International Hydrological Programme REVISED PROPOSAL FOR THE LAUNCHING OF A WORLD S LARGE RIVERS INITIATIVE (WLRI)

Transcription

1 IHP/Bur-L/Ref.9 Paris, 17 March 2014 English only International Hydrological Programme 50 th session of the IHP Bureau (Paris, 31 March 1 April 2014) REVISED PROPOSAL FOR THE LAUNCHING OF A WORLD S LARGE RIVERS INITIATIVE (WLRI) Item 7 of the provisional agenda The document consists of the revised version of the World Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI) proposed by the Austrian Delegation at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Council in A Task Force has been established to refine and align the proposal to the priorities of IHP VIII in cooperation with the IHP secretariat. The revised proposal will be discussed at the 50th session of the Bureau and subsequently by the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Council in 2014.

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3 World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI Rivers Contribution to Water Security A contribution to UNESCO S International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Prof Dr Helmut Habersack BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria IHP WLR Task Force Prof Dr Jovan Despotovic, Prof Dr Klement Tockner, Dr Adegoke Waheed Alayande, Mr Wilson M. Lekoomet, Prof Dr Joong Hoon Kim Version World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 1

4 Background and rational World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI Large rivers are complex, dynamic and diverse ecosystems. They are fundamental to life and possess major cultural significance. Large Rivers provide multiple goods and services to humans, such as drinking water, food, hydropower, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. At the same time, large rivers are among the most modified systems worldwide. Their basins are threatened by unsustainable overuse, increasing human pressures, and more frequent and severe floods and droughts driven by climate change and land-use alteration, which jointly alter morphology, increase pollution, degrade aquatic habitats, and rapidly decrease biological diversity. Current Challenges The pressures and impacts on the World s Large Rivers (WLRs), including their basins and tributaries, have increased greatly in recent decades. As a consequence of their exploitation to meet human needs and the impact of global change, WLRs are severely endangered, calling for urgent action. Large rivers are particularly exposed to the impacts of multiple use, often associated to competing aims, leading to the disruption of the continuum of water, sediment transfer and biota from source to mouth. A global, holistic assessment of the present state of the WLRs, the competing demands on these rivers, their likely future response to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, and the potential for restoration, is still missing. There is a lack of global regulatory mechanisms for protecting the remaining near natural WLRs. A science-based forum can foster international co-operation, the exchange of best practices and successful multi-lateral experiences for the sustainable management of large rivers. The major changes the WLRs face have major ramifications on their benefits to mankind and their continuing contribution to human needs. The first International Conference on the Status and Future of the World s Large Rivers was held in Vienna, Austria (April 2011) and provided a scientific forum to discuss the benefits and threats as well as the effective and World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 2

5 sustainable management of large rivers worldwide. The conference was co-sponsored by UNESCO, IAHR, IAHS, WASER, and IAG and involved scientists, river basin managers as well as decision makers. The Vienna Declaration, adopted by over 450 participants from 73 countries, is expected to lead to a global effort to assess the existing and future needs of large rivers in order to better integrate their use, protection and restoration. It recommends a collaborative and interdisciplinary international initiative to create the basis for a holistic, global scientific assessment of the status of the WLRs. This assessment will form the basis for an improved, integrated and sustainable management of WLRs including their basins. The outcomes from the initiative s work also provide important information for smaller rivers which could substantially benefit from findings generated in a second step of the assessment. In order to launch the project at the UN level, it was presented by Austria to UNESCO-IHP during its 20 th session of the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) in The proposal was discussed and the initiative was welcomed among the Member States, which was reflected in the final report of IGC. The IGC encouraged the presenter of the proposal to submit a full proposal to the IHP Bureau and subsequently to the 21st session of the IGC in 2014 for final approval. This should be done by forming a task force to further incorporate the initiative into the implementation of IHP-VII and IHP-VIII. The WLRI is a global initiative where UNESCO - through its International Hydrological Programme (IHP) - plays a key role through its initiatives and programmes such as ISI, IFI, FRIEND, HELP, IWRM etc., as well as its collaboration with other UN organisations and programmes like UN Water, UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO. The new initiative will benefit from the experience and knowledge base which were created in these programmes. This initiative supports the achievement of internationally agreed upon development goals and commitments (e.g. MDGs, SDGs, UNBiodiv., UNFCCC, ADB UNESCO-IHE Knowledge Partnership) and allows an integrated approach (e.g. IHP MAB IGCP WWAP). All relevant international scientific organisations (e.g. IAHS, IAHR, WASER, IAG) co-sponsored the first WLR Conference in Vienna in 2011 and their representatives expressed their willingness to support future conferences and activities. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 3

6 Objectives The collaborative and interdisciplinary World s Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI) aims to create the knowledge base required for a holistic scientific assessment of the state of the WLRs and to promote their integrated and sustainable management. The specific objectives are: To analyse the current state and the future development of the WLRs, including the impact of medium- to long-term climate change, land-use alteration, and direct human pressures. To establish a platform to build, facilitate, and harvest hydrological science synergies between countries and to provide education and training at technical and tertiary level. To develop innovative strategies for the sustainable management of the WLRs for the benefit of both humans and nature, while recognising the individuality of rivers. To develop synergies between ecological targets and economic development. To promote IWRM, taking into account the potential impact of climate change including uncertainties. To strengthen integrated use, conservation and restoration of WLRs (including upstream-downstream interactions). To guide and to sustain type-specific hydrological and hydraulic conditions. To provide the knowledge to preserve or restore the continuum of water, biota and sediment and sustain or improve sediment transport and fluvial morphodynamics in order to achieve the best attainable conditions. To provide guidance to achieve water quality goals, recognising the individuality and specific conditions of each river. To share and exchange data of transboundary rivers, based on common standards and accuracy. To assess future trends of river hydro-morpho-ecodynamics in order to develop and test adaptation and mitigation strategies. To promote sustainable use of transboundary WLRs among countries of the world and forestall future conflicts on its water use. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 4

7 Activities Act. 1: Create a global overview of the present and future status of WLRs Based on the contributions to the conference, a UNESCO-led and internationallyfunded (bi- and multilateral international donors, e.g. World Bank) medium-term project, undertaken in collaboration with UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO, ADB, among others, should assemble and analyse existing data and knowledge on the status and future of WLRs, including the evaluation of potential future infrastructure projects, their impact on WLRs and possible mitigation strategies. Act. 2: Close knowledge gaps, foster knowledge transfer and create a Global Observatory of WLRs In a concerted action, the research required to close knowledge gaps relating to WLRs should be identified and promoted. Particular attention should be given to knowledge transfer to next generation scientists, stakeholders, decision makers, children (education) and the general public. Training of experts should therefore be a key element. A global observatory should be formed to document changes (including climate change effects) occurring in WLRs. Act. 3: Formulate a collaborative International Research Action Plan on WLRs An action plan on WLRs research to support informed river management will be jointly developed with international scientific organizations (e.g. UNESCO, IAHR, IAHS, WASER, IAG, among others). Co-sponsored WLRs conferences are held to report and evaluate the progress made in the implementation of the scientific action plan (Please see action 5). Act. 4: Establish a World River Forum, World Rivers Day and WLRs Commission Meetings A World River Forum will be established that brings together scientists, stakeholders and decision makers in order to promote and improve the integrated management of WLRs. The UN World Rivers Day will be scientifically supported. The WLRs Commissions (responsible for sustainable river management) should meet regularly to exchange experiences, define common standards on integrated management and debate future needs. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 5

8 Act. 5: Organise future Conferences on the World s Large Rivers A Conference on the Status and Future of WLRs should be held every three years with the aim of expanding and disseminating scientific knowledge on the WLRs and their integrated and sustainable management. Deliverables and outcomes Out. 1: Global overview of the status and future of WLRs Scientific reports, publications, press releases, policy briefs and information material as outcome of an extraordinarily funded project. Out. 2: Closed knowledge gaps, ongoing knowledge transfer (experts trained) and an existence of a Global Observatory of WLRs Well educated next generation scientists, stakeholders, decision makers, children (education) and the general public in all participating countries. Special focus on experts trained. Functioning and extraordinary funded observatory installed and running, common data base. Out. 3: Collaborative International Action Plan to focus on WLRs research and management Action plan adopted and implemented by international scientific bodies and associations (e.g. UNESCO, IAHR, IAHS, WASER, IAG, etc.). Out 4: World River Forum, World Rivers Day and WLRs Commission Meetings World River Forum, World Rivers Day and WLRs Commission Meetings organised regularly, accompanied by public relation activities. Out 5: Conferences on the World s Large Rivers Organised conferences, workshops and meetings. WLR conferences held every three years. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 6

9 List of Acronyms ADB FAO FRIEND HELP IAG IAHR IAHS IFI IGC IGCP IHE IHP ISI IWRM MAB MDG SDG UN UNBiodiv UNDP UNEP UNESCO UNFCCC WASER WHO WLRs WLRI WWAP Asian Development Bank Food and Agriculture Organization (UN) Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data (UNESCO-IHP Programme) Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (UNESCO-IHP Programme) International Association of Geomorphologists International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research International Association of Hydrological Sciences International Flood Initiative (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Council International Geoscience Programme (UNESCO) Institute for Water Education (UNESCO) International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO) International Sediment Initiative (UNESCO) Integrated Water Resources Management Man and the Biosphere Programme (UNESCO) Millennium Development Goals (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (UN) United Nations United Nations Decade on Biodiversity United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research World Health Organization World s Large Rivers World s Large Rivers Initiative World Water Assessment Programme (UNESCO) World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 7