Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China and its basin is home to nearly 12 million people. Due to overuse, silting, sedimentation and decreasing inflows from the Yangtze River during the dry season, the environment is deteriorating, water shortages are more frequent and wetlands are shrinking.
The twin engines of urbanisation and resource depletion will undermine efforts to achieve water security: water availability will be eroded and conflicts will escalate. The assumptions underlying conventional urban water management must be revisited.
Dr. Ania Grobicki, GWP Executive Secretary, speaking at a World Water Day press conference at the United Nations in New York, called on governments to recommit to IWRM and Water Efficiency Plans at the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012. Governments agreed to such Plans in Johannesburg, South Africa, known as the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2002).
The water stakeholders in Sierra Leone agree to establish a National Water Partnership (CWP) at a meeting held December 23, 2011 in Freetown. The consultative meeting was convened to validate the feasibility study for the creation of a CWP in the country.
Within the framework of implementing the climate change related commitments of the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation, GWP and AMCOW are implementing the Water Climate Development programe (WACDEP). The WACDEP aims to support African countries develop No/low regrets Water Security and Climate Resilience Investment Strategies, Plans and projects, and promote the integration of water security and climate resilience into national development plans.
GWP, together with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organised a Consultation Meeting on the Proposed Integrated Drought Management Programme in Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 November 2010.
Interview de Camille F. Jepang Sandjong, chargée du Programme Régional Eau et Zones Humides à l’UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature) Programme pour l’Afrique Centrale et de l’Ouest.
World Water Day 2012 was celebrated on 22nd March under the theme of "Water and Food Security: The World is Thirsty Because We are Hungry". A host of activities was organised by the Country Water Partnerships of GWP South Asia to mark this day. More details of the events carried out by each Country Water Partnership are given below