Water & Nature Initiative
Water is a valuable resource, it is what sustains all life on earth. People need access to safe, reliable and renewable water supplies for health, agriculture and economic security. In a fast changing world integrated and fair water use and distribution is vital if we are to achieve sustainable development and reduce poverty across the globe.
The IUCN Water and Nature Initiative (WANI) works towards managing and protecting our water reserves and heritage for the future benefit of all. Stretching across 5 continents in 12 river basins, WANI works with governments and local communities to use and manage water resources more sustainably. WANI aims to help reduce poverty and protect the environment by helping people to manage river flows and improving access to all communities.
From the Pangani river at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, to the mighty Mekong river in Asia and the towering volcanoes along the Tacanà river in Central America, the Water and Nature demonstration projects are supported by the development of tools for financing, governance, empowerment, and information.
Water for Schools
The Water for Schools Campaign aims to bring together a network of organizations and partners that deliver safe water and sanitation to schools and assist in bringing basic water and hygiene education to teachers. Its target is to provide all schools with safe drinking water by 2015 as part of helping reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The promotion of safe water supply and basic hygiene in schools allows children to become the agents of change within their families and communities. Behaviour learnt at school on the critical importance of safe water, hygiene and conservation of freshwater ecosystems can lead to rapid improvements in health conditions and a reduction in school absenteeism. Providing water and sanitation services to schools is an important first step to engage children and communities in improving their water security and upholding their role as guardians of healthy and vital river ecosystems.
Initiated by the IUCN Water Programme, ‘Water for Schools’ primary aim will be to provide ‘1000 schools with water in 10 countries by 2008’. To kick-start the Water for Schools initiative, a number of schools in Ecuador, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Lesotho and Lao PDR are being put forward as tangible examples where work will be carried out. Through working with schools and strengthening the ‘Water for Schools’ network, practical experiences will be gained on delivery and scaling-up the approach to reach all schools by 2015.
Environmental Flows
Environmental Flows refers to the allocation of fresh water in river and lake basins to maintain ecosystems and their benefits to people. The Environmental Flows Network is a way for people to access and share the latest information ranging from basic explanatory information to detailed scientific information on methods, as well as case studies, links, contacts or literature. The network connects water managers, NGOs, local communities, scientists and researchers, as well as governmental and intergovernmental agencies that are interested in sharing knowledge on environmental flows.
