ECO-PROS Managing our Freshwater Ecosystems

WORLD WATER DAY - March 22, 2006
World Water Day (WWD) 2006 will be guided by the theme 'Water and Culture' under the leadership of UNESCO.
(UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)

4th World Water Forum
"Water, a shared responsibility" (U.N. presented at the 4th World Water Forum)

BEYOND THE RIVER: Sharing Benefits and Responsibilities
2006 World Water Week in Stockholm August 20-26, 2006
Water Security for the 21st Century - Building Bridges Through Dialogue
The official language for World Water Week is English.

We need radical changes in thinking -
"the world is building up an enormous environmental debt.
Society places ever-greater strain on natural ecosystems."

Decision-makers in political and business communities
must place water central in their thinking.
A land use decision is also a water decision

Are you upstream or downstream?
If you're upstream, consideration must be given to those downstream.

WETLANDS AND WATER RESOURCES
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
Also known as the World Conservation Union.
The Union brings together scientists, policy makers, business leaders, and NGOs to impact the way the world values and uses nature - and works to apply sound ecosystem management to conserve biodiversity while building sustainable livelihoods for those directly dependent on natural resources.

"15,589 species of animals and plants are threatened with extinction
and many ecosystems – wetlands, forests – are being degraded and destroyed"

During the 2nd World Water Forum and Ministerial Conference held in The Hague, Queen Noor of Jordan spoke on the worldwide water crisis, stating:

"Nearly a quarter of the world's six billion people have no access to safe drinking water, while almost half lack adequate sanitation, with water-related diseases killing up to four million people a year." We must change the way we manage our limited water resources and look for "equitable resolution of resource disputes". "Social well-being, economic stability and the natural environment are interdependent, and degradation of any one endangers all three."

WATER AND NATURE INITIATIVE
The Water and Nature Initiative involves 80 partner organizations in an action plan to improve water management throughout the world. Special projects are being developed as demonstration sites to apply conservation, ecosystem and resource management. Read about the goals, approach, components, projects, and partners of the initiative.

THE GREAT LAKES - THE LARGEST FRESH SURFACE WATER SYSTEM ON EARTH is composed of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario) and their connecting channels. Learn all about this important bi-national ecosystem located in North America, and the necessity to protect it.

WATER FACTS - Wisconsin's Water Library (University of Wisconsin)
Find out how much (how little) of the world's water is fresh water, and other interesting facts about water.

STREAM CORRIDOR RESTORATION (USDA)
"A stream corridor, or stream valley, is a complex and valuable ecosystem which includes the land, plants, animals, and network of streams within it."
Restoring stream corridors must involve the participation of government agencies, public and private landowners, permit holders, and local volunteer, civic, and conservation groups and individuals.
This website contains information on the principles, processes and practices of restoring the living environment of stream corridors to ecologically viable conditions. Information is provided by 15 federal agencies. Includes case studies, slide show, images and links.

THE DEBATE ON EXPORTING CANADIAN FRESH WATER SUPPLIES
National Post Online (Canadian Press 8/13/01)

STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT
United Nations Sustainable Development - Freshwater

FRESHWATER CRISIS IN CHINA
The Yellow River's Desperate Plight
MSNBC's March of the Desert Series (10/10/99)

Drought, growing population, industry expansion, poor planning, low water prices, and reckless economic development cited as leading causes of severe water losses in the rivers, lakes and wetlands in China. As water levels drop, pollution levels rise.
Washington Post (7/1/01)

A DYING RIVER
Drought, excessive water use, pollution, and global warming are causing severe water shortages in China. Thousands of lakes are drying up which supplied the once great and powerful Yellow River waterway. Drinking water sources are dwindling and grasslands that feed animals are vanishing,
ENN (10/8/01)
People's Daily (Online news from China 10/7/01)
Qinghai Province

SAFEGUARDING OUR WATER
Making Every Drop Count, Growing More Food with Less Water, How We Can Do It
Scientific American

DRINKING WATER QUALITY
"all people, whatever their stage of development and their social and economic conditions, have the right to have access to an adequate supply of safe drinking water"
Arsenic in drinking-water, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, Training Pack, Water Resources Management
World Health Organization (WHO)

THE WORLD'S WATER - Freshwater information, data and web resource links
Map of Populations Without Access to Safe Drinking Water
Map of Populations Without Access to Sanitation Services

INTERNATIONAL LIST OF WATER RESOURCE LINKS

INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
"The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a scientific research organization dedicated to studying the issues of sustainable and productive use of water resources, particularly as they relate to agriculture, water scarcity and food security in the developing world."

WATER WATCH
Maps and graphs of current water resources conditions in U.S.

GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSESSMENT (GIWA)
A new project has begun to assess the world's water resources. Sixty-six subregions within nine international megaregions (comprising marine, coastal, freshwater, surface waters, and groundwaters) will be assessed as to ecological status and causes of environmental problems. This project will provide sound scientific information on the shared water resources of the world to analyze current problems and develop a plan for the future. Links are provided for basic information on each region and other water-related issues. Much more information will be continually posted as project develops.

FRESHWATER CRISIS IN EUROPE
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND'S WATER AND WETLAND INDEX
Deutsch, Ellinika, English, Español, Français
WWF European Freshwater Programme

World Wildlife Fund reports 50 out of 69 river stretches in 16 European countries are in poor health from habitat destruction, pollution, dams, canals, run-off, waste dumping, development, inadequate monitoring, riverbank modifications, farming practices, increased demand, poor water management, drainage, peat cutting, and lack of funds to restore freshwater systems.
EU rivers are up the creek - WWF (South Africa Independent 4/20/01)
Also see Related Stories on potential water wars, poison spills.
UK's polluted rivers named (BBC News 4/20/01) See related stories and internet links.

MOST OF EARTH'S RIVERS STRESSED, REPORT WARNS
National and state boundaries have been lacking. This needs to be addressed and changed if we are going to be able to ensure there is enough water for the world’s growing population in the next century and to protect the environment.
MSNBC (11/29/00)
Click on the map to bring up information on stressed water supplies in various continents.