP;
• To work with UNESCO-BRESCE, Venice Office and GEF on transboundary karst aquifers;
• To improve methodologies and tools for transboundary water management and help to meet the Millennium Development Goals related to water;
• To involve stakeholders and increase participation activities for sustainable water management in support of the EU Water Framework Directive; and
• To develop distance learning and educational activities for shared waters.

• Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the crucial role of energy as a component in sustainable development has been widely recognized. Although Agenda 21 did not have a chapter specifically devoted to energy, its comprehensive programme for action to achieve sustainable patterns of production and consumption revealed how closely such aims are linked to the availability of affordable energy.
• The world is facing a situation in which 2 billion people have no electricity at all, and 2.5 billion people in developing countries, mainly in rural areas, have little access to commercial energy services.
• The world electricity consumption is expected to rise by 73% between 1999 and 2020, making electricity the fastest-growing form of energy. This growth will be driven mainly by developing countries.
• Water is used in most means of generating power, and in many countries hydropower is the only really sustainable energy source.
• Hydropower is already a major contributor to the world's energy balance, providing 19% of total electricity production.
• Hydropower plants generate electricity or mechanical power by converting the power available in the flowing water of rivers, canals or streams. This requires a suitable rainfall catchment area, a hydraulic head, a means of transporting water from the intake to the turbine, such as a pipe or millrace, a power house containing the power generation equipment and a valve gear needed to regulate the water supply as well as all primary mechanical and electrical equipment components, and, finally, a tailrace to return the water to its natural course.
• Hydropower supplies at least 50% of electricity production in 66 countries, and at least 90% in 24 countries. About half of this capacity and generation is in Europe and North America.

The section “Did You Know…?” is taken from the 1^st United Nations World Water Development Report: “Water for People, Water for Life" (WWDR1, 2003).

- International Hydrological Programme
- World Water Assessment Programme
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Water-related Institutes and Centres under the Auspices of UNESCO
- UNESCO Water-related Chairs

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