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| Useful freshwater sites |
WWF network | Other organisations | International forums and events | UK & EU policy | Science | Other NGOs
WWF network
WWF Global Freshwater Programme
The WWF Global Freshwater Programme is part of WWF's contribution to a larger goal of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. We need to ensure that we leave our children a living planet, as well as satisfying our immediate and future needs for water.
To find out more visit www.panda.org
Hydrosheds
HydroSHEDS will allow scientists to create digital river and watershed maps. These maps can then be coupled with a variety of other geo-spatial datasets or applied in computer simulations, such as hydrologic models, in order to estimate flow regimes. HydroSHEDS thus allows scientists and managers to perform analyses ranging from basic watershed delineation to sophisticated flow modeling.
For more information visit www.worldwildlife.org
Better River Basins
This system will provide a variety of tools and information resources that will help promote the principles and practice of River Basin Management.
For more information visit www.betterriverbasins.wwf.org.uk
Blueprint for water
An action plan to secure England's freshwater resources and environment, supported by an unprecedented coalition representing over 6 million people. Visit: www.blueprintforwater.org.uk
Other organisations
The Ramsar Convention
Ramsar - the Convention on Wetlands - is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in the Iranian city of that name. It is the first of the modern global intergovernmental treaties on conservation and wise use of natural resources. UNESCO serves as Depository for the Convention, but its administration has been entrusted to a secretariat known as the "Ramsar Bureau", which is housed in the headquarters of IUCN - The World Conservation Union.
www.ramsar.org
Wetlands International
Wetlands International is a leading global non-profit organisation dedicated solely to the crucial work of wetland conservation and sustainable management. Well-established networks of experts and close partnerships with key organisations provide Wetlands International with the essential tools for catalysing conservation activities worldwide. Activities are based on sound science and have been carried out in over 120 countries.
www.wetlands.org
Birdlife International
A global alliance of national conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Birdlife Partnership gathers information and data on birds and their key habitats, and works globally to promote objective and informed decision making through sound conservation and international legal mechanisms.
www.birdlife.org
The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Founded in 1948, The World Conservation Union brings together states, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organisations in a unique world partnership: over 980 members in all, spread across some 140 countries.
As a Union, IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
www.iucn.org
The Global Water Partnership (GWP)
The Global Water Partnership is a working partnership among all those involved in water management: government agencies, public institutions, private companies, professional organisations, multilateral development agencies and others committed to the Dublin-Rio principles.
www.gwpforum.org
International forums and events
World Water Forum
The World Water Council established the World Water Forum concept, a series of stepping stones towards global collaboration on water problems that threaten the health and safety of so many of the world's citizens. The 3rd World Water Forum, heralding the beginning of the 'century of water,' will take place in Kyoto City, Japan in March 2003. www.worldwaterforum.org
UN International Year of Freshwater
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. The resolution was initiated by the government of Tajikistan and supported by 148 other countries and it encourages governments, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the year to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable freshwater use, management and protection. It also calls upon governments, national and international organisations, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions and to lend other forms of support to the year.
www.unesco.org/water/iyfw
World Commission on Dams
The WCD was an independent, international, multi-stakeholder process that addressed the controversial issues associated with large dams. It provided a unique opportunity to bring into focus the many assumptions and paradigms that are at the centre of the search to reconcile economic growth, social equity, environmental conservation and political participation in the changing global context.
The Commission completed its work with the launch of its final report and disbanded. A two-year follow-on to the process initiated by the Commission began in November 2001.
www.dams.org
UK & EU policy
DEFRA
DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is responsible for all aspects of water policy in England, including water supply and resources, and the regulatory systems for the water environment and the water industry. These cover drinking water quality, the quality of water in rivers, lakes and estuaries, coastal and marine waters, sewage treatment and reservoir safety.
DEFRA also works closely with the Environment Agency, which manages water resources and enforces water quality standards, and the Office of Water Services, which is responsible for economic regulation of the water industry. It also coordinates marine environment policy, including international agreements on the North-east Atlantic and the North Sea. DEFRA and the Environment Agency will be responsible for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in England.
www.defra.gov.uk
DFID
DFID is a UK government department that works to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty.
www.dfid.gov.uk
Environment Agency
The EA is the leading public organisation for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. It works in many ways to achieve this - regulating industry, maintaining flood defences and water resources, and improving wildlife habitats, to name just a few.
Environment Agency
Water Consensus seminar series
The seminar series aims to invite academics and practitioners from a variety of disciplines to critically explore key themes in water governance, assess empirical evidence for the efficacy of policies and evaluate methodologies used in policy making. The outcomes will inform theoretical debate, empirical research and policy initiatives across the water sector.
For more information visit www.brad.ac.uk
Science
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH)
CEH is the UK's Centre of Excellence for research in the land and freshwater environmental sciences. CEH's staff have specialist skills in a wide range of environmental disciplines, ranging from the smallest scale (the gene) to the largest scale (whole Earth systems).
For more information visit www.ceh.ac.uk
Freshwaterlife
Providing easy access to a world of freshwater information.
For more information visit www.freshwaterlife.org
European Environment Agency
The EEA aims to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the public.
www.eea.eu.int
Other NGOs
WaterAid
Set up in 1981, WaterAid has become one of the leading international non-governmental organisations in the global drinking water sector. Over the last 21 years, WaterAid has helped over 6.5 million people in Africa and Asia gain access to safe water and sanitation, and influenced many other organisations to do the same.
www.wateraid.org.uk
International Rivers Network (IRN)
IRN supports local communities working to protect their rivers and watersheds. It works to halt destructive river development projects and to encourage equitable and sustainable methods of meeting needs for water, energy and flood management.
www.irn.org
Water & Sanitation for the urban poor (WSUP)
Working in partnership to progress delivery of the UN Millenium development goals for water and sanitation.
For more information visit www.wsup.com |
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WWF-UK > Research > Issues > Freshwater > Useful sites
