Kenya is situated by the Indian Ocean, bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The climate is tropical along the coast and arid in the interior. In terms of terrain, the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. Kenya has deposits of, among other resources, limestone, soda ash, salt and gemstones.
Ethiopia is a landlocked state, bordered by Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Until quite recently, Ethiopia was not a landlocked state but in 1993, the entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea. On a different geographical note, the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia. The climate is tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation. In terms of natural resources, Ethiopia is not rich, although it has small reserves of gold, platinum, copper and natural gas.
Eritrea, situated by the Red Sea, is bordering Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan. This is a beneficial geopolitical position as it provides direct access to the world’s busiest shipping lane. The climate is hot; dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands. In terms of natural resources, Eritrea is rich in gold, potash, zinc and copper.
Ukraine, situated by the Black Sea is bordering Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia. It is the second largest country in Europe, placed in the crossroads between Europe and Asia, giving it a very strategic position. The climate is temperate continental (although Mediterranean in the southern Crimean coast). The precipitation is disproportionally distributed being the highest in west and north; summers are warm across the country. Most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains and plateaus. In terms of natural resources, it is among other materials rich in iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas and oil.
Slovenia, situated by the Adriatic Sea is bordered by Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy. In terms of terrain, it has an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria and mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east. The climate is Mediterranean on the coast whereas the eastern region is experiencing a continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters. Slovenia is rich in lignite coal, lead, zinc and building stone.
Situated in the Southeastern Europe by the Black Sea, Romania borders Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. It has a temperate climate with cold winters, frequently accompanied by snow and sunny summers. In terms of terrain, the central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps. Romania has substantial natural reserves, including petroleum (declining reserve), timber, natural gas, coal and iron ore.
Deltas, where the river meets the sea, are dynamic and productive systems where people live and have built civilizations for millennia. Throughout the world they host dense populations and are important centers of food production, livelihoods and industry. These confluences of the sweet and the salty waters are of great ecological significance, featuring wetlands of high and unique biodiversity. Wise management of deltas is crucial for the integrity of ecosystems, economic well being and poverty alleviation.
GWP Hungary organized for the 5th time the national final of the Danube Box competition on 19 May in Budapest. The competition was hosted as each year by the Geological Institute of Hungary.
The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a worldwide network and an intergovernmental organisation, supporting countries and regions in their vision for a water secure world and their mission to support the sustainable development and management of water and related resources worldwide. GWP has a network of over 2600 partner organisations, with 13 Regional Water Partnerships and 80 Country Water Partnerships.
GWP Chair Dr Letitia A Obeng spoke at the”High Level event Leaders’ Forum on the Future Women Want: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for Sustainable Development” on 19 June 2012 at Rio+20, organized by UN Women, in collaboration with the Government of Brazil.