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

Transcription

1 IHP/Bur-XLIX/Ref.4 (agenda item 11.3) Paris, 11 June 2013 English only International Hydrological Programme 49 th session of the IHP Bureau (Paris, June 2013) PROPOSAL FOR THE LAUNCHING OF A WORLD S LARGE RIVERS INITIATIVE (WLRI) Item 11.3 of the provisional agenda The enclosed proposal is presented as originally submitted by Prof. Dr. Helmut Habersack (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences - BOKU, Vienna, Austria) to the IHP Secretariat. This document consists of a revised proposal concerning the launching of a World s Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI) as a UNESCO-IHP initiative. The revised proposal responds to the recommendation from the 20th session of the IHP Intergovernmental Council asking the delegation of Austria to work with the IHP Secretariat and the Bureau towards the establishment of a task force to further refine the initiative to better align it with the priorities of IHP. The Council encouraged the submission of a full proposal for consideration by the Bureau and subsequently by the 21st session of the Council.

2 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 Version World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 1

3 Background and rational World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI Rivers provide mankind with key benefits, such as water supply, food, hydropower, navigation, irrigation, ecosystem services and recreation. They are fundamental to life and frequently possess major cultural significance. Rivers are an integral part of the associated basin and are currently threatened by unsustainable overuse, increasing human pressure on the catchment and problems of increased floods and droughts driven by climate change, leading to changes in morphology, increased pollution, degradation of aquatic habitats, extinction of fish species etc. Current Challenges The pressures and impacts on the WLRs, including their basins and tributaries, have increased greatly in recent years. As a consequence of their exploitation to meet human needs and the impact of global change, WLRs are severely endangered, and there is an urgent need for action. Large rivers are particularly exposed to the impacts of multiple use, often with conflicting aims, leading, for example, to disruption of the continuum of water and sediment transfer from source to mouth. At the global scale, there is currently no holistic assessment of the present status of WLRs, the conflicting demands on such rivers, their likely future response to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts and the potential for restoration. While there remains no global regulartory mechanism for protecting the few remaining near natural WLRs, a forum for scientific cooperation can foster the necessary exchange of best practices and successful multi-lateral experiences in the protection of large rivers. All these changes impact negatively on the many benefits of rivers to mankind and their continuing contribution to human needs. To provide a scientific forum to discuss these benefits and threats and for a wide-ranging discussion of key issues related to research on large rivers and to their effective and sustainable management, involving scientists, river basin managers and decision makers, the first International Conference on the Status and World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 2

4 Future of the World s Large Rivers was held in Vienna, Austria, from the 11th to the 14th of April 2011, co-sponsored by UNESCO, IAHR, IAHS, WASER and IAG. The Vienna Declaration adopted by over 450 participants from 73 countries is leading hopefully 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 multidisciplinary international initiative to create the basis for a holistic, global scientific assessment of the status of the World s Large Rivers and to promote urgently needed improved, integrated and sustainable management of WLRs and their surrounding landscapes and basins. The outcome of the initiative is also relevant for smaller rivers, which can be included 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 in which UNESCO - through its International Hydrological Programme (IHP) - plays a key role through its initiatives and programmes such as ISI, IFI, FRIEND, HELP, IWRM etc. and its collaboration with other UN organisations and programmes like UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO, ADB. 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 development goals and commitments (e.g. MDGs, UNBiodiv., UNFCCC) 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 also the future conferences/activities. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 3

5 Objectives The collaborative and multidisciplinary World s Large Rivers Initiative aims to create the knowledge base for a holistic, scientific assessment of the status of the World s Large Rivers and to promote integrated and sustainable management. The specific objectives are: To analyse the current status and the future development of the WLRs, including the impact of medium and longterm climate change and climate variability 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 support maintainance and dynamic restoration/rehabilitation int ime and space of the WLR basic functions, including biodiversity and ecosystem services, recognising the individuality of rivers. To develop win-win solutions combining ecology and economy To promote IWRM taking into account the potential impact of climate change and variability including uncertainties. To strenghten Integrate use, protection and restoration of WLRs (including upstream-downstream interactions). To guide to sustain type-specific hydrological and hydraulic conditions. To provide the knowledge to preserve or restore the continuum of biota and sediment and sustain or improve sediment transport and fluvial morphodynamics, to achieve near natural conditions. To provide guidance to achive 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. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 4

6 Activities Act. 1: Create a global overview of the status and future of WLRs Based on the contributions to the conference, a UNESCO-led and internationallyfunded (e.g. World Bank) medium-term project, undertaken in collaboration with UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO, ADB, etc., should assemble and analyse existing data (free access) and knowledge on the status and future of WLRs, including evaluation of potential future infrastructure projects, their impact on WLRs and possible mitigation strategies. Act. 2: Close knowledge gaps, knowledge transfer and 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 WLR The initiative will work with partners in international scientific bodies and associations (e.g. UNESCO, IAHR, IAHS, WASER, IAG, etc.) towards the formulation of an action plan on WLR research to support informed river management. The initiative will also work towards establishing joint sponsoring of future WLR conferences to report and review progress made in the implmentation of the scientific action plan (Please see action 5). Act. 4: Establish a World River Forum, World Rivers Day and WLR Commission Meetings A World River Forum will be established to bring together scientists, stakeholders and decision makers, in order to promote and improve integrated management of WLRs. The UN World Rivers Day should be scientifically supported. The WLR Commissions (responsible for sustainable river management) should meet regularly to exchange experiences, define common standards on integrated management and debate future needs. Act. 5: Organisize future Conferences on the World s Large Rivers World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 5

7 A Conference on the Status and Future of WLRs should be held every three years, with the aim of expanding and disseminating scientific knowledge relating to WLRs. Deliverables and outcomes Out. 1: Global overview of the status and future of WLRs Scientific reports, publications, press releases and information material as outcome of an extraordinarily funded project. Out. 2: Closed knowledge gaps, ongoing knowledge transfer (experts trained) and a 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 WLR 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 WLR Commission Meetings World River Forum, World Rivers Day and WLR Commission Meetings organised and periodically taking place, accompanied by public relation activities. Out 5: Conferences on the World s Large Rivers Organisate conferences, workshops, meetings. WLR conferences held every three years. World s Large Rivers Initiative WLRI 6