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<Forum on the Caspian, Aral and Dead
Seas-Perspective United Nations Environment Perspectives on Inland
Lake Water Habib N. El-Habr I am very pleased to address you today on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It is believed there are more than one million lakes and reservoirs in the world. However, occasionally it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves that a lake is more than a hole in the ground filled with water, just as a reservoir is not simply a waterbody created by damming a flowing river. Both types of waterbodies serve many functions benefiting humanity on many levels. As examples, they provide us with drinking water, supply us with irrigation water, allow us to maintain satisfactory sanitary conditions, provide us with recreational pursuits, etc.. At the same time, they play a vital role in the maintenance of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Unfortunately however, this freshwater resource our life critically depends upon, is unbelievably scarce, representing less than half a percent of the earth's total accessible water. If we could fit all the world's water into a one-litre bottle, it would amount to less than a teaspoon. And yet, this available water is continually misused and abused with the result that more and more water is becoming unavailable for human use in recent years. Unfortunately for their welfare, the pleasant environment of lake systems attracts people to their shores for many leisure and productive activities. As a result, many lakes and reservoirs are suffering from the consequences of water quality degradation caused by point- and non-point-sources of pollution. Point sources include industrial and municipal discharges. Non point sources include urban and agricultural runoff. Considering the uneven distribution of water around the globe and our increasingly degraded water quality, we must make earnest efforts to protect and wisely use this fragile and finite resource of freshwater. An ever-increasing number of people are finally coming to the realization that water is essential to human health, to food production and to economic development. They are also beginning to appreciate that all the water on earth is all the water there is, and ever will be. Decision-makers also realize that conserving our available water resources must be given the highest priority as a regional and global water issue. Thus, initiatives of various kinds are being taken for lake restoration and more generally environment protection, especially in the Northern hemisphere. UNEP has been given the lead role in the UN system of coordinating environmental activities. It also has a mandate of reconciling environmental concerns and socio-economic development, in support of "sustainable development". One of its primary tasks is to attempt to balance protection and management of our environment and its natural resource use for human beings with the water demands of increasing socio-economic development. To achieve this, in a manner as to avoid unnecessary conflicts or social friction, it is necessary to consider all relevant factors in a wide-ranged, comprehensive drainage basin development framework. It is UNEP's view that sustainable development and its role in enhancing the human condition requires an integrated approach to address development and environment issues. To this end, UNEP's Freshwater Unit emphasizes integrated management of water resources in all significant aspects of human life and activities, including consideration of all significant natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the state of the freshwater environment. Thus, one of UNEP's objectives is to encourage governments to consider the environmental impacts of socio-economic development on their freshwater resources, as well as incorporating development issues into their environmental management schemes. Now, if we take a closer look at lake water systems, we will note that hydrological and geochemical mechanisms in lake systems are primary factors governing the vulnerability of lake environments to human activities in general. Since inflowing water typically carry minerals, pollutants and other materials, which are subsequently trapped in the lake water, sediments, and ecosystems, one can expect changes of environmental conditions in the waterbody over time. Lakes are sensitive to land use and other changes in their surrounding terrestrial environments. UNEP, therefore, does not treat a lake as a water body, per se, but instead deals with it on the scale of its larger surrounding drainage basin, when it comes to environment management. The traditional approaches to management of water resources focused almost exclusively on the notion of water as a natural resource. However, in reality, this approach is inadequate for managing water resources. We now recognize that water has multiple functions in itself, and that water should be managed with the understanding that it is multi-phased and must often be managed under complex situations. There is an increasing demand to view freshwater resources from different perspectives. Examples are as a major component of ecosystems or a carrier of materials in natural cycles. This new approach widens the scope of water resources management in a more integrated manner. To correct the shortcoming of the traditional approach to water resources management, UNEP developed a comprehensive programme in 1986 for integrated management of freshwater resources, aimed at managing the multiple functions and use of water. UNEP christened this programme the "Environmentally Sound Management of Inland Waters" (EMINWA).The UNEP EMINWA programme was the first major attempt in the UN system to integrate all significant environmental and socio-economic considerations into the management and development of inland water systems within the context of sustainable development. EMINWA deals with all three types of inland water systems: rivers, lakes and impoundments, and groundwater aquifers, on a regional and international basis. UNEP's initial focus was on countries sharing common water systems, especially for developing and using water resources in an environmentally sustainable manner, and also without conflict. The main aims of UNEP's programme include the following: (1) Assisting governments to develop and implement environmentally sound freshwater management programmes for inland water systems; (2) Training experts, and establishing training networks, in developing countries to implement environmentally sound water management programmes (including drinking water supply and sanitation programmes); (3) Preparing guidelines and guidance manuals for the environmentally sound management of inland water systems; (4) Making regular global and regional assessments of the state-of-the-environment for inland water systems; and (5) Informing the mass media on the achievements and activities of the EMINWA programme, and raise the awareness of the public of the need for environmentally sustainable water development for its future needs. This programme essentially comprises a two-step process. The first step is development of a "State-of-Knowledge" report on the scale of the entire drainage basin or groundwater aquifer environment (Diagnostic Study). The Diagnostic Study conducted by Government-Designated Experts of the riparian countries, and supported by UNEP, compiles data on natural and human factors of the drainage basin, which affect the quantity and quality of the available freshwater resources. Based on these data, a diagnostic analysis is developed, defining the present status of environmental problems and water management, and identifying priority and long-term problems to be addressed to ensure environmentally sustainable water supply and use. Once accepted and approved by the riparian countries, this first step is followed by the development of an Action Plan. The objectives of the Action Plan are to address the problems identified in the Diagnostic Study, and to promote environmentally sound management of the entire drainage basin, using remedial programmes of action. The action plans aim at enhancing long-term environmentally sustainable development in the basin. UNEP works with the riparian countries to identify funding agencies and institutional and financial resources to facilitate implementation of the collective projects contained in the Action Plan. To date, in cooperation with riparian countries, the Freshwater Unit has developed Action Plans for the Zambezi River and Lake Chad basins (both in Africa). It also has developed Diagnostic Studies for the Aral Sea (Southcentral Asia). New diagnostic studies are underway or planned for the Mekong River (Southeast Asia), Caspian Sea (Eastern Europe), the San Juan River (Central America), and Xinjiang Province in Northwest China. In addition, the existing economic development plan for Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru) is being modified to address relevant environmental concerns in the riparian countries. It is also UNEP's strong intention to undertake a Diagnostic Study and Action Plan for some selected Small Island States and the Nile River Basin. Finally, the Action Programme for the Aral Sea was recently developed jointly by The World Bank, UNEP and UNDP, and these agencies are playing an important role in its implementation in the Aral Sea Basin. In regard to some of the specifics of the EMINWA process, the development of manuals and guidelines typically involves the following types of outputs: (1) Methodological guidelines for integrated environmental evaluation of freshwater resource development; (2) Codes of conduct on prevention and management of accidental pollution of transboundary inland waters; (3) Guidelines on lake and river basin management; and (4) Decision-support systems for management of large international rivers. Strengthening of institutional capacity also is one of UNEP's priority areas within EMINWA. This is typically done via education and training activities, including the following elements: (1) Development of standard training materials on environmentally sound management of freshwater resources; (2) Organization of training courses, seminars and workshops; and (3) Establishment of specialized training networks of national and regional institutions. Emphasis in the EMINWA process is intentionally placed on training of decision-makers and policy-makers in the field of freshwater resources development and management, mainly because: (1) With limited budget and manpower resources, UNEP cannot provide substantive training at all personnel levels; (2) UNEP is more aware of the training needs of decision-makers and policy-makers than for other categories of personnel; (3) Training programmes for decision-makers and policy-makers typically are more homogeneous for most developing countries than for other categories, and can be more easily tailored to local conditions. Under UNEP's training programme, and in cooperation with a variety of training institutions, UNEP has conducted several series of training courses in the following fields: (1) Integrated management of river/lake basins; (2) Drinking water quality surveillance and control; (3) Assessment and control of eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs; (4) Use of remote sensing techniques for freshwater assessment and management; (5) Groundwater exploration and contamination; and (6) Impacts of mining activities on surrounding waterbodies. Thus, the ultimate goal of the EMINWA programme is nothing less than effectively assisting the relevant governments in the environmentally sound and sustainable management of the 41,000 km3 of freshwater that runs off on the land and into the world's oceans every year, as well as some of groundwater resources. Governments have expressed their gratitude to UNEP's catalytic and coordinating role, and have agreed to cooperate in the development of their shared water resources in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner. They have also promoted the concept of "thinking ahead, thinking together" to avoid international conflicts over water supply and management. However, in order to strengthen its catalytic role, UNEP must work to ensure further reinforcement of the national and regional institutional bodies, in order to ensure implementation of the identified projects. Even after initiation of Action Plans, UNEP must continuously attempt to coordinate project implementation with identified donors and riparian countries. The rationale is that UNEP should always enhance the possibility that its recommended Action Plan definitely integrates and improves the existing environmental and development plans, so that Governments and the region are able to achieve sustainable development. Among components of integrated management schemes, provision of safe drinking water is of particular importance for riparian countries. Drinking water plays an obviously critical role in maintenance of human life. Humans typically will not survive more than about a week without an adequate supply of safe drinking water. However, even if it is possibly the most important single water use, drinking water supply is still only one of the many purposes for which humans use water. To ensure long-term sustainability of freshwater resources, all significant water uses within a drainage basin must be adequately considered in developing freshwater management plans and programmes. Therefore, UNEP's fundamental approach to drinking water problems is to view them within a broad and holistic perspective that also considers other water uses as part of an integrated water management programme. Let me provide you with an example of what I just said; that safe drinking water cannot be ensured over the long-term without consideration of other major water uses as well. Within a given drainage basin, in addition to drinking water supply, the freshwater also may be used for irrigating agricultural crops, and other human activities. This irrigation, while essential for growing food supplies, can also result in the accumulation and transport of agricultural chemicals and fertilizers to receiving waterbodies (e.g., lakes and reservoirs). The same lake, however, may also be used for drinking water supply. One immediate result of the degraded water quality may be negative impacts on human health. The agricultural chemicals and fertilizers can also affect aquatic food chains and other aquatic populations, disrupting the life cycles of specific food organisms. This ecosystem disruption can in turn affect sports or commercial fisheries, thereby reducing the economic opportunities for fishery-related enterprises. It likewise can interfere with specific industrial water uses, as well. Provision of safe drinking water, therefore, without adequate consideration of the multiple impacts of irrigation on water supply, as shown with this example, does not ensure the long-term sustainability of the freshwater resources for this use. UNEP's approach to drinking water and sanitation issues, integrating them into a wider-ranged freshwater management package within the EMINWA programme, has been ongoing since the mid-1980s. In the field of water quality, UNEP also has established a global water quality monitoring network, through its Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS/Water) programme. This programme has been operational since 1977, with participation of over 50 countries worldwide. The programme is jointly operated by UNEP and WHO, with the assistance of WMO and UNESCO. The global network consists of government-designated national institutes covering most of the major drainage basins of the world. These national institutes monitor water quality in one or more GEMS/Water stations. These can be surface stations in rivers or lakes, as well as groundwater stations. The water quality data collected by the national institutes are sent to the GEMS Global Data Base for Water Quality, located at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, and used to prepare global freshwater quality assessments. In exchange for these data, the participating countries can request UNEP's GEMS/Water Programme to assist in upgrading or strengthening their national laboratories, or arrange for training courses in water quality sampling or monitoring, analytical quality control, data management, and national and regional water quality assessment. During its first 15 years of operation, the major emphasis of the GEMS/Water programme was on strengthening of monitoring capacities among its participating countries, and building the global freshwater quality data bank. In 1989 and 1990, the programme was reassessed. The resultant Phase II programme is characterized by a shift from simple monitoring, to data interpretation and use by policy-makers, scientists and others, with a great emphasis on active contributions by participating countries, and on issues outside the human health area. During the Phase II period, a structured and international coordinated approach was developed to implement the two major GEMS/Water programme areas: Capacity Building and Water Assessment. In addition to strengthening the capabilities of participating countries to acquire relevant monitoring data and information for assessment purposes, the Capacity Building component also takes into consideration the specific needs of nationals, providing support in those areas requested by governmental water institutions. In contrast, the Assessment Programme is more regional and global in scope, and draws on data and information other than those supplied by the national institutions. This is particularly the case since the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), which strongly supported water assessment activities, taking interactions between environmental and development issues into consideration. A future task of the Freshwater Unit is to link the monitoring/assessment activities of GEMS/Water with the EMINWA initiatives. As mentioned above, in the EMINWA programme, the Diagnostic Studies are conducted for the purpose of developing knowledge and data bases on which to develop and initiate subsequent Management Action Plans. Linking these activities with the GEMS/Water activities would facilitate the identification and analysis of environmental problems in the drainage basin, and ensure better integration and co-ordination of UNEP's programmes for more cost-efficient use of its resources. These linkages could be done through better coordination of the monitoring programme and the sampling stations of the GEMS/Water programme, so that they benefit both programmes. Similarly, Capacity Building activities in the GEMS/Water programme can be incorporated into training and institutional capability strengthening activities within the EMINWA programme. The UNEP Freshwater Unit also is exploring possible integrated activities of GEMS/Water and EMINWA programmes with the management and assessment activities of the coastal zones. This is particularly of relevance in the assessment and control of land-based sources of pollution from the perspective of combining the watersheds and coastal areas into which they drain as a joint target management area. As an example, one component of the GEMS/Water programme is the installment of a global flux network for major river-mouths, and assessment of fluxes and loads of nutrients, pollutants and sediment from major river basins to the ocean/river interface. These data can be used for assessing and managing water quality of coastal areas receiving pollutants from the upstream riverine systems. UNEP is not an implementing agency, that is, we do not dig wells, lay water mains or build treatment plants. Instead we have a mandate to play a catalytic role in the promotion of environmentally sound water resources management projects. UNEP also plays a key role in coordinating the initial catalytic actions, and in applying preventive diplomacy to avoid water-induced conflicts. Finally, we work to generate interest from the donor community to support needed basin-wide action programmes. And, as always, UNEP remains responsive to the needs of governments, thus, our continuing action in each inland water basin, particularly transboundary basins, presupposes agreement by the involved riparian Governments. In conclusion, we do not yet talk about "Water Wars", however, it is not irrational to think of international conflicts over equitable management and use of scarce water supplies and to consider ways to avoid them, ways to ensure that they do not arise. Water is a finite resource with international significance, there are no substitutes! It is essential and irreplaceable for human existence, agriculture and industry. The demand is rising with population growth, especially in developing countries. Unfortunately, water is also in limited supply. This is a classic scenario for struggle and conflict. Since territorial conflicts are so familiar these days, conflicts over freshwater are not unrealistic, especially where several nations share a common river or lake system. Therefore, the conservation and management of available freshwater resources must be given the highest priority by decision-makers.
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