Water unit is within the Scientific Assessment Branch (SAB) of DEWA, the other branch being the Early Warning and Capacity Building and Technology Support. The water unit is responsible for the assessment of the world's water resources where it carries out in collaboration with partners, UN collaborators, NGOs, universities, governments..., comprehensive assessments of world's freshwater and coastal/marine water resources in an integrated manner.
Water Assessment Strategy contributes to the overall implementation of the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy.
It outlines DEWA's role and involvement with ongoing assessment programmes or projects carried out by UN agencies, collaborators and governments. In developing a water assessment strategy, current water assessment programmes and activities have been reviewed to address issues in a more integrated manner. The strategy provides an integrated water assessment approach that will tackle fresh and coastal/marine water issues with greater focus and impact.
*The Water Assessment Strategy is currently being reviewed and updated.
Links to water activities in DEWA under the water units:
Freshwater Assessment Activities
FRESHWATER Under Threat in AFRICA -
Vulnerability Assessment of Freshwater Resources to Environmental Change
This publication documents the findings of the second phase of the study, which was completed in
May 2006. The aim of this phase was to accomplish a wider, continental, coverage of river/lake/
groundwater basins (i.e., building upon the first phase), and expanding the network of researchers.
Regional groups of researchers addressed vulnerability issues for their respective regions (southern,
eastern, central, western, and northern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean Island States) by
assessing major river/lake/groundwater basins on the basis of natural (physiographic), anthropogenic
(socio-economic) and management criteria. Click here to download
the Full Report Click here to download the Summary for Decision Makers
METHODOLOGIES GUIDELINES - Vulnerability Assessment of Freshwater Resources to Environmental Change
This document aims to provide a general framework to partners
under UNEP’s project on “Vulnerability Assessment of Freshwater
Resources to Environmental Change”. The framework is developed
on the basis of available knowledge of the field, with full consideration
of data availability and other constraints, and is intended to be a
common platform for partners to adopt their studies, and produce
comparable results for regional and inter-basin synthesis at later
stage of this joint effort. Click here to download
Global Assessment of the Vulnerability of Water Resources to Environmental
Change
This a framework used to assess the vulnerability
of surface and groundwater to human land uses, within an integrated
river basin management approach. In Africa, the project has provided
significant baseline information on vulnerable aquifers fed by
the River Nile in North Africa, serious freshwater shortages in
West Africa, the variable rain-fed aquifers of Eastern Africa,
and the uneven distribution of freshwater in Southern Africa.
More detailed assessments on the rivers, lakes and aquifer basins are being carried out in Africa, including Central Africa and the Indian ocean Islands. Assessments have begun in Asia. Latin America and the Caribbean will follow soon. This approach will also include the Integrated Water Resource management. There is a specific focus on groundwater vulnerability.
See http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/water/
Vulnerability/facing_facts.asp
Hydropolitical Vulnerability and Resilience along International Waters - Africa
Wherever a major river, lake, or aquifer system is shared by two or more sovereign nations, the shared (international) waters become vulnerable to indiscriminate exploitation and degradation. In a situation of rising populations and increasing urbanization, industrialization, and environmental degradation, nations sharing the water resources also become vulnerable to conflict. These vulnerabilities are made more acute by climate variations and variations in precipitation.
This hydropolitical vulnerability and resilience along international waters is a subject area that has increasingly become a critical arena of systematic enquiry requiring the development of comparable databases and analyses among the African continent. http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/water/Hydoro-politics.pdf
Africa’s lakes - Atlas of our changing environment
This publication underscores the importance of developing, harnessing and sharing technologies that help provide deeper understanding of the dynamics of the changes. The words and pictures within these pages also serve as a vivid reminder that Africa’s lakes are a source of livelihoods for many African communities, and contribute significantly to socio-economic development of the continent, and that sound policy decisions and positive actions by societies and individuals are needed to sustain the lakes and the well-being of its inhabitants.
http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/water/Africas_Lakes(5-Apr-06).pdf.
Atlas of International Freshwater
Agreements.
Utilizing
historical documents, statistical analyses, and maps, the Atlas
of International Freshwater Agreements presents both a graphic
and textual analysis and documentation of the world's international
basins and their agreements. Humans have always had trouble addressing
cross-border issues, yet cooperation is essential. This study
offers information for how to move forward in a collaborative
way to develop appropriate policies for making sure that transboundary
water resources are identified and successfully addressed in the
coming years. The Atlas was compiled under the direction of Aaron
T. Wolf, Oregon State University, in collaboration with the United
Nations Environmental Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation
of the United Nations. "The World's International Freshwater Agreements" was
authored by Meredith A. Giordano and Aaron T. Wolf. "Thematic Maps:
Visualising Spartial Variability and Shared Benefits" was authored
by Aaron T. Wolf.
See: http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/
GEMS/Water Programme
The UNEP-GEMS/Water programme is a global water
quality monitoring programme, which collects and assesses water
quality data from 104 developing countries. The programme provides
information on the state and trends of global inland water quality,
which serve as a basis for decision-making processes related to
Integrated Water Resources Management in the development and sustainable
use of freshwater resources.
See: http://www.gemswater.org
The Pan-African Conference
It represents a political commitment at the highest
level among African Governments to move forward in solving the
continent's impending water crisis. African Governments, along
with representatives of the international community, the scientific
community, civil society and the private sector will, therefore,
meet in Addis Ababa to agree on how to turn commitments into action.
See http://www.uneca.org/panafcon/
River Basin Information
System (UNEP-RBIS)
This RBIS prototype is intended as a preliminary phase in exploring global
change impacts and challenges to natural resources on a limited scale focusing
initially on selected, key basins and a subset of relevant data themes.
See http://rbis-unep.sr.unh.edu/
GROUNDWATER
Indicative Roadmap for the Africa Groundwater Commission
This roadmap was presented and discussed at the first African water week in Tunis, 26-28 march 2008. In the concluding ministerial declaration, it was reflected as follows:
“institutionalize dialogue on groundwater management in Africa and implement the roadmap for the African Groundwater Commission”.
At its 6th Ordinary Session in Brazzaville in May 2007, AMSCO adopted key groundwater resolution: in particular that it would become the custodian of continent-wide strategic groundwater initiative which would strategically be achieved through the establishment of a commission dedicated to this purpose, namely the Africa Groundwater Commission.
This document provides an indicative roadmap for the soon to be constituted AGWC, outlining its proposed purpose, composition, operation and expectations, as well as an appendix of eleven project concepts of the AGWC’s work and priority during is first five year period.
To view this Roadmap, visit http://www/agwc.org/publications/publications.asp
Groundwater
Pollution
in Afica
This publication is largely based on the investigation or review of the situation of aquifer’s water supply in
sub-Saharan African cities, from the UNEP/UNESCO project on ‘Assessment of Pollution Status
and Vulnerability of Water Supply Aquifers of African Cities’. Strategically this project resulted in
the setting up of groundwater monitoring networks in the eleven participating countries and provided
groundwater quality information through various aquifer vulnerability maps and bulletins. National
water managers and planners were thereby provided with information pertaining to water quality
trends and status in both space and time for resource planning, management purposes and policy formulation
for groundwater protection and contamination prevention.
See the Preliminary.
To purchase this publication, visit earthprint.com
Groundwater
and its susceptibility to degradation:
This publication provides an
overview of the susceptibility of groundwater to degradation caused
by human activities. Including both quantity and quality impacts,
it examines the different issues affecting groundwater resources
in rural and urban/industrial settings, where groundwater has become
an integral part of billions of people's lives. Numerous examples
illustrate the consequent resource management issues and underline
the need for active management, not development by default.
This review is intended for planners and other decision-makers at national/provincial
government level and also for the general reader.
See http://www.unep.org/dewa/water/GroundWater/groundwater_report.asp
Assessment
of Pollution Status and Vulnerability of Water Supply Aquifers
of African Cities
Is a joint
Project of UNEP-DEWA in collaboration with UNESCO-IHP as the
implementing agency. The project aims to built on the successes achieved
in earlier work
(See: http://www.unep.org/DEWA/water/groundwater/africa/ ) carried
out in six (Benin, Burkina Faso, CÔte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Senegal)
West African countries and includes four new Anglophone countries i.e.
Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia. Its aim is to determine the status and
vulnerability of groundwater supplies in cities of the selected countries,
establish a network for exchange of related information, and develop suitable
methodologies for assessing and monitoring of real and potential contamination
of shallow and deeper groundwater aquifers ......
See: http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/ecosystems/water/groundwaterproject
Groundwater Recharge "A Survey of Methods for Groundwater Recharge in
Arid and Semi-arid regions"
The rate of recharge is the single most important
factor in the analysis and management of groundwater resources
in arid and semi-arid regions. At the same time, it is also
the most difficult quantity to determine. This report, which
is the result of a course held in Niamey, Niger, in 2000, presents
an overview of all the methods identified to date for estimating
groundwater recharge, including an assessment of the accuracy
and suitability of each.
See: http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/ EcoSystems/water/groundwaterrecharge.pdf
Integrated Water Assessment Activities
Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA)
Global International Waters Assessment was a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-led and Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded (with other partners) programme. The Kalmar University, Sweden was the main executing agency that hosted the GIWA Core Team and Co-ordination Office. The GIWA project divided the continents and shallow-water seas of the world into 66 natural regions consisting of one or more international river basins and their adjacent Large Marine Ecosystems. Local teams of experts assessed the deterioration of freshwater and marine systems caused by freshwater shortage, pollution, overfishing and habitat modification, as well as global climate change. Altogether, about 1 500 scientists and other experts were involved in the GIWA project, which was the largest global assessment of a broad array of ecosystem-wide water issues. The regional reports have been published in print and/or electronically. The Final Report of the project Challenges to International Waters - Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective, gives key results of GIWA and contains a complex matrix presenting the severity of 22 environmental and socio-economic water-related issues in all the studied regions. All GIWA reports are available in print and electronically at … http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa
World Water Development Report 2
This volume, covering all regions and most countries of the world, provides an up-to-date global overview of the state and uses of freshwater, critical water-related problems and societies’ coping mechanisms. Drawing on an extensive database, expert analysis, case studies, and hundreds of graphic elements, it is the most comprehensive undertaking to date of freshwater assessment, providing a mechanism for monitoring changes in the resource and its management and progress towards achieving development targets, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.
WWDR2 is aimed at a wide audience, including all those interested or directly involved in the formulation and implementation of water-related policies, as well as managers, researchers, teachers, students and, of course, water users themselves. http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr2/table_contents.shtml
Vital water graphics
Water is an essential commodity upon which all life on Earth depends. For most nations, economic development is inextricably linked to the availability and quality of freshwater supplies. Although everyone uses water on a daily basis, we often take this vital commodity for granted – particularly in regions with a natural abundance of water. We often forget that, in many regions, the availability of water is a matter of life and death. Vital Water Graphics provides a valuable and timely addition to existing literature on the state of the world’s water resources 36 years after the 1972 Stockholm Conference. The publication focuses on our most ‘vital’ and pressing water issues – issues that will determine the very future of life on Earth. These graphics, together with accompanying texts and maps, highlight how the quantity, quality and availability of fresh and marine waters play a major role in determining levels and patterns of poverty, land degradation, pollution, sanitation, health, and rural and urban development around the world...
Regular process for Global reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment
The process of investigating the potential establishment of a regular marine environment assessment to provide accurate information to decision markers on the state of the marine environment was initiated in 1999 at the seventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), agreed, in paragraph 36 (b) of the Plan of implementation of the WSSD (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation) to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in resolutions 57/141 (paragraph 45) and 58/240 (paragraphs 64-65) endorsed the paragraph.
See http://www.unep.org/Dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/water/ MarineAssessment/
Global Marine Assessments: A survey of global
and regional assessments and related activities
of the marine environment
The report provides a very useful starting point for
conducting the Assessment of Assessments. It highlights
the fact that the data available to assess the different ocean
processes is patchy in both time and space. It defines the
huge challenge that lies ahead in terms of capacitybuilding
and information and knowledge gaps. The report
recommends that, to improve this situation, new ways to
address capacity-building, particularly in developing
countries, are needed.
It emphasizes the fact that a
systematic effort to fill the information and knowledge
gaps will be necessary in the future to support an effective
decision-making process. The report was produced as a
tool to make easily available essential background
information for the assignment of the Group of Experts of
the Assessment of Assessments.
The report is supported by an interactive on-line database tool (available at www.unep-wcmc.org/GRAMED) which enables the user to search through the assessments and activities relating to the marine environment. Download Report (PDF File - 913 KB)
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Human Well-Being (2006)
This report is a synthesis of the findings from the reports of the four Millennium Ecosystems Assessments (MA) Working Groups (Conditions and Trends, Scenarios, Responses, and Sub-global Assessments) concerning marine and coastal ecosystems. The aim of this synthesis report is to contribute to the dissemination of the information contained within the MA to decision-makers and a wide range of stakeholders of marine and coastal ecosystems through seven key messages.
See http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/
water/Marine_Coastal_Ecosystems.pdf
Global
Marine Assessment
This report presents part of UNEP's
contribution to evaluating the feasibility of establishing a Global
Marine Assessment, as a process that will periodically report on
the state of the world's marine environment. It presents a snapshot
of the marine assessment and related scientific activities in progress
at the end of 2002, and recommends various ways in which a Global
Marine Assessment could integrate and support these activities.
See http://www.unep.org/dewa/assessments/EcoSystems/ water/Global_Marine_Assessments.pdf
Dugong
The " Dugong - Status Report and Action Plans for selected Countries and Territories " has
been finalized. The report is published in the Dewa Report Series February
2002.
See http://www.unep.org/Dewa/reports/dugongreport2.asp
UN Atlas
of the oceans
The atlas has received direct input from UNEP-DEWA.
It is an information system designed for use by policy makers who
need to become familiar with ocean issues. It provides valuable
information for use by scientists, students and resource managers
who need access to underlying databases and approaches to sustainability.
See http://www.oceansatlas.org/index.jsp
GESAMP
Its purpose was to provide advice to the agencies
and, through them their Member Governments on a problem that was
just beginning to be recognized as a major threat.
Since then the Joint Group has met regularly and
in 1993 its role was extended to cover all scientific aspects on
the prevention, reduction and control of the degradation of the
marine environment to sustain life support systems, resources and
amenities.
See http://gesamp.imo.org/
