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.
The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), formalising a collaborative relationship for addressing regional water priorities.
With 34% annual tributary flow, Kagera is the single largest river that drains into Lake Victoria. On the upper ranges contributing much of the river flow are its main tributaries of Nyabarongo and Ruvuvu.
The well-being of people all over the world depends on the various goods and services provided by ecosystems, including food, fuel, construction materials, clean water and air, and protection from natural hazards. Ecosystems, however, are under increasing pressure from unsustainable use of resources and other threats including outright conversion of lands, pollution, expansion of infrastructure and urbanisation.
Activities such as horticulture and tourism around the Great Barrier Reef create sediment, nutrient and pesticide runoff, placing increased pressure on the ecosystem. The World Wildlife Fund has taken action, predominantly by raising awareness. The key lesson is how a carefully orchestrated campaign can convince decision-makers of the importance of integrated river basin management as a means of reducing land-based marine pollution.
Oil-shale mining and oil-shale based electricity production has caused serious damage to ground and surface water in the Viru-Peipsi catchment area in Estonia. Action was taken to enhance the protection of the water resources through a project that set out a management plan. The project included data collection, monitoring and capacity building. Due to the success of this project, it can be used as an example for future developments.
GWP Partners in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southeast Asia took part in a training course on “Groundwater Management in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM),”
Former Editor and Videographer at CNS TV6 in Guyana, Mr. Shane Hubbard has claimed the top spot in GWP-C’s first Media Awards on Water. Entries by Ms. Veoma Ali, Regional Advertising Manager at One Caribbean Media Limited in Barbados and Mrs. Latoya Minott-Spence, Reporter and Producer at Television Jamaica were selected for Honourable Mention. Press release available here.
Landlocked Hungary is situated within the heart of the Danube Basin. With few exceptions all rivers come from outside the national borders.