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3.13 North, South and Central America and the Caribbean
Water Policy 3 (2001) S103–S116
Conference report 3.13 North, South and Central America and the Caribbean Rapporteur: Bernhard Griesinger, David Moody. Participants: 120
Regional vision presentations Richard Meganck, Co-Chair of the Water Vision for the Americas Committee, noted that the vision process directed by the World Water Council is another important step in advancing a water management plan for the Americas. He briefly reviewed the antecedent meetings which have developed principles and proposed actions needed to implement integrated water and land resources management in the Americas beginning with the Mar del Plata Water Conference (1977), the International Conference on Water and Environment (1992), the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992), three Hemispheric Presidential Summits, and a variety of regional water meetings. Of particular note, is the Hemispheric Summit on Sustainable Development in 1996 where 34 heads of State approved a Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas. This plan includes 12 initiatives to improve the management of water resources and coastal areas in the region. He noted that there are many tools available to continue the ongoing strategic planning process and to develop and refine actions to implement the regional water visions. These tools include, among others, the activities of the Global Water Partnership; programs of regional organizations such as CATHALAC, the Caribbean Environmental Health institute, and the IWRN; the series of Inter-American Dialogues on Water Management, the fourth of which will be held in Brazil in April 2001; and a variety of technical meetings organized by professional societies, NGOs, and donor agencies. Of particular note is the Global Environment Facility support of projects to develop strategic regional approaches to water and land management at the regional and transboundary watershed levels. For example, in the insular Caribbean, all the CARICOM States, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic are collaborating in the preparation of a project proposal on Integrating Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Small Island States for submission to the GEF. Mr. Meganck concluded by recommending that those who seek to implement actions that will lead us towards the fulfillment of a water vision for the Americas fully utilize progress to date in this regard, recognize existing institutions and the roles and responsibilities of these institutions for the management of land and water resources. The implementation of a true water vision for the Americas must be a shared activity that is owned and supported by all participants. If we are truly to ‘‘share and care’’ about water resources, we must learn how to plan and work together to build a better future. Water, in fact and in practice, must be everybody’s business.
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Richard Connor presented an overview of the multiple water issues that face North American with its diversity of climatic conditions, ecosystems, and water resources availability. Water quality is of increasing concern, especially runoff from non point sources in urban and agricultural areas. The North American Vision has to take into account institutional and legal differences in the region. For example, water in Mexico is owned by the Nation whereas in the United States water rights are held by the private sector, subject to water laws that differ somewhat from State to State. Despite differences in water availability, institutional arrangements, and available financial resources there are a number of common challenges. Water management institutions must shift away from water supply to water demand management. They must protect and maintain aquatic ecosystems by adopting sustainable practices; use water pricing policies that value the environmental and esthetic uses of water to control water demands and protect water quality and the aquatic environment; and implement institutional reforms that permit water to be managed on a watershed basis through the use of river basin organizations, as is being done in Mexico. The North American vision recognizes the need for all citizens to have access to clean and reliable supplies of water and accepts restrictions on water use in areas of limited supply, ecological sensitivity, or geologic vulnerability; the need for access to sanitation services; the establishment and enforcement of water quality standards for waste water discharged to the environment; a participatory approach to water management; recognition of the interconnections between surface water and groundwater in water law and management policies; the use of the watershed approach to incorporate land and water interactions across sectorial issues; recognition of the economic, ecological, intrinsic, and cultural values provided by freshwater ecosystems and the incorporation of these values in the decision making process; the need for flexibility in water management frameworks in each country to deal with uncertainties, such as extreme climatic event; that human and ecological health are directly linked to water quality and pollution prevention is far less expensive that pollution cleanup; and the need for a variety of institutional reforms, training of professions, information exchange, and education of the public. Mr. Connor presented two case studies, the Upper San Pedro River (U.S. and Mexico) and the Lower Fraser River (Canada) to illustrate current management approaches being used in North America. In summary, he noted that the participation of an educated and informed public would create a momentum that will carry on through different levels of governments as well as through the public and private sectors. The challenge will lie in integrating management at all levels, from the water user making day-today decisions at the local level to the decision-makers responsible for administering large river basins and establishing national water policy. Chandra Madramootoo made a brief presentation of the Canadian water vision. Canada is the second largest country in the world with a population of 30.6 million people. Canada is steward of 9 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water resources. The vision clearly recognizes the intrinsic value of water and freshwater ecosystems in terms of identity, heritage, aesthetics, and spiritual values. The Canadian water vision identifies a number of key elements of a new paradigm for integrated water resources management with an ecosystems approach that need to be implemented if Canada is to proceed to manage water resources in a sustainable fashion: to establish clear national leadership and a policy for freshwater; to implement integrated land water resources management systems; to establish a new value system for freshwater based on full recognition of the intrinsic economic, social, cultural and environmental values of freshwater; to increase public awareness of the importance of water resources and citizen involvement in decision
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making; to develop and apply innovative technologies in key areas ,such as water saving and water conservation, remotely sensed water data collection and dissemination, biotechnology, and desalination; to improve the capacity of institutions to educate water managers and conduct research and development to advance water management; to improve the water infrastructure of urban centers; to increase the export of virtual water by utilizing Canada’s fresh water to produce food, and other value added commodities, goods and services which will be sold on the international markets; and to provide full access to international technologies, data and information to ensure that Canada has the most up to date skills and technologies for integrated water management and environmental protection. Maria C. Donoso began her presentation with a discussion of the current water problems facing Central America. Although water is generally abundant on the eastern part of Central American Countries, major centers of population are located on the drier western side of the Central American Mountain Range. Population growth and the high concentration of people in urban areas also have created significant water quality problems. Seventy-nine percent of wastewater discharges are not treated and only 5 percent of drinking water is treated. As a result, some 20 million people in Central America are consuming water of questionable quality. A related issue is the lack of solid waste collection and proper waste disposal. Some 25–50 percent of the wastes generated in the region are dumped directly into streams. Other issues include a lack of information about the extent of groundwater resources, a lack of local and national water plans, the over exploitation and degradation of aquifers in urban areas, the uncontrolled use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, the failure of septic systems, the extensive soil erosion due to deforestation, and the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, and landslides. Two important studies, the Integrated Water Management Plan in the Central American Isthmus (1999) and the Support for Policies and Strategies in the Integrated Management of Water Resources in Central America (1999) have laid out a number of recommendations to improve implementation of integrated water resources management in the region that involve legal and institutional reforms, and modernization of governmental structures. As 25 percent of the regions water resources are located in transboundary basins, there is a strong motivation for Central American countries to integrate a shared vision of water resources management. The Central American vision recognizes the need to address the issues of clean water supply, public health, and food production; to harmonize water laws and regulations to support integrated water resources management and to provide institutions with clear mandates and goals; to install alter systems and implement land use policies to minimize the impacts of floods and droughts; to conserve and protect water resources; to value water in its various uses, including its use by ecosystems; to improve the performance of management and financial systems; to address poverty; to provide adequate financial resources as part of any solution to water issues; and to meet the growing needs for training, public awareness and participation in decision making, and education. The governments of the region have agreed on a Sustainable Development agenda. However, a detailed study is needed to identify the actions that will ensure that the sustainable use of natural resources is achieved. Mar!ıa Donoso also introduced the Caribbean water vision by pointing out that the region was very complex and that climatic and water conditions vary widely between islands. In general, the region is well endowed with water, but on a majority of islands estimated water demands are approaching or exceeding the annually renewable supply of freshwater. Safe drinking water is fast
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becoming one of the most significant constraints to socioeconomic development and a source of conflict between competing water uses for agriculture, tourism, industry, and water supply of urban areas. Water pollution caused by high population densities, land use conversions, and inappropriate waste disposal, and is a major environmental problem on most islands. Highly variable surface water supplies have increased dependence on groundwater, which in many areas is leading to overexploitation of the resource. In general, the Caribbean can be characterized by high levels of stress on the environment from both human activities and a limited capability to recover from hurricanes and other disasters, insufficient economic diversification from agriculture, poor macroeconomic management, high levels of unemployment and an inadequate educational system. Water management is generally carried out by national water and sewage authorities, forestry departments, and ministries of health. Implementation of integrated water resources management is hindered by fragmented responsibilities for water, lack of financial support, a lack of basic water information, and a shortage of trained personnel. The Caribbean vision lists some key actions that need to be taken to achieve a sustainable future. These include the need to raise public awareness of environmental issues through education; to improve the efficiency of institutional and organizational water management capabilities; to improve water research and the quality of information; to integrate land, freshwater, and coastal zone management of the islands; to devote attention and resources to reduce poverty; to increase stakeholder participation in decision making; to maintain environmental integrity by focusing efforts on pollution prevention and waste minimization using best management practices and appropriate technologies; and to secure adequate financial resources to support land and water management programs. Some of these issues may be best addressed at the regional level through cooperation and collaboration between island states. Victor Pochat, Chairman of GWP-SAMTAC, presented the South American water vision. The region includes 12 percent of the Earth’s land area and 28 percent of its water resources. However, regional variations in climate and water availability are significant. Some 23 percent of the total land area of South America is semi-arid or arid. The largest use of water is for irrigated agriculture (59 percent) followed by industry (23 percent) and domestic uses (18 percent). In nine countries, hydropower accounts for more than 50 percent of electrical energy and there is still untapped potential. This has made the construction of new dams a major environmental issue in the region. Water management still takes place in the context of planning to meet water demands of individual sectors of irrigated agriculture, hydropower, and water supply. Stakeholder participation in decision making is the exception rather than the rule. There is generally a lack of stable and consistent water policies. Twenty percent of the population lacks access to clean water supplies, and 30 percent lacks access to sanitation services, especially in rural and marginal urban area. This creates significant health risks to the citizens of the region. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to the future of water in South America is the widespread degradation of the environment and water resources resulting from a lack of legislation, regulation, and enforcement of water quality standards and a lack of incentives for wastewater treatment. Some countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, are currently giving more attention to wastewater treatment. Most countries have not adequately addressed the problem of preparing for floods and droughts and developing policies and plans to mitigate the impacts of these and other natural disasters. A major reform is now underway to transfer ownership of water utilities from the public to the private sector. States have not yet adjusted to their new role as
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supervisor and regulator of the private sector-owned utilities. Finally, 60 percent of the population in the region live in transboundary river basins where shared management of water resources is needed in order to provide equitable distribution of water to all users. The South American vision lists some key goals for the region: to provide access to a supply of safe, reliable water to meet the basic human needs of all citizens; to recognize water as a pillar of regional development; to implement integrated water resources management as the foundation for a strategy of sustainable water use; to incorporate the full economic, social, and environmental value of water into decisions to achieve equity, efficiency, and sustainability objectives of water management; to encourage governments to become active, flexible, and competent in performing their new roles of controlling and regulating private participation in the public sector; to recognize that knowledge is the basis for effective water management; to manage and protect the water resources of ecosystems to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental objectives; and finally, to undertake disaster planning, policies, and mitigation measures to improve the quality of life and safety of the people in South America. To achieve these visions, five general strategies have been identified: (1) to adopt integrated water resources management to improve the efficiency of water use and to promote the coordinated use of transboundary waters; (2) to consider the economic, social, and environmental value of water to improve the equity of the water allocation process; (3) to protect the quantity and quality water resources through pollution prevention and mitigation of problems that occur; (4) to increase capacity building of society through training of technical personnel, public education, adoption of appropriate technologies, and the collection and dissemination of scientific knowledge; and (5) to improve institutional frameworks for water management to include organizations, laws, regulations, and informal rules that define a country’s management style. The vision is not impossible to accomplish but commitment, creativity, and innovation will be required to attain it.
Discussion In North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has had an important impact on environment issues in Canada, United States. and Mexico. The Committee on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of NAFTA is an important forum for the discussion of major issues among the three counties of North America. It was pointed out that Costa Rica is one of the leading countries in the efforts to reform legislation and regulation. A series of recent actions have been taken to improve water management. Often regulations are contradictory and if several agencies are responsible for enforcement people can take advantage of the confusion. Regulatory systems should allow water to be properly valued. A question was raised as to how to move from Vision to Action and Action to Results. We need to focus on the details of how to do it. A number of UN organizations are linking water quantity with water quality issues. How should countries best address this linkage. Many donor agencies work on a project by project basis. This is not necessarily the best way to go. Need regional approaches. The Central American vision has the expectation that 50 percent of the surface water that is contaminated today will get cleaned up. In support of such efforts, we need to analyze the most
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effective ways of reducing pollution and adopt minimum water quality standards for drinking water. Similarly, we need to disseminate information on the most efficient methods for protecting ground water. Other tools needed are alert systems for early detection of floods, droughts, and other hazards. The vision process is a dynamic one in which conditions are constantly changing. While the vision activity was underway, Panama privatized hydropower production and several municipalities put forth recommendations to establish water management agencies at the local level. Also, the Panama Canal and its drainage area are getting a lot of attention from the international community. The project orientation of the banks has slowed them up in moving ahead. Getting quality projects to the banks for funding is a major hurdle. The turnaround time from project conception to implementation is very long. How do you make the vision happen with out the involvement of water users and the multilateral? Pochat: We have general agreement about the structure of the general strategies that need to be developed in detail at the national level. New methods are needed to evaluate the value of water at the local level. The social, economic, and environmental value is a very important concept to incorporate into decision making. How do we get financial institutions involved? It is very important at this forum to present (to the financial institutions) what the real problems are in each region. Donoso: We can’t predict the future. The vision process brought together different stakeholders to get a consensus view of what the issues are and how to approach them. In Central America a governmental process has led to the definition of specific actions to take. In the Caribbean, the situation is more complex. We need the full participation of stakeholders at the regional level. There also must be a commitment from the different sectors and financial institutions to meet together and discuss priorities. The vision is an on going process that can continue successfully if only all stakeholders participate. Connor: Wasteful practices occur in agriculture because of governmental subsidies to the farmers. This is may be true of other sectors. We need to address our questions and concerns to the funding agencies and institutions. They need to be part of the discussion. It is interesting to see that the issue of water exports was raised by the Canadian vision. We need to be specific about what is an economic good. Water in its natural state is not an economic good. Madramootoo: the International Joint Commission has ruled that under the present system, water exports are not allowed. Meganck: This is a critical issue and needs a whole meeting to address the subject. Water quality appears to be a unifying theme for the Caribbean. Watershed managers are responsible for the quality of waters up to 1 km offshore. Donoso: The issue of water quality in coastal regions was debated during the vision meetings. Coastal zones need to be introduced in the Caribbean and incorporated into the regulatory and legal framework but the situation differs from island to island. Management boundaries need to be established based on the hydrodynamics of coastal areas. One of the recommendations of the vision process was to carry out the needed research so that such boundaries can be established. It was noted that those countries interested in cooperating are always countries located downstream. But Brazil did cooperate in the La Plata. Has the situation improved? Is Brazil operating in a collaborative fashion? Latin America is rapidly urbanizing but has a very large agricultural production. Is there destructive competition between urban uses and agriculture?
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Pochat: Transboundary water resources result in upstream/down stream conflicts. Brazil and Chile are working very well with their neighbors. The situation has greatly improved over the past 20 years. Conversations are better and there is greater maturity in relations. Competition between urban and rural areas for water in Argentina is significant. In some areas, agricultural practices are changing in response to the conflicts. In some semi-arid areas there are conflicts over water with mining. Connor: Mexico has a limited water supply and growing population. Mexico is improving water use efficiency by repairing an aging water infrastructure and emphasizing water demand management.
Additional presentations Alfred Duda moderated the afternoon session by noting that we are operating under a legacy of debt. Trillions of dollars have been spent on development and remediation in the region, yet we still have major problems that need urgent attention. We must learn from our experience and not repeat the errors of the past. Of crucial importance is the need to integrate land and water management approaches with citizens participation in resource development decisions. Pantanal/Everglades Similarities and DifferencesFAdalberto Eberhard described the Pantanal as unique place on earth containing a rich diversity of life in a semi-arid environment. The Pantanal lies in a depression formed 60 million years ago that has filled with sediment eroded from the surrounding uplands to form an alluvial plain. Of great concern is the burning of large areas of uplands to clear the land for growing crops of soybeans and corn. The effects of non point source runoff containing nutrients and pesticides from these areas are bound to have adverse effects on the wildlife and the aquatic ecosystems of the region. The threat caused by open mining activities that releases heavy metals in the environment was also mentioned. New development activities such as expanding the road network in the region is also threatening the Pantanal, and urges the implementation of preventive actions in order to avoid greater damages. In the Everglades, controversy continues as to the best ways to restore environmental damages done by four drainage canals installed to prevent flooding of urban areas on the east side of the wetlands and runoff into the area from agricultural areas to the north. In both the Pantanal and the Everglades, decision makers have not properly valued the environmental services provided by clean water and wetlands and their contributions to biological diversity and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Ecosystem sustainability in the face of continued economic development of surrounding regions is the key issue in both areas. Valuing WaterFExperiences in the AmericaFYolanda Kakabadze described a project in Ecuador being conducted in partnership with The Nature Conservancy to help meet the water needs of 1.5 million people in Quito over the next 30 years. Water comes from the Caymbe-Coca and Antisana watersheds, a ‘‘water factory’’ for the city. To protect the watershed, water users pay a fee based on the cubic meters of water used into a trust fund. These funds are then used for watershed conservation protects and for implementing management plans for the protected areas to counter the threats to the watershed, such as population growth and overgrazing. Projects include the collection of environmental data, establishing grazing limits and range control systems, addressing the problems of land tenure and sustainable agricultural production, and promoting public education and awareness of the impacts of human activities on water supplies.
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Other sources of funding are being used to coordinate and expand the results to take advantage of the skills and capabilities of other groups and, in particular, to involve the participation of the private sector. The process used in Quito is each to understand and replicate in other areas. It involves the direct involvement of local governments, water companies, citizens and NGOs working together to link the water users to the source of water in a public–private alliance for water resources conservation. Bermejo River Basin ProjectFAlberto Calcagno described the Bermejo Project’s focus on developing a Strategic Action Program for implementing integrated land and water resources management at the river basin level. An institutional mechanism, a binational commission was established in 1995 to manage this transboundary river basin between Bolivia and Argentina. The current project is undertaken by the Binational Commission, the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Program, and the Organization of American States. Other participants in the project include various agencies of the national governments, regional commissions, provincial governments, and local municipalities and citizens. The Bermejo River Basin occupies about 4 percent of the Plata Basin and yet it contributes 90 percent of the sediment load of the entire basin. The Bermejo is 1300 km long with highly season stream flows which form a braided channel system across the Chaco Plains. In addition to sever soil erosion, very severe soil salinization affects the semi-arid Chaco region. Desertification is affecting 38 percent of the basin area. Adequate water supplies are a serious concern in the basin, especially during the dry season, which limits the development of otherwise favorable agricultural lands. Floods and droughts, loss of biological diversity, degradation of the quality of water resources, and the diminished quality of life and endangered cultural resources are concerns that will increase as the region develops. The objective of the Strategic Action Program is to identify the priority environmental concerns in the basin, identify specific projects to address these concerns, and to promote the watershed approach to address the problems of the basin. Through 12 regional workshops, 1300 people and 70 institutions participated in the identification of issues, causes, and possible solutions. Consultants held quantity some of the issues and implement pilot studies which demonstrated the application of some of the proposed solutions. Strategic framework links the proposed actions together in a proposed four-year program which will be the basis for further funding proposals from the governments and the Binational Commission. The study resulted in an updated Geographic Information System for the region, introduced community based sustainable management practices, and extended regional and international cooperation between participating institutions. Of particular note was the contribution that public participation made to the project although such participation takes time and will lengthen the time that a project takes to complete. Mr. Duda noted the common thread in all the presentations of the importance of public participation in developing sound proposals and in the need to integrate land and water resources management on a watershed level. Water Resources Management in Island StatesFThorant Hardware outlined some of the common characteristics and approaches to managing water resources in small island states. The Caribbean region consists of a diverse group of islands united by a common history and many cultural features. These islands have developed a narrow resource base and are extremely vulnerable to external forces of the global economy. Some of the islands have formed groupings, such as the Caribbean Community, to share a common aspiration for sustainable development.
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Populations and cities tend to be located near the coast line where they are vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes and flooding and have little internal capability for recovery from such disasters. Economic, recreational, and settlement areas are highly concentrated in relatively small areas. Different islands are at various stages of economic development and possess different levels of capability for resource management. Many are dependent on monoculture of sugar or bananas. Environment problems include increasing water scarcity, groundwater depletion, ground water and surface water pollution, sedimentation resulting from deforestation and agriculture, contamination from fertilizers and pesticides, and inadequate treatment and disposal of wastes, especially from tourist hotels. Short streams limit opportunities to store surface water. Challenges include acquisition of adequate data for decision making, management water resources to support the economy, reduction of poverty and improvements to the quality of life, and to minimize the impacts of high rates of water use on the quality of the environment. In Jamaica, 40 percent of the population are living below the poverty line and 55 percent live in urban centers. Over the past 30 years, forest areas have decreased and urban areas have expanded. Increasing domestic debt and economic stagnation are undermining the governments ability to carry out needed expenditures in water and environmental sectors. The explosive growth of urban centers a dramatic increase in irrigated agriculture, and poor watershed management have led to progressive depletion and degradation of some freshwater supplies. The resulting water scarcity has caused economic losses and social unrest. The high costs of rehabilitating existing water systems or developing new water sources threaten or have combined to delay future economic development. In recognition of this situation the Government of Jamaica has committed itself to actions which will make the most effective use of available water resources and improve the management of water. These actions include water resources assessment and monitoring; planning through the development of a National Water Resources Development Master Plan, a National Environmental Action Plan, and Irrigation Development Master Plan, and the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan; and policy development through the Water Sector Policy, Strategy, and Action Plan which incorporates the principles of integrated water resources management, water demand management, water conservation, public/private partnerships, efficient water delivery, and implementation of the principle that the polluter pays. The final action is the strengthening of water laws and water institutions including the passage of the Water Resources Act (1996) and the Irrigation Act (1998) and the creation of a Ministry of Water (1998) to provide policy direction and coordination to the activities of the National Water Commission (water and wastewater facilities), the National Irrigation Commission, and the Water Resources Authority (regulation, control, and allocation of water resources). Challenges to be addressed include increasing the cadre of training personnel to support activities in the water sector, emphasis on public awareness and education, developing guidelines for public/private partnerships, strengthening public participation in decision making, providing water services to the poor, funding water projects in rural areas, and support for island states, like Jamaica, to be treated as special cases, taking into account the fragility of the environment, the vulnerability to natural disasters, and the limited capacity to respond to high levels of poverty. Sustainable Development, Integrated Water Resources Management, and Natural Disasters in Central AmericaFMax Campos present remarks on behalf of Ricardo Rogelio Anguizola,
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General Administrator of the National Authority for the Environment, Panama and President of the Central American Commission on Sustainable Development. The population of Central America is about 34 million and is increasing 2.3 percent annually. By 2025 the population of the region will be between 59 and 64 million. Migration patterns suggest that by 2030 only 28 percent will live in the countryside. The accelerated process of urbanization will create a higher demand for basic services in cities which are already stressed. The region also used large amounts of fertilizes and the use of agrochemicals is projected to increase. Rapid population growth a high degree of poverty, especially in rural areas, and the disparity in economic wealth and access to health and education services between rural and urban areas, are major factors in planning and coordinating development to benefit the people of the region. Water is generally abundant in the region and is used to produce 53 percent of the total electric power and may increase in the future because of limited oil reserves in the region. Continued deforestation in the region has made the region vulnerable to soil erosion and the impacts of natural disasters. The Central American Committee for Environment and Development, the Regional Committee for Water Resources, and the Central American and Dominican Republic Regional Coordination Committee of Institutions for Drinking water and Sanitation provide an institutional framework of the Central American Integration System that reinforces regional agreements, such as the Central American Alliance for Sustainable Development and the ‘‘Central American Letter on Water’’ of the Central American Parliament, and provides the political will for action. Progress in made in integrated economic systems, organizing interregional commerce, and other regional improvements was drastically set back by Hurricane Mitch which affected 3.5 million people. The Central American Plan on Natural Disasters, Regional Action Plan for the Integrated Management of Water Resources contains strategies and actions to make the region less vulnerable to natural disasters and to guide future development of water resources in the region. Public Participation in water management processesFJean-Maurice Lattulipe described a process used in by the Provincial Government in Quebec, Canada to obtain public participation in decision making. A board, created under the Ministry of the Environment, to provide advice on the environmental impacts of projects. Board members are appointed and charged with making objective analyses of environmental issues in order to help citizens understand the technical aspects of projects. The Board members must abide by a code of conduct, maintain neutrality, and hold public hearings on the issues. The Board has formed a Commission support its work by conducting technical reviews, circulating announcements of meetings, publishing findings and decisions, and so on. Rising water demands, increased conflicts over the allocation of water resources, and climate change have raised questions about how Quebec will meet its water demands in the future. A symposium was organized to share knowledge about issues and water resources management and provided opportunities for the public to comment. This Quebec-wide consultation is addressing a number of themes. Public hearings were held in two parts during the spring and fall of 1999. Efforts were made to help NGOs to participate. These hearing have created a climate of public trust and an awareness of the need to participate in discussions of an issue that effects all. The participation by experts provide clear answers to questions. Over all, the goal of this process is to develop a true meeting place for all sectors of societyFprofessional societies, govern bodies, NGOs, the private sector, and members of the general public.
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Discussion Several questions were raised about the current situation in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is threatened by the hidrovia project and a pipeline project. For the moment, the hidrovia has been put aside because of pressures brought by local and international NGOs. However, l the hidrovia is backed by a strong lobby of interests representing port development, barge companies, and irrigation. How strongly does the public participation process established in Quebec support long term action? Jean-Maurice Lattulipe: The Board is advisory in nature and provides analyses of projects. What is the nature of the Action Plan for Central America? Campos: The Action Plan addresses regional issuesFactions that will benefit the region as a whole; for example, actions needed in transboundary river basins which share water resources. The plan does not duplicate actions that need to be taken within nations in the region. It promotes the interaction of the public because we are all part of the solution to the water problem. In address natural disasters, loss of property may not be reduced but loss of life can be through timely warnings. Disaster planning is part of national planning but efforts can be made to coordinate regional assistance arrangements. Little changes in the runoff of the drainage into the Panama Canal can significantly affect operations of the Canal. How will watershed management and the Canal management be integrated? Campos: Problems of protecting the watershed of the Canal will be part of the cost of managing the Canal. Revenues from the Canal will be used for watershed protection. The Americas: From Vision to ActionFRaymundo Jos!e dos Santos Garrido, wrapped up the Day of the Americas by presenting a framework for vision to action for the Americas. This meeting is just one step towards the implementation of national policies for water resources management in the Americas. People should return home from the World Water Forum with a new attitude about the importance of water resources and a desire to implement the necessary actions to move forward toward implementing a Water Vision for the Americas. We need a framework for these actions and a way of achieving movements that have results. We need to induce the water user and water managers to adopt this new attitude. Progress will be complicated by the fact that countries in the region are at different stages of development. It is probably not feasible to have a single action plan for the region. However, it may be possible to develop specific actions for major sectors such as irrigation systems, urban sanitation systems, and rural water supplies based on a country’s stage of economic development.
Recommendations Several recommendations should be taken into consideration for each water problem, keeping in mind the following: 1. GovernanceFWater administration should have continuity. Political changes should not interfere in the continuity of water resources management plans and activities. 2. Institutional aspectsFInstitutions should integrate all aspects of water management and complement each other in their duties related to water. Economic instruments should be seriously considered as a major tool of water resources management.
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3. Urban developmentFUrban problems must be approached holistically, integrating all aspects of integrated land and water resources management. 4. Rural developmentFBest available practices should be widely disseminated and adopted. Pollution control and prevention mechanisms should be widely applied in rural areas. Land use planning needs to be promoted. 5. HydropowerFHydropower is a very important source of energy in Latin America. Dams will still need to be built. Need to be much more sensitive to the environment impacts of dams and their social consequences. 6. IndustryFNeed to promote and adopt clean technologies and reduce discharges by water reuse and recalculation. Markets for industrial process by-products also need to be developed. Environmental certification (ISO 14000) of industrial facilities is very important. 7. NavigationFLow cost transportation is important to economic development. Barge equipment needs to adapt to rivers so that environmental impacts are minimized. 8. Ecological water demandsFNeed to protect biological diversity by taking into account the needs of the environment in making water allocation decisions. 9. A cross-sectoral issue of the utmost importance is the public participation in water resource management and environmental education.
Next steps After the Second World Water Forum, the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN) examined the question of what might be done to follow up on the progress made at the Day of the Americas. The following concepts resulted from this discussion which will serve as a general guideline for future meetings of the IWRN Executive Committee and Advisory Council. The Water Vision for the Americas Committee should be expanded to include a representative of the GWP Central American Technical Advisory Committee and the World Water Council, Western Hemisphere Bureau. Also the existing membership of the committee should be reaffirmed with the intent of using it to continue coordination of Vision of the Americas events. Efforts should be made to include discussions of regional and national plans of action in the programs of meetings sponsored by organizations who are members of the WVAC and IWRN. A schedule of such meetings should be prepared and widely distributed to IWRN focal points and others. Meetings such as that scheduled for the IWRN Advisory Council in Mexico in November 2000 should be used for this purpose. Every effort should be made to avoid unnecessary duplication and take into account the results of all technical discussions held to date on water related issues. The IWRN and its members should participate in the ‘‘Americas Roundtable on Water in the 21st Century’’ sponsored by the Western Hemispheric Bureau of the World Water Council on 27–28 July, 2000 in Montreal, Canada. Continued use of the monthly Water Policy Roundtables, jointly sponsored by the Inter-American Environmental Law Forum (FIDA) and the IWRN, to discuss projects and activities that implement integrated land and water resources management in the Americas and that are consistent with the Water Vision of the Americas. The WVAC should make arrangements to record and document meeting discussions and to distribute the results.
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Funds for this purpose should be solicited from the GWP. Results of discussions between now and March 2001 should be presented at the Fourth Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management scheduled for 22–26 April in Brazil.
Posters The following posters and displays were included as part of the Day of the Americas. Bermejo River ProjectFAn executive summary of the ‘Strategic Action Program for the Bermejo Binational River Basin was handed out and a poster was displayed. This project is an initiative of the Governments of Argentina and Bolivia and was executed with GEF funds. UNEP is the implementing agency and the OAS is the executing agency. More information can be obtained at www.oas.org. The San Juan River ProjectFThis initiative was proposed by Costa Rica and Nicaragua to establish a Strategic Action Program for the Integrated Management and Sustainable Development of the San Juan River Basin. This effort is financed by GEF, implemented by UNEP, and executed by OAS. More information can be obtained at www.oas.org. Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)FStudents from The Netherlands and the United States demonstrated how they are participating in GLOBE program, a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. The students from the International College Edith Stein in the Hague explained their hydrology measurements to the participants. U.S. students from Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and from Crescent Elk Middle School in Crescent City, California, sent in 15 excellent posters representing the use of water by people, the importance of water for the environment, the need to use water sensibly. More information on the GLOBE program is available at www.globe.gov. Conservation of the Sinos River, BrazilFBrazilian Petroleum Company (Petrobr!as) developed a joint effort with several governmental and non-governmental organizations to carry out an environmental education program in the Sinos River basin. This river is one of the most important rivers in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Contact can be made through [email protected]. Everglades RestorationFThe South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is responsible for the water resources management in South Florida that includes the Everglades. SFWMD displayed information of wetland restoration efforts. More information can be obtained at www.sfwmd.gov. Biological Diversity of the PantanalFFundac*ao Ecotro! pica is an Non-governmental - Pantanal region of Brazil. The Pantanal organization that executes conservation projects in the is the largest wetland in the Americas and have a significant and distinctive biodiversity. Since human development is getting more intense, this region is under severe risk. More information can be obtained at [email protected]. Pantanal Studies and the Venezuela Wildlife Refuge ManagementFFlorida Center for Environmental and SFWMD are forging partnerships with organizations that work in the Pantanal region to explore the possibility of joint studies. More information can be obtained at www.sfwmd.gov.
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Dam Safety and Reservoir ManagementFTennessee Valley Authority (TVA). More information can be obtained at www.tva.gov. Use of Man-made Wetlands for Reduction of Nutrients in Tropical and Sub-tropical ClimatesFOctet Consultants Inc. Integrated Water Management Programs in the Republic of ArgentinaFSub-Secretariat of Water Resources of the Republic of Argentina. More information can be obtained at www.sernah.gov.ar. Citizenship Movement for the Waters of BrazilFSecretariat of Water Resources of Brazil. More information can be obtained at [email protected]. Fourth Inter-American Dialogue on Water ManagementFSecretariat of Water Resources of Brazil distributed the first circular for this meeting to be held in Fo! z do Iguac¸u! , Brazil from 22–26 April, 2001. More information can be obtained at www.mma.gov.br. Rio Grande/Rio Bravo: One River, Two CountriesFHouston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Instituto Tecnolo! gico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and MexicoUnited States Paso del Norte Water Task ForceFMexico-United States. More information can be obtained through Prof. Ju. rgen Schmandt [email protected]. B. Griesinger and D. Moody Organization of American States, 17th Street and Constitution Ave, NW, Washington DC 20006, USA
Conference report 3.13 North, South and Central America and the Caribbean Rapporteur: Bernhard Griesinger, David Moody. Participants: 120
Regional vision presentations Richard Meganck, Co-Chair of the Water Vision for the Americas Committee, noted that the vision process directed by the World Water Council is another important step in advancing a water management plan for the Americas. He briefly reviewed the antecedent meetings which have developed principles and proposed actions needed to implement integrated water and land resources management in the Americas beginning with the Mar del Plata Water Conference (1977), the International Conference on Water and Environment (1992), the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992), three Hemispheric Presidential Summits, and a variety of regional water meetings. Of particular note, is the Hemispheric Summit on Sustainable Development in 1996 where 34 heads of State approved a Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas. This plan includes 12 initiatives to improve the management of water resources and coastal areas in the region. He noted that there are many tools available to continue the ongoing strategic planning process and to develop and refine actions to implement the regional water visions. These tools include, among others, the activities of the Global Water Partnership; programs of regional organizations such as CATHALAC, the Caribbean Environmental Health institute, and the IWRN; the series of Inter-American Dialogues on Water Management, the fourth of which will be held in Brazil in April 2001; and a variety of technical meetings organized by professional societies, NGOs, and donor agencies. Of particular note is the Global Environment Facility support of projects to develop strategic regional approaches to water and land management at the regional and transboundary watershed levels. For example, in the insular Caribbean, all the CARICOM States, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic are collaborating in the preparation of a project proposal on Integrating Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Small Island States for submission to the GEF. Mr. Meganck concluded by recommending that those who seek to implement actions that will lead us towards the fulfillment of a water vision for the Americas fully utilize progress to date in this regard, recognize existing institutions and the roles and responsibilities of these institutions for the management of land and water resources. The implementation of a true water vision for the Americas must be a shared activity that is owned and supported by all participants. If we are truly to ‘‘share and care’’ about water resources, we must learn how to plan and work together to build a better future. Water, in fact and in practice, must be everybody’s business.
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Richard Connor presented an overview of the multiple water issues that face North American with its diversity of climatic conditions, ecosystems, and water resources availability. Water quality is of increasing concern, especially runoff from non point sources in urban and agricultural areas. The North American Vision has to take into account institutional and legal differences in the region. For example, water in Mexico is owned by the Nation whereas in the United States water rights are held by the private sector, subject to water laws that differ somewhat from State to State. Despite differences in water availability, institutional arrangements, and available financial resources there are a number of common challenges. Water management institutions must shift away from water supply to water demand management. They must protect and maintain aquatic ecosystems by adopting sustainable practices; use water pricing policies that value the environmental and esthetic uses of water to control water demands and protect water quality and the aquatic environment; and implement institutional reforms that permit water to be managed on a watershed basis through the use of river basin organizations, as is being done in Mexico. The North American vision recognizes the need for all citizens to have access to clean and reliable supplies of water and accepts restrictions on water use in areas of limited supply, ecological sensitivity, or geologic vulnerability; the need for access to sanitation services; the establishment and enforcement of water quality standards for waste water discharged to the environment; a participatory approach to water management; recognition of the interconnections between surface water and groundwater in water law and management policies; the use of the watershed approach to incorporate land and water interactions across sectorial issues; recognition of the economic, ecological, intrinsic, and cultural values provided by freshwater ecosystems and the incorporation of these values in the decision making process; the need for flexibility in water management frameworks in each country to deal with uncertainties, such as extreme climatic event; that human and ecological health are directly linked to water quality and pollution prevention is far less expensive that pollution cleanup; and the need for a variety of institutional reforms, training of professions, information exchange, and education of the public. Mr. Connor presented two case studies, the Upper San Pedro River (U.S. and Mexico) and the Lower Fraser River (Canada) to illustrate current management approaches being used in North America. In summary, he noted that the participation of an educated and informed public would create a momentum that will carry on through different levels of governments as well as through the public and private sectors. The challenge will lie in integrating management at all levels, from the water user making day-today decisions at the local level to the decision-makers responsible for administering large river basins and establishing national water policy. Chandra Madramootoo made a brief presentation of the Canadian water vision. Canada is the second largest country in the world with a population of 30.6 million people. Canada is steward of 9 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water resources. The vision clearly recognizes the intrinsic value of water and freshwater ecosystems in terms of identity, heritage, aesthetics, and spiritual values. The Canadian water vision identifies a number of key elements of a new paradigm for integrated water resources management with an ecosystems approach that need to be implemented if Canada is to proceed to manage water resources in a sustainable fashion: to establish clear national leadership and a policy for freshwater; to implement integrated land water resources management systems; to establish a new value system for freshwater based on full recognition of the intrinsic economic, social, cultural and environmental values of freshwater; to increase public awareness of the importance of water resources and citizen involvement in decision
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making; to develop and apply innovative technologies in key areas ,such as water saving and water conservation, remotely sensed water data collection and dissemination, biotechnology, and desalination; to improve the capacity of institutions to educate water managers and conduct research and development to advance water management; to improve the water infrastructure of urban centers; to increase the export of virtual water by utilizing Canada’s fresh water to produce food, and other value added commodities, goods and services which will be sold on the international markets; and to provide full access to international technologies, data and information to ensure that Canada has the most up to date skills and technologies for integrated water management and environmental protection. Maria C. Donoso began her presentation with a discussion of the current water problems facing Central America. Although water is generally abundant on the eastern part of Central American Countries, major centers of population are located on the drier western side of the Central American Mountain Range. Population growth and the high concentration of people in urban areas also have created significant water quality problems. Seventy-nine percent of wastewater discharges are not treated and only 5 percent of drinking water is treated. As a result, some 20 million people in Central America are consuming water of questionable quality. A related issue is the lack of solid waste collection and proper waste disposal. Some 25–50 percent of the wastes generated in the region are dumped directly into streams. Other issues include a lack of information about the extent of groundwater resources, a lack of local and national water plans, the over exploitation and degradation of aquifers in urban areas, the uncontrolled use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, the failure of septic systems, the extensive soil erosion due to deforestation, and the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, and landslides. Two important studies, the Integrated Water Management Plan in the Central American Isthmus (1999) and the Support for Policies and Strategies in the Integrated Management of Water Resources in Central America (1999) have laid out a number of recommendations to improve implementation of integrated water resources management in the region that involve legal and institutional reforms, and modernization of governmental structures. As 25 percent of the regions water resources are located in transboundary basins, there is a strong motivation for Central American countries to integrate a shared vision of water resources management. The Central American vision recognizes the need to address the issues of clean water supply, public health, and food production; to harmonize water laws and regulations to support integrated water resources management and to provide institutions with clear mandates and goals; to install alter systems and implement land use policies to minimize the impacts of floods and droughts; to conserve and protect water resources; to value water in its various uses, including its use by ecosystems; to improve the performance of management and financial systems; to address poverty; to provide adequate financial resources as part of any solution to water issues; and to meet the growing needs for training, public awareness and participation in decision making, and education. The governments of the region have agreed on a Sustainable Development agenda. However, a detailed study is needed to identify the actions that will ensure that the sustainable use of natural resources is achieved. Mar!ıa Donoso also introduced the Caribbean water vision by pointing out that the region was very complex and that climatic and water conditions vary widely between islands. In general, the region is well endowed with water, but on a majority of islands estimated water demands are approaching or exceeding the annually renewable supply of freshwater. Safe drinking water is fast
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becoming one of the most significant constraints to socioeconomic development and a source of conflict between competing water uses for agriculture, tourism, industry, and water supply of urban areas. Water pollution caused by high population densities, land use conversions, and inappropriate waste disposal, and is a major environmental problem on most islands. Highly variable surface water supplies have increased dependence on groundwater, which in many areas is leading to overexploitation of the resource. In general, the Caribbean can be characterized by high levels of stress on the environment from both human activities and a limited capability to recover from hurricanes and other disasters, insufficient economic diversification from agriculture, poor macroeconomic management, high levels of unemployment and an inadequate educational system. Water management is generally carried out by national water and sewage authorities, forestry departments, and ministries of health. Implementation of integrated water resources management is hindered by fragmented responsibilities for water, lack of financial support, a lack of basic water information, and a shortage of trained personnel. The Caribbean vision lists some key actions that need to be taken to achieve a sustainable future. These include the need to raise public awareness of environmental issues through education; to improve the efficiency of institutional and organizational water management capabilities; to improve water research and the quality of information; to integrate land, freshwater, and coastal zone management of the islands; to devote attention and resources to reduce poverty; to increase stakeholder participation in decision making; to maintain environmental integrity by focusing efforts on pollution prevention and waste minimization using best management practices and appropriate technologies; and to secure adequate financial resources to support land and water management programs. Some of these issues may be best addressed at the regional level through cooperation and collaboration between island states. Victor Pochat, Chairman of GWP-SAMTAC, presented the South American water vision. The region includes 12 percent of the Earth’s land area and 28 percent of its water resources. However, regional variations in climate and water availability are significant. Some 23 percent of the total land area of South America is semi-arid or arid. The largest use of water is for irrigated agriculture (59 percent) followed by industry (23 percent) and domestic uses (18 percent). In nine countries, hydropower accounts for more than 50 percent of electrical energy and there is still untapped potential. This has made the construction of new dams a major environmental issue in the region. Water management still takes place in the context of planning to meet water demands of individual sectors of irrigated agriculture, hydropower, and water supply. Stakeholder participation in decision making is the exception rather than the rule. There is generally a lack of stable and consistent water policies. Twenty percent of the population lacks access to clean water supplies, and 30 percent lacks access to sanitation services, especially in rural and marginal urban area. This creates significant health risks to the citizens of the region. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to the future of water in South America is the widespread degradation of the environment and water resources resulting from a lack of legislation, regulation, and enforcement of water quality standards and a lack of incentives for wastewater treatment. Some countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, are currently giving more attention to wastewater treatment. Most countries have not adequately addressed the problem of preparing for floods and droughts and developing policies and plans to mitigate the impacts of these and other natural disasters. A major reform is now underway to transfer ownership of water utilities from the public to the private sector. States have not yet adjusted to their new role as
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supervisor and regulator of the private sector-owned utilities. Finally, 60 percent of the population in the region live in transboundary river basins where shared management of water resources is needed in order to provide equitable distribution of water to all users. The South American vision lists some key goals for the region: to provide access to a supply of safe, reliable water to meet the basic human needs of all citizens; to recognize water as a pillar of regional development; to implement integrated water resources management as the foundation for a strategy of sustainable water use; to incorporate the full economic, social, and environmental value of water into decisions to achieve equity, efficiency, and sustainability objectives of water management; to encourage governments to become active, flexible, and competent in performing their new roles of controlling and regulating private participation in the public sector; to recognize that knowledge is the basis for effective water management; to manage and protect the water resources of ecosystems to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental objectives; and finally, to undertake disaster planning, policies, and mitigation measures to improve the quality of life and safety of the people in South America. To achieve these visions, five general strategies have been identified: (1) to adopt integrated water resources management to improve the efficiency of water use and to promote the coordinated use of transboundary waters; (2) to consider the economic, social, and environmental value of water to improve the equity of the water allocation process; (3) to protect the quantity and quality water resources through pollution prevention and mitigation of problems that occur; (4) to increase capacity building of society through training of technical personnel, public education, adoption of appropriate technologies, and the collection and dissemination of scientific knowledge; and (5) to improve institutional frameworks for water management to include organizations, laws, regulations, and informal rules that define a country’s management style. The vision is not impossible to accomplish but commitment, creativity, and innovation will be required to attain it.
Discussion In North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has had an important impact on environment issues in Canada, United States. and Mexico. The Committee on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of NAFTA is an important forum for the discussion of major issues among the three counties of North America. It was pointed out that Costa Rica is one of the leading countries in the efforts to reform legislation and regulation. A series of recent actions have been taken to improve water management. Often regulations are contradictory and if several agencies are responsible for enforcement people can take advantage of the confusion. Regulatory systems should allow water to be properly valued. A question was raised as to how to move from Vision to Action and Action to Results. We need to focus on the details of how to do it. A number of UN organizations are linking water quantity with water quality issues. How should countries best address this linkage. Many donor agencies work on a project by project basis. This is not necessarily the best way to go. Need regional approaches. The Central American vision has the expectation that 50 percent of the surface water that is contaminated today will get cleaned up. In support of such efforts, we need to analyze the most
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effective ways of reducing pollution and adopt minimum water quality standards for drinking water. Similarly, we need to disseminate information on the most efficient methods for protecting ground water. Other tools needed are alert systems for early detection of floods, droughts, and other hazards. The vision process is a dynamic one in which conditions are constantly changing. While the vision activity was underway, Panama privatized hydropower production and several municipalities put forth recommendations to establish water management agencies at the local level. Also, the Panama Canal and its drainage area are getting a lot of attention from the international community. The project orientation of the banks has slowed them up in moving ahead. Getting quality projects to the banks for funding is a major hurdle. The turnaround time from project conception to implementation is very long. How do you make the vision happen with out the involvement of water users and the multilateral? Pochat: We have general agreement about the structure of the general strategies that need to be developed in detail at the national level. New methods are needed to evaluate the value of water at the local level. The social, economic, and environmental value is a very important concept to incorporate into decision making. How do we get financial institutions involved? It is very important at this forum to present (to the financial institutions) what the real problems are in each region. Donoso: We can’t predict the future. The vision process brought together different stakeholders to get a consensus view of what the issues are and how to approach them. In Central America a governmental process has led to the definition of specific actions to take. In the Caribbean, the situation is more complex. We need the full participation of stakeholders at the regional level. There also must be a commitment from the different sectors and financial institutions to meet together and discuss priorities. The vision is an on going process that can continue successfully if only all stakeholders participate. Connor: Wasteful practices occur in agriculture because of governmental subsidies to the farmers. This is may be true of other sectors. We need to address our questions and concerns to the funding agencies and institutions. They need to be part of the discussion. It is interesting to see that the issue of water exports was raised by the Canadian vision. We need to be specific about what is an economic good. Water in its natural state is not an economic good. Madramootoo: the International Joint Commission has ruled that under the present system, water exports are not allowed. Meganck: This is a critical issue and needs a whole meeting to address the subject. Water quality appears to be a unifying theme for the Caribbean. Watershed managers are responsible for the quality of waters up to 1 km offshore. Donoso: The issue of water quality in coastal regions was debated during the vision meetings. Coastal zones need to be introduced in the Caribbean and incorporated into the regulatory and legal framework but the situation differs from island to island. Management boundaries need to be established based on the hydrodynamics of coastal areas. One of the recommendations of the vision process was to carry out the needed research so that such boundaries can be established. It was noted that those countries interested in cooperating are always countries located downstream. But Brazil did cooperate in the La Plata. Has the situation improved? Is Brazil operating in a collaborative fashion? Latin America is rapidly urbanizing but has a very large agricultural production. Is there destructive competition between urban uses and agriculture?
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Pochat: Transboundary water resources result in upstream/down stream conflicts. Brazil and Chile are working very well with their neighbors. The situation has greatly improved over the past 20 years. Conversations are better and there is greater maturity in relations. Competition between urban and rural areas for water in Argentina is significant. In some areas, agricultural practices are changing in response to the conflicts. In some semi-arid areas there are conflicts over water with mining. Connor: Mexico has a limited water supply and growing population. Mexico is improving water use efficiency by repairing an aging water infrastructure and emphasizing water demand management.
Additional presentations Alfred Duda moderated the afternoon session by noting that we are operating under a legacy of debt. Trillions of dollars have been spent on development and remediation in the region, yet we still have major problems that need urgent attention. We must learn from our experience and not repeat the errors of the past. Of crucial importance is the need to integrate land and water management approaches with citizens participation in resource development decisions. Pantanal/Everglades Similarities and DifferencesFAdalberto Eberhard described the Pantanal as unique place on earth containing a rich diversity of life in a semi-arid environment. The Pantanal lies in a depression formed 60 million years ago that has filled with sediment eroded from the surrounding uplands to form an alluvial plain. Of great concern is the burning of large areas of uplands to clear the land for growing crops of soybeans and corn. The effects of non point source runoff containing nutrients and pesticides from these areas are bound to have adverse effects on the wildlife and the aquatic ecosystems of the region. The threat caused by open mining activities that releases heavy metals in the environment was also mentioned. New development activities such as expanding the road network in the region is also threatening the Pantanal, and urges the implementation of preventive actions in order to avoid greater damages. In the Everglades, controversy continues as to the best ways to restore environmental damages done by four drainage canals installed to prevent flooding of urban areas on the east side of the wetlands and runoff into the area from agricultural areas to the north. In both the Pantanal and the Everglades, decision makers have not properly valued the environmental services provided by clean water and wetlands and their contributions to biological diversity and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Ecosystem sustainability in the face of continued economic development of surrounding regions is the key issue in both areas. Valuing WaterFExperiences in the AmericaFYolanda Kakabadze described a project in Ecuador being conducted in partnership with The Nature Conservancy to help meet the water needs of 1.5 million people in Quito over the next 30 years. Water comes from the Caymbe-Coca and Antisana watersheds, a ‘‘water factory’’ for the city. To protect the watershed, water users pay a fee based on the cubic meters of water used into a trust fund. These funds are then used for watershed conservation protects and for implementing management plans for the protected areas to counter the threats to the watershed, such as population growth and overgrazing. Projects include the collection of environmental data, establishing grazing limits and range control systems, addressing the problems of land tenure and sustainable agricultural production, and promoting public education and awareness of the impacts of human activities on water supplies.
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Other sources of funding are being used to coordinate and expand the results to take advantage of the skills and capabilities of other groups and, in particular, to involve the participation of the private sector. The process used in Quito is each to understand and replicate in other areas. It involves the direct involvement of local governments, water companies, citizens and NGOs working together to link the water users to the source of water in a public–private alliance for water resources conservation. Bermejo River Basin ProjectFAlberto Calcagno described the Bermejo Project’s focus on developing a Strategic Action Program for implementing integrated land and water resources management at the river basin level. An institutional mechanism, a binational commission was established in 1995 to manage this transboundary river basin between Bolivia and Argentina. The current project is undertaken by the Binational Commission, the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Program, and the Organization of American States. Other participants in the project include various agencies of the national governments, regional commissions, provincial governments, and local municipalities and citizens. The Bermejo River Basin occupies about 4 percent of the Plata Basin and yet it contributes 90 percent of the sediment load of the entire basin. The Bermejo is 1300 km long with highly season stream flows which form a braided channel system across the Chaco Plains. In addition to sever soil erosion, very severe soil salinization affects the semi-arid Chaco region. Desertification is affecting 38 percent of the basin area. Adequate water supplies are a serious concern in the basin, especially during the dry season, which limits the development of otherwise favorable agricultural lands. Floods and droughts, loss of biological diversity, degradation of the quality of water resources, and the diminished quality of life and endangered cultural resources are concerns that will increase as the region develops. The objective of the Strategic Action Program is to identify the priority environmental concerns in the basin, identify specific projects to address these concerns, and to promote the watershed approach to address the problems of the basin. Through 12 regional workshops, 1300 people and 70 institutions participated in the identification of issues, causes, and possible solutions. Consultants held quantity some of the issues and implement pilot studies which demonstrated the application of some of the proposed solutions. Strategic framework links the proposed actions together in a proposed four-year program which will be the basis for further funding proposals from the governments and the Binational Commission. The study resulted in an updated Geographic Information System for the region, introduced community based sustainable management practices, and extended regional and international cooperation between participating institutions. Of particular note was the contribution that public participation made to the project although such participation takes time and will lengthen the time that a project takes to complete. Mr. Duda noted the common thread in all the presentations of the importance of public participation in developing sound proposals and in the need to integrate land and water resources management on a watershed level. Water Resources Management in Island StatesFThorant Hardware outlined some of the common characteristics and approaches to managing water resources in small island states. The Caribbean region consists of a diverse group of islands united by a common history and many cultural features. These islands have developed a narrow resource base and are extremely vulnerable to external forces of the global economy. Some of the islands have formed groupings, such as the Caribbean Community, to share a common aspiration for sustainable development.
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Populations and cities tend to be located near the coast line where they are vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes and flooding and have little internal capability for recovery from such disasters. Economic, recreational, and settlement areas are highly concentrated in relatively small areas. Different islands are at various stages of economic development and possess different levels of capability for resource management. Many are dependent on monoculture of sugar or bananas. Environment problems include increasing water scarcity, groundwater depletion, ground water and surface water pollution, sedimentation resulting from deforestation and agriculture, contamination from fertilizers and pesticides, and inadequate treatment and disposal of wastes, especially from tourist hotels. Short streams limit opportunities to store surface water. Challenges include acquisition of adequate data for decision making, management water resources to support the economy, reduction of poverty and improvements to the quality of life, and to minimize the impacts of high rates of water use on the quality of the environment. In Jamaica, 40 percent of the population are living below the poverty line and 55 percent live in urban centers. Over the past 30 years, forest areas have decreased and urban areas have expanded. Increasing domestic debt and economic stagnation are undermining the governments ability to carry out needed expenditures in water and environmental sectors. The explosive growth of urban centers a dramatic increase in irrigated agriculture, and poor watershed management have led to progressive depletion and degradation of some freshwater supplies. The resulting water scarcity has caused economic losses and social unrest. The high costs of rehabilitating existing water systems or developing new water sources threaten or have combined to delay future economic development. In recognition of this situation the Government of Jamaica has committed itself to actions which will make the most effective use of available water resources and improve the management of water. These actions include water resources assessment and monitoring; planning through the development of a National Water Resources Development Master Plan, a National Environmental Action Plan, and Irrigation Development Master Plan, and the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan; and policy development through the Water Sector Policy, Strategy, and Action Plan which incorporates the principles of integrated water resources management, water demand management, water conservation, public/private partnerships, efficient water delivery, and implementation of the principle that the polluter pays. The final action is the strengthening of water laws and water institutions including the passage of the Water Resources Act (1996) and the Irrigation Act (1998) and the creation of a Ministry of Water (1998) to provide policy direction and coordination to the activities of the National Water Commission (water and wastewater facilities), the National Irrigation Commission, and the Water Resources Authority (regulation, control, and allocation of water resources). Challenges to be addressed include increasing the cadre of training personnel to support activities in the water sector, emphasis on public awareness and education, developing guidelines for public/private partnerships, strengthening public participation in decision making, providing water services to the poor, funding water projects in rural areas, and support for island states, like Jamaica, to be treated as special cases, taking into account the fragility of the environment, the vulnerability to natural disasters, and the limited capacity to respond to high levels of poverty. Sustainable Development, Integrated Water Resources Management, and Natural Disasters in Central AmericaFMax Campos present remarks on behalf of Ricardo Rogelio Anguizola,
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General Administrator of the National Authority for the Environment, Panama and President of the Central American Commission on Sustainable Development. The population of Central America is about 34 million and is increasing 2.3 percent annually. By 2025 the population of the region will be between 59 and 64 million. Migration patterns suggest that by 2030 only 28 percent will live in the countryside. The accelerated process of urbanization will create a higher demand for basic services in cities which are already stressed. The region also used large amounts of fertilizes and the use of agrochemicals is projected to increase. Rapid population growth a high degree of poverty, especially in rural areas, and the disparity in economic wealth and access to health and education services between rural and urban areas, are major factors in planning and coordinating development to benefit the people of the region. Water is generally abundant in the region and is used to produce 53 percent of the total electric power and may increase in the future because of limited oil reserves in the region. Continued deforestation in the region has made the region vulnerable to soil erosion and the impacts of natural disasters. The Central American Committee for Environment and Development, the Regional Committee for Water Resources, and the Central American and Dominican Republic Regional Coordination Committee of Institutions for Drinking water and Sanitation provide an institutional framework of the Central American Integration System that reinforces regional agreements, such as the Central American Alliance for Sustainable Development and the ‘‘Central American Letter on Water’’ of the Central American Parliament, and provides the political will for action. Progress in made in integrated economic systems, organizing interregional commerce, and other regional improvements was drastically set back by Hurricane Mitch which affected 3.5 million people. The Central American Plan on Natural Disasters, Regional Action Plan for the Integrated Management of Water Resources contains strategies and actions to make the region less vulnerable to natural disasters and to guide future development of water resources in the region. Public Participation in water management processesFJean-Maurice Lattulipe described a process used in by the Provincial Government in Quebec, Canada to obtain public participation in decision making. A board, created under the Ministry of the Environment, to provide advice on the environmental impacts of projects. Board members are appointed and charged with making objective analyses of environmental issues in order to help citizens understand the technical aspects of projects. The Board members must abide by a code of conduct, maintain neutrality, and hold public hearings on the issues. The Board has formed a Commission support its work by conducting technical reviews, circulating announcements of meetings, publishing findings and decisions, and so on. Rising water demands, increased conflicts over the allocation of water resources, and climate change have raised questions about how Quebec will meet its water demands in the future. A symposium was organized to share knowledge about issues and water resources management and provided opportunities for the public to comment. This Quebec-wide consultation is addressing a number of themes. Public hearings were held in two parts during the spring and fall of 1999. Efforts were made to help NGOs to participate. These hearing have created a climate of public trust and an awareness of the need to participate in discussions of an issue that effects all. The participation by experts provide clear answers to questions. Over all, the goal of this process is to develop a true meeting place for all sectors of societyFprofessional societies, govern bodies, NGOs, the private sector, and members of the general public.
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Discussion Several questions were raised about the current situation in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is threatened by the hidrovia project and a pipeline project. For the moment, the hidrovia has been put aside because of pressures brought by local and international NGOs. However, l the hidrovia is backed by a strong lobby of interests representing port development, barge companies, and irrigation. How strongly does the public participation process established in Quebec support long term action? Jean-Maurice Lattulipe: The Board is advisory in nature and provides analyses of projects. What is the nature of the Action Plan for Central America? Campos: The Action Plan addresses regional issuesFactions that will benefit the region as a whole; for example, actions needed in transboundary river basins which share water resources. The plan does not duplicate actions that need to be taken within nations in the region. It promotes the interaction of the public because we are all part of the solution to the water problem. In address natural disasters, loss of property may not be reduced but loss of life can be through timely warnings. Disaster planning is part of national planning but efforts can be made to coordinate regional assistance arrangements. Little changes in the runoff of the drainage into the Panama Canal can significantly affect operations of the Canal. How will watershed management and the Canal management be integrated? Campos: Problems of protecting the watershed of the Canal will be part of the cost of managing the Canal. Revenues from the Canal will be used for watershed protection. The Americas: From Vision to ActionFRaymundo Jos!e dos Santos Garrido, wrapped up the Day of the Americas by presenting a framework for vision to action for the Americas. This meeting is just one step towards the implementation of national policies for water resources management in the Americas. People should return home from the World Water Forum with a new attitude about the importance of water resources and a desire to implement the necessary actions to move forward toward implementing a Water Vision for the Americas. We need a framework for these actions and a way of achieving movements that have results. We need to induce the water user and water managers to adopt this new attitude. Progress will be complicated by the fact that countries in the region are at different stages of development. It is probably not feasible to have a single action plan for the region. However, it may be possible to develop specific actions for major sectors such as irrigation systems, urban sanitation systems, and rural water supplies based on a country’s stage of economic development.
Recommendations Several recommendations should be taken into consideration for each water problem, keeping in mind the following: 1. GovernanceFWater administration should have continuity. Political changes should not interfere in the continuity of water resources management plans and activities. 2. Institutional aspectsFInstitutions should integrate all aspects of water management and complement each other in their duties related to water. Economic instruments should be seriously considered as a major tool of water resources management.
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3. Urban developmentFUrban problems must be approached holistically, integrating all aspects of integrated land and water resources management. 4. Rural developmentFBest available practices should be widely disseminated and adopted. Pollution control and prevention mechanisms should be widely applied in rural areas. Land use planning needs to be promoted. 5. HydropowerFHydropower is a very important source of energy in Latin America. Dams will still need to be built. Need to be much more sensitive to the environment impacts of dams and their social consequences. 6. IndustryFNeed to promote and adopt clean technologies and reduce discharges by water reuse and recalculation. Markets for industrial process by-products also need to be developed. Environmental certification (ISO 14000) of industrial facilities is very important. 7. NavigationFLow cost transportation is important to economic development. Barge equipment needs to adapt to rivers so that environmental impacts are minimized. 8. Ecological water demandsFNeed to protect biological diversity by taking into account the needs of the environment in making water allocation decisions. 9. A cross-sectoral issue of the utmost importance is the public participation in water resource management and environmental education.
Next steps After the Second World Water Forum, the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN) examined the question of what might be done to follow up on the progress made at the Day of the Americas. The following concepts resulted from this discussion which will serve as a general guideline for future meetings of the IWRN Executive Committee and Advisory Council. The Water Vision for the Americas Committee should be expanded to include a representative of the GWP Central American Technical Advisory Committee and the World Water Council, Western Hemisphere Bureau. Also the existing membership of the committee should be reaffirmed with the intent of using it to continue coordination of Vision of the Americas events. Efforts should be made to include discussions of regional and national plans of action in the programs of meetings sponsored by organizations who are members of the WVAC and IWRN. A schedule of such meetings should be prepared and widely distributed to IWRN focal points and others. Meetings such as that scheduled for the IWRN Advisory Council in Mexico in November 2000 should be used for this purpose. Every effort should be made to avoid unnecessary duplication and take into account the results of all technical discussions held to date on water related issues. The IWRN and its members should participate in the ‘‘Americas Roundtable on Water in the 21st Century’’ sponsored by the Western Hemispheric Bureau of the World Water Council on 27–28 July, 2000 in Montreal, Canada. Continued use of the monthly Water Policy Roundtables, jointly sponsored by the Inter-American Environmental Law Forum (FIDA) and the IWRN, to discuss projects and activities that implement integrated land and water resources management in the Americas and that are consistent with the Water Vision of the Americas. The WVAC should make arrangements to record and document meeting discussions and to distribute the results.
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Funds for this purpose should be solicited from the GWP. Results of discussions between now and March 2001 should be presented at the Fourth Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management scheduled for 22–26 April in Brazil.
Posters The following posters and displays were included as part of the Day of the Americas. Bermejo River ProjectFAn executive summary of the ‘Strategic Action Program for the Bermejo Binational River Basin was handed out and a poster was displayed. This project is an initiative of the Governments of Argentina and Bolivia and was executed with GEF funds. UNEP is the implementing agency and the OAS is the executing agency. More information can be obtained at www.oas.org. The San Juan River ProjectFThis initiative was proposed by Costa Rica and Nicaragua to establish a Strategic Action Program for the Integrated Management and Sustainable Development of the San Juan River Basin. This effort is financed by GEF, implemented by UNEP, and executed by OAS. More information can be obtained at www.oas.org. Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)FStudents from The Netherlands and the United States demonstrated how they are participating in GLOBE program, a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. The students from the International College Edith Stein in the Hague explained their hydrology measurements to the participants. U.S. students from Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and from Crescent Elk Middle School in Crescent City, California, sent in 15 excellent posters representing the use of water by people, the importance of water for the environment, the need to use water sensibly. More information on the GLOBE program is available at www.globe.gov. Conservation of the Sinos River, BrazilFBrazilian Petroleum Company (Petrobr!as) developed a joint effort with several governmental and non-governmental organizations to carry out an environmental education program in the Sinos River basin. This river is one of the most important rivers in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Contact can be made through [email protected]. Everglades RestorationFThe South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is responsible for the water resources management in South Florida that includes the Everglades. SFWMD displayed information of wetland restoration efforts. More information can be obtained at www.sfwmd.gov. Biological Diversity of the PantanalFFundac*ao Ecotro! pica is an Non-governmental - Pantanal region of Brazil. The Pantanal organization that executes conservation projects in the is the largest wetland in the Americas and have a significant and distinctive biodiversity. Since human development is getting more intense, this region is under severe risk. More information can be obtained at [email protected]. Pantanal Studies and the Venezuela Wildlife Refuge ManagementFFlorida Center for Environmental and SFWMD are forging partnerships with organizations that work in the Pantanal region to explore the possibility of joint studies. More information can be obtained at www.sfwmd.gov.
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Dam Safety and Reservoir ManagementFTennessee Valley Authority (TVA). More information can be obtained at www.tva.gov. Use of Man-made Wetlands for Reduction of Nutrients in Tropical and Sub-tropical ClimatesFOctet Consultants Inc. Integrated Water Management Programs in the Republic of ArgentinaFSub-Secretariat of Water Resources of the Republic of Argentina. More information can be obtained at www.sernah.gov.ar. Citizenship Movement for the Waters of BrazilFSecretariat of Water Resources of Brazil. More information can be obtained at [email protected]. Fourth Inter-American Dialogue on Water ManagementFSecretariat of Water Resources of Brazil distributed the first circular for this meeting to be held in Fo! z do Iguac¸u! , Brazil from 22–26 April, 2001. More information can be obtained at www.mma.gov.br. Rio Grande/Rio Bravo: One River, Two CountriesFHouston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Instituto Tecnolo! gico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and MexicoUnited States Paso del Norte Water Task ForceFMexico-United States. More information can be obtained through Prof. Ju. rgen Schmandt [email protected]. B. Griesinger and D. Moody Organization of American States, 17th Street and Constitution Ave, NW, Washington DC 20006, USA