The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. The 2013 World Water Day, on 22 March 2013, is also dedicated to water cooperation.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.
GWP CEE was founded in 1998 to foster integrated water resources management (IWRM) which is defined as the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital environmental systems.
In Slovenia, water is extracted for drinking water, energy, fish-farming, irrigation and technological purposes. In order to avoid over-extraction, an Environmental Flow framework has been implemented, assessing within what limits water can be extracted, using hydromorphological, hydrological, hydraulic and ecological criteria. The case shows that it is important to combine policy decisions with expert evaluations.
A total of 30 elementary school children and 4 teachers from SJK (C) Puay Chai 2 (a Chinese Medium school) participated in ‘Water and River Education Awareness Program” in Kuala Lumpur on the 12th of May 2012.
The acting Chair of the Regional Steering Committee for Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa, Prof Munguti Katua, told 15 delegates from Country Water Partnerships that GWP’s vision—‘a water secure world is achievable, if the present momentum is kept.”
Nine (9) Caribbean Ministers with responsibility for water resources management have committed themselves to making all essential efforts in addressing water security and climate change in the region.
Kafue Flats are the vast open floodplain of the Kafue River, important for fishing, cattle grazing, sugar cane farming, and production of hydroelectric power. Increased human pressure is, however, threatening the ecosystem. Action was taken by WWF to create partnerships between different stakeholders. Furthermore, an IWRM plan has been initiated. This case illustrates how integrated planning can bring together stakeholders with diverse interests.
The cost of managing water resources to reach social, economic and environmental goals is increasing due to increased demands from urbanisation, population growth and climatic threats – to name but some of the future challenges.
A regional workshop on Integrated Drought Management takes place in Bratislava at Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute on 5-6 October 2012.