Log-Frame Analyses

Joint Commitment: Good Water Quality for all Tisza Countries

Khristine Custodio — 2011-04-28T03:45:00Z

The ministers and high-level representatives will sign a Memorandum of Understanding and endorse the implementation of the Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan (ITRBM Plan), which has been proposed in full compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive. This is important, as Hungary, Romania and Slovakia are EU member states, whereas Serbia and Ukraine are not. Pollution, however, does not stop at borders – an internationally orchestrated management of the Tisza River Basin is therefore crucial for ensuring good water quality.

The Tisza cooperation is also an important flagship project for the EU Danube Strategy. It will help to tie the entire region into this set of measures and policies, dedicated to sustainable development in the entire Danube River Basin.

The Tisza River Basin and the Tisza Group

The Tisza River is the longest tributary of the Danube. Its basin is the largest sub-basin of the Danube Basin and the home to 14 million people in five countries. It is an area rich in biodiversity, providing habitants for many species no longer found in other parts of Europe. Many areas of the region, including nature reserves and national parks, are important ecological assets.

The Tisza Group comprises of the five Tisza Basin countries: Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. It was created under the umbrella of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) to prepare and coordinate all activities for the preparation of the ITRBM Plan. All countries of the Tisza Group are also contracting parties of ICPDR, which hosts the Ministerial Meeting under its current Ukrainian presidency. Since 1998, the ICPDR has played a key-role as a platform to coordinate international responses to environmental pressures. The development of the ITRBMP was supported by a three-year UNDP/GEF project to encourage improved land and water management throughout the Tisza River Basin. This followed a UNDP and GEF tradition to support the countries of the wider Danube River Basin that has lasted for 20 years.

Quotes

“… experts have been heavily involved in data collection and its analytical processing, needed for the preparation of the Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan. This work has been shared among experts from the Tisza countries – the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine – all participating fairly in multilateral international cooperation.”
Mykola Melenevskyi, ICPDR President 2011 on the international efforts that allowed the Tisza River Basin Management Plan to be developed over the course of several years.

“The Tisza cooperation is important for the entire region, as it will become a flagship project for the EU Danube Strategy. This strategy will set the framework for developments in the Danube River Basin, and the Tisza countries now take the opportunity to act at its forefront. The Tisza cooperation carries EU policies and funding beyond the borders of the EU, to the benefit of all countries involved.”
Philip Weller, ICPDR Executive Secretary on the importance of the Tisza cooperation in the light of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, which will be adopted this summer.

The Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan

The ITRBM Plan includes an analysis that outlines the pressures from pollution, river engineering works, floods and droughts. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the status waters and identifies the measures needed to be implemented to reach the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) by 2015. Serbia and Ukraine, which are not EU member states, have committed themselves voluntarily to comply with the targets set by the WFD.

The principles of Integrated Water Resources Management promote the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources. The aim is to maximise the economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.

The UNDP/GEF Tisza Project (Integrating multiple benefits of wetlands and floodplains into improved transboundary management for the Tisza River Basin) has worked closely with the Tisza countries and the ICPDR to develop the Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan. The Project had a focus on wetlands and floodplains to encourage further restorations of these important river basin features that have been lost due to intensive farming and flood protection and undertook three pilot projects addressing land and water management in addition to the co-ordination of the ITRBM support.

Water quantity management, such as flood and drought protection or climate change adaptation strategies, and development processes such as land use management, have a crucial role in reaching good water quality and quantity.

About the ICPDR

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is an international organisation consisting of 14 cooperating states and the European Union. Since its establishment in 1998, the ICPDR has grown into one of the largest and most active international bodies engaged in river basin management in Europe. Its activities relate not only to the Danube River itself, but also the tributaries and the ground water resources.

The ultimate goal of the ICPDR is to implement the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) by promoting and coordinating sustainable and equitable water management, including conservation, and improvement and rational use of waters for the benefit of the Danube River Basin countries and their people.

* *** *

For more information contact:

Peter Whalley
UNDP/GEF Tisza Project
Telephone: +44-7768-166-713
Email: pdwhalley@btinternet.com
Web site: www.icpdr.org

CLIMATE 2011/KLIMA 2011

Montakan Chimmuang — 2011-04-28T10:05:00Z

The 4th on-line climate conference CLIMATE 2011 / KLIMA 2011, which draws from the success of the previous on-line events (CLIMATE 2008, CLIMATE 2009 and CLIMATE 2010), fills a research gap and discusses emerging issues related to climate variation, climate change and disaster risk management. It will also introduce a variety of concrete projects, initiatives and strategies currently being undertaken and implemented in the five continents, to showcase latest examples of how to ensure that matters related to climate variability and climate change are duly considered in disaster risk management.

The virtual event which runs from 7-12 November 2011 and takes place 100% online will have two tracks: one in English and one in the German language. Interested participants can read the papers, exchange ideas with the authors and participant experts and browse through further background information on specific aspects of climate change and disaster risk management – by accessing the e-conference from their offices, schools and universities or from home, without causing further climate burdens.

2011 Results Notes - Demonstrations of Innovative Approaches to the Rehabilitation of Heavily Contaminated Bays in the Wider Caribbean

Clement Lagalice — 2011-11-04T13:30:00Z

INTERNATIONAL WATERS RESULTS NOTES Demonstrations of Innovative Approaches to the Rehabilitation of Heavily Contaminated Bays in the Wider Caribbean It supported synergies and the sharing of experiences with the GEF UNEP UNDP Integrating Watersheds and Coastal Area Management Project for Caribbean SIDS (IWCAM) and the GEF IDB UNEP Testing a Prototype Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW).

2011 Results Notes - The Role of the Coastal Ocean in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Nutrient and Carbon Cycles

Clement Lagalice — 2011-11-04T13:50:00Z

2011-results-notes-the-role-of-the-coastal-ocean-in-the-disturbed-and-undisturbed-nutrient-and-carbon-cycles 2011 Results Notes - The Role of the Coastal Ocean in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Nutrient and Carbon Cycles INTERNATIONAL WATERS RESULTS NOTES http://www.iwlearn.net/results 10-10-2011 The Role of the Coastal Ocean in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Nutrient and Carbon Cycles GEF ID#: 514 GEF Agency Project ID# GF/1100-99-07 Project Status: Completed 1.

2011 Results Notes - Support to the National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

Clement Lagalice — 2011-11-04T14:05:00Z

2011-results-notes-support-to-the-national-programme-of-action-for-the-protection-of-the-arctic-marine-environment 2011 Results Notes - Support to the National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment INTERNATIONAL WATERS RESULTS NOTES http://www.iwlearn.net/results 11-10-2011 Support to the National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment GEF ID#: 1164 GEF Agency Project ID# GFL 2732-03-4694 Project Status: Completed 1. The more specific objective of the Project is to develop and establish a sustainable framework to reduce environmental degradation of the Russian Arctic from land-based activities on a system basis by implementation of the SAP developed at the first stage of the Project in favor of all Arctic States and global community and to comply with obligations of the Russian Federation under international conventions and agreements taking into account decisions and programmes of the Arctic Council.

Water Safety Conference

Montakan Chimmuang — 2012-01-27T07:32:13Z

The theme of the conference is water quality and public health. The programme committee are seeking contributions that highlight practices and policies with demonstrable impact on service delivery levels, drinking water quality and public health. Themes and topics of interest include:

Water Safety Plan implementation
Household Treatment and Safe Storage
Risk Assessment / Risk Management
Source protection
Health Impact Assessments for Water Quality Interventions
Innovative Policies and Regulations for Drinking Water Quality
Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply Systems
Risk-based Investment Planning for Water Supply Systems
Community Managed Water Supplies
Emerging Water Quality Risks

Global Coral Reefs

Mish Hamid — 2010-11-02T14:20:55Z

A film by the Global Environment Facility International Waters project "Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management", implemented by the World BAnk and managed by the University of Queensland.

Indigenous Knowledge in Coastal and Marine Resources, Tanzania

Mish Hamid — 2010-11-14T22:45:00Z

A film by the Global Environment Facility funded, World Bank implemented, University of Queensland executed, Coral Reef Targeted Research project. The film was produced by the University of Dar Es Salaam, Institute of Marine Science. The film looks at indigenous practices in Tanzania in fishing and other sectors, with an eye to how local culture can be leveraged to improve coral reef management.

Outreach materials

Christian Ledermann — 2005-04-11T14:30:00Z

newsletters, brochures.

2011 Results Notes - Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management

Clement Lagalice — 2011-09-16T14:48:09Z

Coastal and Marine Resource Management Project ProjectDocument:Results INTERNATIONAL WATERS RESULTS NOTES http://www.iwlearn.net/results 09-09-2011 Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management GEFID#: TF-53909, World Bank ID# P078034, Project Status: Completed Melanie King and Marea Hatziolos m.king4@uq.edu.au, mhatziolos@worldbank.org The University of Queensland, The World Bank 1 1. Linking Scientific Knowledge to Management and Policy KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & EXPERIENCE SHARING Indicators [Indicator 1: Participation in IW events] Target: Presentations with booth participation and hosting of staff/twinning th • GEF 6 IWC • 12th ICRS (Management Mini-symposium and 100 presentations by CRTR members on CRTR research results) • IW:LEARN events at ICRS and other fora • Sponsored 62 Masters and Postdoctoral students, and Postdoctoral Fellows • 53 international research institutions were involved comprising 86 researchers partnered and collaborated during the phase • Participated in 230 events within the regions e.g training workshops, technical meetings, conferences etc [Indicator 2: Project website] Target: Website in line with IW:LEARN guidelines, regularly updated • Website rated in top 10 (#6) in 2009 of WB GPP websites for hits, return visits and downloads • The estimated number of visits to the site from November 2008 to October 2009 was 22,353;

Maps/Graphics

Christian Ledermann — 2008-11-17T10:41:23Z

Maps and Graphics

Coral Reefs - Project Brief - [Acrobat]

admin — 2005-04-11T14:30:00Z

Investigations of impacts of localised stress and compounding effects of climate change on sustainability of coral reef ecosystem (Project appraisal document)

admin — 2005-04-11T14:30:00Z

The Global Environment Objective is to fill critical gaps in our global understanding of what determines coral reef ecosystem vulnerability and resilience to a range of key stressors—from localized human stress to climate change--and to inform policies and management interventions on behalf of coral reefs and the communities that depend on them.

Project Documents

Christian Ledermann — 2007-11-27T14:26:43Z

project document, fact sheets, annexes...

Experience Note: Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management: Using Sound Science to Influence Policy and Improve Management of the World’s Coral Reefs

admin — 2009-07-20T14:55:00Z

2008 HAS BEEN DECLARED THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE REEF—TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF THESE MAGNIFICENT ECOSYSTEMS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE SEVERE THREATS THEY FACE FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY LEADING TO DECLINES IN THEIR HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE CORAL REEF TARGETED RESEARCH AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR MANAGEMENT (CRTR) PROGRAM IS A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTED BY THE GEF, THE WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT GRANT FACILITY (DGF), THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND (UQ) AND US NATIONAL AND OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS ARE RESPONDING TO GLOBAL CHANGE, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THEIR VULNERABILITY TO NEAR AND LONGER-TERM THREATS AND TO PUT THIS INFORMATION IN THE HANDS OF DECISION-MAKERS TO PROMOTE NEEDED ACTION. THIS NOTE DRAWS ON FINDINGS RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON CORAL REEFS. IT SEEKS TO DEMONSTRATE THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN BUILDING CAPACITY, CREATING AWARENESS, INFORMING THE POLICY DEBATE AND PROMOTING URGENT MANAGEMENT ACTIONS TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE WORLD’S CORAL REEFS.