The First International Environment Forum for Basin Organizations continued discussions under its Technical Segment on Thursday.
In the morning, panels and open discussions took place on the theme of laws and regulations. The first panel of the morning presented perspectives on water law and the environment, with speakers addressing: the evolution and “greening” of international water law; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and biodiversity conservation; the role of basin organizations in wetlands conservation; and adapting water laws to a world of water scarcity. The second panel of the morning discussed the application of environmental principles in freshwater governance, with particular reference to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention, management of the Dniester Basin shared by Ukraine and Moldova, management of hazardous waste under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, and the role of basin organizations in implementing the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
In the afternoon, speakers presented on the theme of institutional challenges. The first panel of the afternoon discussed basin organizations and international environmental governance, while the second panel considered challenges and opportunities for driving sustainable development through cooperation in the context of basin organizations.
Elizabeth Mrema, Director of the Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, UNEP, and Jean-François Donzier, Permanent Technical Secretary of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), delivered closing remarks at the end of the Technical Segment. Mrema summarized key themes that had emerged from the two days of discussions. She noted that participants had converged around the importance of freshwater governance, recognizing that, “Water is a resource that knows no boundaries.” She acknowledged participants’ call for reinforcing cooperation among riparian states and all relevant stakeholders at the international, regional, national and local levels. Donzier emphasized that the situation of river basins necessitates global cooperation, and highlighted a message to the next day’s High-Level Segment that, “Nothing is possible without strong political goodwill.”
Theme 3 – Laws and Regulations
The dais during the session on Laws and Regulations
Owen McIntyre, National University of Ireland, said that river basin organizations are the “front line troops” of international water law.
Chris Perceval, Ramsar Secretariat, spoke about the ways that MEAs can engage with basin organizations.
A slide from Ariella D’Andrea’s presentation
Ariella D’Andrea, International Water Law Association, presented on the evolution of international water law, noting the declaration of a “human right to water.” She highlighted the UN Watercourses Convention and green principles of water law, which emphasize equitable utilization, ecosystem-based approaches and groundwater.
Eric Garner, International Bar Association’s Water Law Committee, discussed Californian law for groundwater governance. He said that river basin organisations provide structures for participatory negotiations and communication at the technical, policy and legal levels.
Sonja Koeppel, Secretariat of the UNECE Water Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, said the UNECE Convention provides a global legal and intergovernmental platform for countries and river basin organizations.
A slide from David Coates’ presentation
David Coates, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, said that one of the most logical ways to address the problem of unsafe drinking water is to “go into the business of ecosystem restoration” and deliver ecosystem benefits to people.
Ilya Trombitsky, Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of Dniester, said his organization is promoting IWRM in post-Soviet territory and has, together with UNECE Water Convention Secretariat, supported work on the Dniester River Basin Treaty for Ukraine and Moldova.
Yang Youlin, Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), provided an overview of the UNCCD’s 10-year strategy and its priority targets.
Laura Meszaros, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) Secretariat, suggested ways in which basin countries can benefit from ongoing activities under the three conventions, noting that many parties have already developed national implementation plans, and that basin organizations could facilitate exchange of information.
Elisabeth Baer, German Embassy in Kenya, announced that Germany, the Netherlands and Finland will support an informal meeting to exchange information among parties to the UN Watercourses Convention in 2015.
John Nyaoro, Nile Basin Intiative
Iván Mendoza Benítez, Colombia
Arvind Kumar, Meghalaya State Water Resource Council
Alfredo Mamani Salinas, Executive President, Bi-national Autonomous Authority of the Lake Titicaca
L-R: Elizabeth Mrema, Arnold Kreilhuber, and Margaret Oduk, UNEP
Nehal Adel, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt
Manuel Fulchrion, Global Water Partnership
Heba El-Tahan, Egypt
María Violeta Ramírez Morán, Lake Atitlan Basin Authority
Theme 4 – Institutional Challenges
The dais during the session on Institutional Challenges
Lesha Witmer, WWF International, said basin organizations are key players in international environmental governance, and are instrumental in building bridges across basin states by facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing.
Max Campos, Organization of American States, moderated the session.
Antonio Ricarte, Brazil, questioned whether the UNECE Water Convention fits the circumstances and needs of developing countries.
John Nyaoro, Nile Basin Initiative, discussed the need for cooperation in basin organizations and said the UN Watercourses Convention is a milestone for transboundary water governance.
Jean-François Donzier, International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), said that cooperation through river basin organizations “is not science fiction” and is already happening, but requires time, political will, involvement of all stakeholders, and financing.
A slide from Jean-François Donzier’s presentation
Madine Ba, Senegal River Basin Authority, discussed success stories from his basin, and underscored that water presents an opportunity for cooperation and diplomacy.
Charles Ngangoue, African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), said that while some participants needed visas to enter Kenya, water has no such need as it flows everywhere. He called for strong South-South cooperation because “water needs everybody.”
María Violeta Ramírez Morán, Lake Atitlan Basin Authority, presented challenges and opportunities to reduce negative impacts of anthropogenic activities around Lake Atitlan. She noted that even though the authority was established through citizen initiatives, it has been difficult to sustain participation and behavior change.
Elizabeth Mrema, Director of the Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, UNEP, speaks at the closing of the technical segment.
Around the Venue
L-R: Mohamed Said El-Mashjary Yemen, and Andrea Martinez, Johns Hopkins University
L-R: Sonja Koeppel, Secretariat of the UNECE Water Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, and Samba Edwige, Senegal
L-R: Ariella D’Andrea, International Water Law Association, and Alfiya Khaliullina, Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (ICWC) Asia
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