'Water management needs new approaches'

By G. Venkataramani

THE HAGUE, MARCH 20. ``Those who use the lion's share of world's water must share with those who have less, their resources, expertise and the understanding that the challenges faced in other parts of the world must be recognised as their own challenges as well,'' said Queen Noor of Jordan.

In her opening presentation at the session on ``Vision for Water and Nature'' run by the IUCN, the World Conservation Union, here at the Second World Water Forum on Sunday, the Queen said that it was unfair to place the bulk of the burden of ecological preservation on those very countries already staggering under supreme shortage of resources, education, infrastructure and money. ``We have to assure the preservation of ecosystems and biological diversity. We must also help secure the livelihoods of communities around the world,'' she said.

``Keeping ecosystems alive should be a guiding principle in the decisions we make. This is of course no easy task. Different parts of the world have their own reasons for ignoring environmental needs. Wealth breeds indifference while poverty breeds desperation,'' she said.

In the developed North, abundance in both money and natural resources insulates inhabitants from the consequence of water wastage. In the developing South, where the worst natural shortages occur, poverty makes survival the priority and pushes environmental concerns to the fringes.

To effect the changes special efforts are needed. The awareness among individuals and communities to equip them with the practical tools to use water wisely should figure on the top of the list. ``They require the development of knowledge and know- how to experiment with new approaches in water management and apply them to other regions. They require resources to be allocated to support such experiments and keep improved management practices in place,'', she said.

People have to be enabled to participate in making the decisions that affect their most fundamental needs. When the people - particularly women, who are absolutely pivotal in this regard - are given a stake in their own future, they will take responsibility and do what needs to be done, making changes that would be impossible if imposed by some higher authority, according to the Queen.

She briefly touched on the six goals proposed by the Vision for Water and Nature of the IUCN that would lead the humanity to a sustainable water world. Caring for the planet's ecosystem, adopting an eco-system-based approach within river basins, empowering people for equitable sharing of water, creating a political will and good governance, raising awareness and strengthening capacity to change human behaviour to reduce water waste and protect ecosystems, and developing and sharing knowledge and technology to improve water resources management were the key ingredients of the Vision.

``The Vision for Water and Nature is a not a rule book, but a recipe for change meant to inspire, not proscribe. Actions have to be adapted to local needs, abilities and opportunities. Different nations, cultures, people''.

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Section  : International
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