MARCH IN FOCUS
 22 March: World Water Day ‘Coping with water Scarcity’
'Coping with Water Scarcity' was the theme for World Water Day 2007 (WWD 07), which was celebrated on 22 March under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This year's theme highlights the increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide and the need for increased integration and cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels.
States and the general public were invited to devote the Day to implement water-related UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in the national context. The WWD 07 website also provides information on events organized on the day, slideshows, videos and other resources.
:: WWD 07 website
:: Calendar of events
:: Message of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon [PDF format - 16.6 KB]
:: UNESCO Director-General's message for WWD07 [PDF format - 56 KB]
This message is also available in French [PDF format – 48.7 KB], Spanish [PDF format – 41.8 KB], Arabic [PDF format – 69.4 KB], Chinese [PDF format - 179 KB], and Russian [PDF format - 122 KB]
UPCOMING EVENTS
13 April: International conference on Managing Water Towards 2015, Copenhagen, Denmark
Organizers: Government of Denmark, UN-Water, co-convened by WWAP
:: Agenda [PDF format – 72.4 KB]
30 May: Pre-congress meeting of the 13th World Water Congress
Organizer: the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), with WWAP participation
:: Website
WWAP NEWS
Annual review meeting on UNESCO-Japan funds in trust for capacity building
This annual review meeting took place on 13 March 2007 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. Japan’s contribution to WWAP is an important component of the activities carried out within the framework of the UNESCO-Japan funds in trust for capacity building.
Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui, WWAP’s deputy coordinator and Mr. Toshihiro Sonoda, WWAP programme officer, presented the results of phases 1 and 2 (2000-2006) and plans for phase 3 (2006-2009) to Mr. Jun Saito, Director of the Division of Multilateral Cultural Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. Mr. Saito expressed his satisfaction of the accomplishments of phases 1 and 2, highlighting the quality of the World Water Development Reports and related documentation, as well as their dissemination and visibility.
Denmark’s contribution to WWAP Phase 3
UNESCO-WWAP and the Danish Hydrology Institute (DHI) have signed an agreement concerning their collaboration within the framework of WWAP’s 3rd phase. DHI will develop and test several indicators, including governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) related indicators, and contribute to the creation of 2 case studies, in Bangladesh and Zambia.
:: DHI website
WWAP CASE STUDIES
New case study: Lake Merin Bi-national Basin
Mr. Pedro Valenzuela, Consul of Uruguay in Yaguarón (Brazil), has submitted an official proposal for a WWAP case study based on the Bi-national Lake Merin Basin. The case study will be carried out under the authority of the Local Autonomous Administration Elect of Río Branco (Uruguay) and the Yaguarón Prefecture (Brazil). Water professionals from Brazil and Uruguay have been working together to manage this 63,000 km² basin since the 1960s.
WWAP’s deputy coordinator, Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui, accepted the proposal on behalf of the WWAP secretariat, and asked the local authorities to kindly inform the corresponding national authorities of this initiative. This case study will be an excellent example of cooperation and knowledge transfer between countries to manage an important and strategic transboundary basin. The focal point for this case study will be Mr. Carlos María Serrentino, Technical coordinator of the Members of the World Association for Water’s Uruguayan Chamber.
La Plata Basin case study activities for WWAP Phase 3
WWAP’s deputy coordinator, Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui met with the coordinator of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee of La Plata Basin (CIC) on 5 and 6 March 2007 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to define future activities within the framework of the La Plata Basin case study. Together they agreed that the case study developed for WWAP phase 3 would focus on 3 main issues of interest to the basin:
- water and transportation
- climate change: impacts and adaptation
- water governance: actualization and monitoring.
The basin is shared by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The La Plata Basin case study was developed during WWAP Phase 2 and provided many examples for the 2nd World Water Development Report, ‘Water, a shared responsibility’ (WWDR2, 2006).
:: Read more about the La Plata Basin case study
Future activities of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country case study
The authorities of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Spain, have confirmed their wish to continue their collaboration with the Programme within the framework of the WWAP case studies, through the UNESCO Centre of the Basque Country (UNESCO Etxea).
Mr Mikel Mancisidor, director of UNESCO Etxea, Mr Josu Sanz, environmental coordinator of UNESCO Etxea, and Mr. Iñaki Urrutia, case study coordinator of the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country met with WWAP’s deputy coordinator, Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui, on 29 March 2007 at UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, France, to discuss further collaboration during WWAP phase 3. The main projects are:
- developing a case study focussed on governance within the Spanish Basque Country,
- organizing international water-related events
- developing water education programmes to raise awareness on water issues.
The Autonomous Community of the Basque Country case study was developed during WWAP Phase 2 and provided many examples for the 2nd World Water Development Report, ‘Water, a shared responsibility’ (WWDR2, 2006).
:: Read more about the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country case study
WWAP phase 3 case studies
Several partners have already confirmed that they will continue their collaboration and participation in the WWAP case study process through WWAP phase 3 (2006-2009). The La Plata Basin, Japan and Sri Lanka case studies will thus be further developed.
New case studies will also provide examples and lessons learned for the next World Water Development Report (WWDR3, 2009). A case study will be developed in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Bolivia will provide a nation-wide case study. Finland and the Russian Federation have agreed to provide a case study on the transboundary Vuoski/Vuoska Bassin, for which Ms. Sirkka Haunia, Director of International Cooperation of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) will act as focal point. Brazil and Uruguay will also provide a case study on the Bi-national Lake Merin Basin, and Denmark has agreed to contribute to case studies in Bangladesh and Zambia.
:: Read more about WWAP case studies
Water allocation and privatization in Thailand
Thailand has made good progress towards achieving several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including those related to water. For example, access to safe water and basic sanitation is above 90% in both rural and urban areas. The current challenge is to address the disparities that exist between different regions.
In the dry season, the water stored in reservoirs is distributed according to priorities. The first allocation priority is water for household consumption, followed by other sectors, such as agriculture. The allocation system also takes into account the provision of water for the ecosystems and for the prevention of sea water intrusion. Water allocation for agriculture is conducted at two levels:
- from its main storage to secondary or sometimes tertiary canals, water is allocated by government agencies, which are fully responsible for operation and maintenance
- at the farm level, it is allocated by farmers and water user groups/organizations.
Thailand increasingly encourages water user groups/organizations to participate more actively in the management and allocation of water in secondary canals.
The country is moving to decentralized models of water delivery, with increasing involvement of the private sector and an emphasis on demand-driven user-pay models of supply. The impact of this on equity of supply should be monitored carefully.
The above is adapted from the Thailand National Water Development Report, an extract of which was included in the case study chapter of the 2nd United Nations World Water Development Report, 'Water, a Shared Responsibility' (WWDR2, 2006).
:: Read more about the Thailand case study
:: Access the full Thailand case study [PDF format – 2.06 MB]
:: Read more about the WWDR2 Case Studies
WWAP PARTICIPATES
Preparations of the 5th International workshop on regional approaches to reservoir development and management in La Plata Basin
WWAP and several WWAP partners met with representatives of La Plata Basin countries and institutions involved in the basin on 2-3 March 2007 in Montevideo, Uruguay, to organize the workshop.
During the meeting, in which WWAP’s deputy coordinator, Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui, participated, it was agreed that the workshop would take place in March 2008 in the facilities of the Itaipú dam. Working groups are defining the focus and programme of the workshop and session coordinators were designated.
The workshop is being organized under the co-auspices of WWAP, UNESCO’s International Hydrology Programme (IHP), the Water Resources Institute of Argentina (IARH), the Environmental Research and Management Network of the River Plate Basin (RIGA), the Nihon University College of Science and Technology (CST), Japan, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environmental Monitoring System Freshwater Quality Programme (GEMS/WATER), the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), the Japan Water Forum and Expo Zaragoza 2008.
Exposition catalogues under preparation for Expo Zaragoza 2008
The elaboration of the exposition catalogues for the ‘Water, a unique resource’ bridge-pavilion exhibit and the Thematic Plaza on ‘Shared Water’ has been initiated in collaboration with WWAP, Mr. Alberto Crespo Milliet, Coordinator of the Lake Titicaca Basin case study, and Mr. Victor Pochat, Coordinator of the La Plata Basin case study. They will include contributions from scientists, decision makers and personalities of world renown, and should be distributed before and during Expo Zaragoza 2008.
The ‘Water, a unique resource’ bridge-pavilion exhibit is being designed following WWAP’s conceptual script. The main objectives of the exhibit are to introduce water as a human right, to explain the uniqueness of water as a resource to a wide audience, and to explain the processes of water governance while encouraging the public to get involved. The Thematic Plaza’s main purpose is to communicate the implications and opportunities of river basins as a management unit.
:: Bridge-pavilion
:: Thematic Plaza
WWAP PARTNERS
 23 March: World Meteorological Day ‘Polar meteorology: Understanding global impacts’
World Meteorological Day is celebrated on 23 March of each year. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council decided that the theme for the year 2007 would be ‘Polar meteorology: understanding global impacts’, as a contribution to the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007‑2008, which is being co-sponsored by WMO and the International Council for Science (ICSU).
The Polar Regions are keepers of the Earth’s climate archives. They also act as a kind of early warning system of what could be expected by the planet as a whole. Consequently, there is a great need for reliable weather forecasts in these areas, although the Polar Regions are generally distant from widely populated zones. During the last decades, significant changes were detected in the polar environment, such as a decrease in the perennial sea ice, the melting of some glaciers and permafrost and a decrease in river and lake ice. Over the next century, near-surface air temperatures are expected to rise more in the Polar Regions than in any other parts of the Earth. This will have serious implications for the cryosphere, oceanic and atmospheric circulations, the terrestrial environment and the indigenous peoples of the Arctic.
:: World Meteorological Day 2007 website
 Job vacancy for Chief of Section on Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management at UNESCO/IHP
A position for Senior Programme Specialist, Chief of Section on Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management at the Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, is currently open for recruitment.
Applicants should have an advanced University Degree (preferably PhD or equivalent scientific qualifications) in civil or environmental engineering with emphasis on water resources management, system analysis, hydrology and water quality, especially in integrated water resources management studies; and 10 to 15 years of experience, of which at least 5 years with managerial responsibilities with experience in policy development and decision making processes.
Applications are now being accepted only through UNESCO RecruitWeb online. The closing date for applications to the position is 19 April 2007.
:: Read more [PDF format - 47 KB]
:: Apply online
 Job vacancies at ICHARM in Tsukuba, Japan
The International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) in Tsukuba, Japan, was officially established under the auspices of UNESCO in March 2006.
ICHARM contributes significantly to UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and acts as a global facility contributing to the International Flood Initiative (IFI), a joint programme of the Organization with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations University (UNU), the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the International Association for Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). Also, ICHARM will contribute to the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) as one of the leading actors addressing the risk management chapter of the next World Water Development Report (WWDR3, 2009).
There are currently 6 Specialist Positions to be filled at ICHARM. Job descriptions, required qualifications and further details concerning applications are available on the ICHARM website.
:: Read more
 1 April: Closing date for paper submissions for the 2nd IASTED International Conference on Water Resources Management (WRM 2007)
The 2nd International Conference on Water Resources Management of the International Association of Science and Technology for Development (IASTED), organized with the support of WWAP, will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, on 20-22 August 2007.
The purpose of this conference is to act as an interdisciplinary forum for decision-makers, academics, and professionals interested in the development and application of technology to ensure the sustainable use and management of water resources. The forum will cover both hard and soft technology and will serve to promote the use of appropriate technologies. The conference topics include: water supply and sustainable use; wastewater and stormwater management; integrated watershed management; pollution prevention and reduction in industry; issues in implementing environmentally sound technologies.
Papers must be submitted via the WRM 2007 website by 1 April 2007.
:: Submit a paper
:: Conference website
 New ISDR ‘Stop disasters!’ game
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) launched a new on-line game within the framework of the 2006-2007 ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School’ Campaign. Natural hazards, such as floods, droughts and earthquakes, do not need to become disasters. Many measures can be taken to reduce their impact.
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups when disasters occur, but if they are taught about the risks posed by natural hazards at an early age, they will have a better chance of saving their lives when exposed to them. The on-line game aims to teach children to build safer villages and cities against disasters. Through play, children will learn how the location and the construction materials of houses can make a difference and how early warning systems, evacuation plans and education can save lives. Children are the future architects, mayors, doctors, and parents of the world of tomorrow. If they know what to do to reduce the impact of disasters, they will create a safer world. The game also includes facts and figures about disasters such as floods, hurricanes and droughts.
:: Game
FACTS AND FIGURES ON WATER IN THAILAND
- Thailand is located in Southeast Asia in the centre of the Indochina peninsula between latitude 6°-21° N and longitude 98°-106° E. There are 25 basins in the country.
- Thailand’s climate is mainly governed by two monsoons namely: the southwest monsoon and the north-east monsoon. Its location in a monsoon region makes Thailand’s water resources seem abundant.
- The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm but 70% of it is concentrated in the wet season, leading to fluctuating runoff: in all rivers and other wetlands there is an overflow of water during the wet season and shortages during the dry season.
- The combined effects of climate, population growth and a socio-economic development have fostered many water-related problems such as shortages, flooding, pollution and conflict over uses.
- Between 1960 and 1990, the area devoted to agriculture doubled, while forest area was reduced by more than half.
- Deforestation contributes to land degradation on sloping and headwater regions, which causes soil erosion. Loss of forest area also contributes to the expansion of saline soils in the Northeast.
- Soil erosion, forest area reduction and land degradation due to inappropriate land-use are provoking desertification. The total area of soil loss in the country due to soil erosion, from moderate to extreme levels on both lowlands and highlands, is 17,420,302 hectares or 33.9% of the country area.
- Since 2000, water policy has consisted in creating water management organizations both at national and river basin levels with supportive laws. The national organization is responsible for formulating national policies, monitoring and coordinating policy implementation activities. The river basin organizations prepare local water management plans through a participatory approach.
- Thailand is on track for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with gender, poverty, and water and sanitation targets already achieved.
- Between 1990 and 2000, the proportion of households using a sanitary latrine increased from 86% to 98%. In rural areas, access to quality sanitation increased from 83% to 97%.
- It is expected that the pipe system providing drinking water will cover the whole country in 2008.
- Despite the development of water supply and sanitation infrastructures, morbidity rates remain high due to the high bacterial contamination of water.
:: Facts and figures taken from the 2nd United Nations World Water Development Report, 'Water, a shared responsibility' (WWDR2, 2006) and from the Thailand case study [PDF format – 2.06 MB]
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