Entries for the GEF International Waters Website Award

Good luck to all participants :)

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Guarani Aquifer System (World Bank-OAS)

http://www.sg-guarani.org

The site is intended to reach different audiences with specific purposes. - Public in general (regional level: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay): information about the Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) and the Project itself. - Children and teachers: educational resources to work on groundwater in general, and the GAS in particular in Spanish, Portuguese, and also Guarani (indigenous language). - Stakeholders: information on project progress and news. - Institutions and actors involved in project execution in the four countries: project management tools like documents under review, technical reports, calls for meetings, job opportunities, monthly newsletters, steering committee acts and aid-memoires, among many others.

UNDP-GEF Dnipro Basin Environment Programme, UNOPS

http://www.dnipro-gef.net

The main goal of the website is to provide structured and easily understood information about the Project and current environmental issues faced in the Dnipro basin. The site unites the three Dnipro countries (Belarus, Russia and Ukraine) and focuses attention on the joint resolution of transboundary pollution issues – a first in the given region. The assembled information is an important data base which serves as a useful resource for researchers, policy makers, students and the wider community. Long term goals see the website serving the future needs of the Dnipro Basin Commission and becoming an important platform for monitoring legislative harmonization and Dnipro SAP implementation in general.

Pollution Reduction through Improved Municipal Wastewater Management in Coastal Cities in ACP Countries with a Focus on SIDS (IA: UNDP)

http://www.training.gpa.unep.org

This UN interagency web site on wastewater management training aims at multiple audiences: (1) Wastewater managers and other sector professionals find a management tutorial, compendium of technologies and software tools for decision-making. (2) Current and potential new project partners/institutions can use the web site to familiarize themselves with content, institutional set-up, and key documents. (3) Former training participants find references to activities in their region, training reports, photos, as well as the resources listed above. (4) General public (researchers, students, NGO staff etc.) looking for information on specific topics may find documents on this website through the metadata provided. The site is designed to be offered in multiple languages.

NBI - Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project

http://www.nileteap.org

The site is a platform (knowledge base) for natural and environmental resources management knowledge/information exhange. The project activities on the website provide learning opportunities as well as sharing of information on best practices. The site has an online, interactive multimedia, self learning environmental education and awareness tool kit (Nile River Awraeness Kit), containing information on the ecology of the river Nile, livilihoods in the river basin, management of the natural and environmental resources and tools for monitoring. The objective of the tool is to use multimedia and interactive tools to support sustainable management and use of the environment and use resources within the Nile basin. The website is a useful resource for resource managers, users, reaseachers, policy makers, academicians and the general public.

Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), under UNEP Regional Seas

http://www.nowpap.org

As being a tool for furthered implementation/compliance of int'l environmental agreements, NOWPAP places it primary purpose in bureaucrats' awareness of the cause. Not only that, environmental scientists, oceanographers or environmentalists may receive a hint what activity or what research can help to make the region environmentally and sustainably better-off. NOWPAP is not the only marine environmental body in the region. The website plays a role of window of informational exchange, by which better efficiency could be achieved. A part of the website which serves larger population would be its collection of references for the marine litter reduction (http://www.nowpap.org/new_projects_sub06.php).

South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project(SWIOFP)

http://swiofp.iwlearn.org

At National level the site targets national institutions which deal with licensing and implementation of management policies.
It targets private and public research organizations for information sharing and dissemination of the project research findings.
At the regional level the site is supposed to act as a medium for sharing on fisheries issues

Development and Implementation of Mechanisms to Disseminate Lessons Learned and Experiences in Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management in Latin America and the Caribbean – DELTAmerica. Implementing Agency: UNEP. Executing Agency GS/OAS

http://conosur.rirh.net

The project was seeking to achieve an increased understanding and capacity of Integrated Water Resources Management in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Such capacity and understanding is predicated upon access and exchange of information. As such DELTA has been looking inter alia at strengthening the Inter-American Water Resource Network (IWRN) as the principal hemispheric communication tool for integrated water resources management; enhancing and promoting an active participation of civil society in water management decision making. The project also looked at developing specific processes for sharing and disseminating experiences and lessons learned from the LAC region in general but also from GEF-IW projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project thus focused its efforts on the development of new Information and Communication Tools (ICT) and a new dynamic Web-based Information System for the IWRN. This new Information System is based on three criteria:

a dynamic and decentralized “web” of Web sites;
mixed-partnerships for the operation of the Web sites; and
basin-based information systems.

This new system allows for a distributed management of the information, fostering a broader participation (including national and sub-national groups, private and public sectors,) the preservation and strengthening of members’ identities, and the sharing of responsibilities. The distributed management of the information also provides for a more timely and efficient information and knowledge supply, which, in turn, facilitates the use of experiences, lessons learned and “best practices”, and their transfer to national and regional policy. The new dynamic Web-based Information System for the IWRN is composed of a series of interlinked sub-regional nodes across Latin America that is the

Southern Cone hosted in Argentina and serving Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay,
the Brazilian Node hosted in Brazil and serving Brazil,
the Pacific Node hosted in Peru and serving Peru, Columbia, Equator, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela,
the Central American Node hosted in Costa Rica and serving central American countries as well as the
Caribbean Node hosted in Saint Lucia and serving the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad & Tobago) but also Guyana and Belize, English speaking countries.

The Network has also a central or mirror node currently in Florida but which will be soon transferred to Montevideo at the new Secretariat of IWRN. The new dynamic Web-based Information System for the IWRN beyond establishing mixed-partnerships between governmental institutions, universities, NGOs, international organizations, and private organizations, is also allowing a rich discussion process for the development of an hemispheric agenda, as well as for the implementation of national and sub-regional ones. Indeed, the node in Brazil has been actively serving the whole country and its states likewise the Southern Cone hosted in Argentina has been actively used by Argentina and its provinces. In Argentina, a federal country formed of 23 autonomous different Provinces, the Southern Cone node was used by the Sub-secretariat of Water Resources, to facilitate the process of harmonization of the different water management provincial's laws under the leadership of the Federal Water Council (COHIFE- Consejo Hídrico Federal).

UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (UNOPS)

http://www.yslme.org

Through disseminating and sharing information, the YSLME website will help to promote environmentally-sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal resources in the Yellow Sea. It is expected that the website will foster mutual knowledge and understanding of the Yellow Sea’s environment among a wide range of stakeholders in the region. One of strong points for the website is the prompt update of Events, Announcement, newly published documents including graphics with better-and-easy-to-use functions. Additionally the conciseness, handiness was focused for inplementation.

BCLME Programme, implemented by UNDP

http://www.bclme.org

The BCLME Programme's website is an important tool in the Programme's communications strategy. It not only describes the purpose, structure and accomplishments of the Programme, but over the past five years it has become an important repository of information. All the projects that are supported by the BCLME Programme are listed on the website and, at the click of a button, interested browsers can access reports, findings and recommendations linked to the projects. The BCLME Programme is a joint initiative between Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Therefore, the website aims to inform scientists, managers, politicians and decision-makers about the progress of the Programme. A substantial amount of information on the site is available in two languages (English and Portuguese), but the project reports are predominantly in English.

Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Programme)

http://www.unepscs.org

The South China Sea Project Website was developed for the dissemination of project outputs and information, and to facilitate the online sharing of information and examples of best practice between members of the project network. The site's main audience is the full membership of the South China Sea Project network, including focal points, demonstration site managers and staff, and members of national-level committees and working groups. The scope of the site has recently been expanded to disseminate information of interest to other International Waters projects and regional and international organisations involved in waters management. It is intended that the website will continue to be operated beyond the completion of the project, largely to enable the continued updating of the site’s databases and to facilitate the continued sharing of information and examples of best practice at the regional level. As such, the site was designed to enable all members of the project network to update pages of the website and its associated databases from their own offices using a secure online login. Members of the project network have recently assumed responsibility for updating and managing certain pages of the site under the guidance of the Project Co-ordinating Unit, with the aim of building capacity within the network for the longer-term management of the site. A regional workshop is planned for the final quarter of 2007 to explore how to ensure the longer-term sustainability of the site.

INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES IN THE AMAZON RIVER BASIN CONSIDERING CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE - ACTO/UNEP/OAS

http://www.otca.org.br/gefam

The Project GEF Amazonas ACTO/UNEP/OAS(short for the name presented above)is moving towards the end of its PDF-B phase. Its website, at this stage, aims at providing Amazon Basin stakeholders with information on the progress of the activities which will result on the Project Core Document (that is, a proposal) for the Full Size Project in the Amazon Basin. Amazon Basin stakeholders include governmental and non-governmental organizations in the Basin, local communities (those who have access to the internet)and governments, the private sector and academic and research institutions that will be directly and indirectly impacted by the Project (which means throughout the eight Amazonian countries). The implementation of this website, along with the series of wokshops developed throughout the Amazon Region, has been just the first step in the direction of stakeholder integration and participation on the Project. During the next four years, the Project GEF Amazonas will undertake socio-economic and scientific investigations and will carry out activities that will generate input for the elaboration of an IWRM Strategic Action Program for the Amazon Basin as a whole. Among these activities, a Resource Information Center will be developed, centralizing socio-economic and scientific data, information and images related and relevant to the GEF Amazonas Project. This Resource Center will also include a vistual space for stakeholder dialogue, so that the communities and institutions affected by and interested on the Project have a voice on the development, implementation and monitoring of the activities taking place. Thus, the website of Project GEF Amazonas has an important role in this preparation phase and will be imperial for the success of the Full Size Project implementation. Future needs of the webpage, so that it fulfills the objective of becoming a Portal for the Project Gef Amazonas, include a forum for stakeholder interaction, GIS and metadata bases planned to be fully implemented and operational by the end of the second year of Full Size Project implementation.

Development and Implementation of the Lake Peipsi/Chudskoe Basin Management Programme/UNDP

http://www.peipsi.org/gef/ and www.peipsi.org

This site was created in order to inform about the project and its events and distribute relevant information/publications in electronic form. This public site exists in three languages in order to address regional needs and engage wider audience. The second aim was to unite a project team and partners (including different agencies) in two countries via Intranet where it is possible to find all related project documents such as full reports, minutes, TORs etc. The Intranet is only in English in order to streamline the process. The project also has supported the Peipsi portal www.peipsi.org which aims to host information about the lake, its region, different sectors and problems. Future needs – to update the sites and refresh in terms of technological solutions.

Toward a Convention and Action Programme for the Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment Project - UNDP/UNOPS

http://www.caspianenvironment.org/

Audience: Environmental Experts Governmental Decision Makers NGOs and CBOs Public in General Purpose: Keeping the stakeholders informed and engaged Data & Information Banking
Future Needs: Stakeholders web – based Networking Inter-active dialoging with stakeholders.

Lake Chad Basin GEF Project, UNOPS

http://www.lakechadbasin.net

The site provides information to the project staff within the members states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and project's partners and other members of the public. The site primary purpose is to provide information to project stakeholders that will promote collaboration in the implementation of the project activities. Project milestone achievements are disseminated through the website.

"Managing hydrogeological risks in the Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS)" ; Implementing agency : UNEP

http://iullemeden.iwlearn.org

The Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS), shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria, is a sub-regional aquifer system in West Africa sahelian zones. The area is 500 000 km². The annual rainfalls mean values change from North to South less than 100 mm to 800 mm. The Iullemeden Aquifer System is under environmental threats caused by:

climate changes;
growing population pressure: 15 million in 2000, the double in 2025;
Groundwater over-exploitation: 50 million m3 in 1970, 180 million m3 in 2004;
human induced water pollution.

In order to address transboundary risks associated with these threats in a strategic manner, the project adopts a risk-based management approach. The project is aimed at establishment of a joint mechanism and cooperative framework for: (a) identification of transboundary risks and uncertainty issues; (b) formulation of joint risk mitigation and sharing policy; and (c) joint policy implementation through a joint IAS legal and institutional consultative mechanism. These components will be supported by awareness raising, public participation and communication. The main achievements are:

major transboundary risks identified,
common data base elaborated (more than 17000 boreholes),
Geographic Information System developed,
Groundwater model developed,
Iullemeden website elaborated, and
a clear consensus on the need for, and on the structure and mandate of, the consultative mechanism, and on the approach to be followed for its establishment.

The perspectives are:

formulating the Strategic Action Programme,
improving data and information,
assessing and managing surface water and groundwater, and
implementing the regional consultative mechanism.

The project is managed through the project steering committee by the three governments with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory as the Executing Agency.

IW Learn capacity building in economics (in association with IUCN)

http://earthmind.net/rivers & http://earthmind.net/marine

These two worksites provide a wealth of information on the economics of marine and water-related resources, with a particularly focus on valuation. They were constructed as e-support sites for two IW-Learn workshops and were designed so that they could serve as esources for the IW Learn community long after the workshops had taken place.

North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS)

http://nwsas.iwlearn.org/

The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System shared by Algeria, Libya and Tunisia refers to the superimposition of two thick aquifer layers: - the Intercalary Continental (IC) formation, which is the thickest and has the greatest expanse, and - the Terminal Complex (TC) which is heavily exploited in the Algero-Tunisian Chotts region and in the Gulf of Sirte in Libya. This site aims to inform about the results of the project. Potential abstractions from these aquifers are limited first of all by economic constraints although the main constraints at present stem from environmental risks connected to the exploitation and vulnerability of Saharan watertables. The System covers more than a million km² (1,800 km E-W, and 900 km N-S) of which 60% is in Algeria, a little less than 10% in Tunisia, and 30% in Libya.

Addressing Land-based Activities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-LaB) - UNEP

http://www.wiolab.org

The purpose of the main project website is to provide information on and make available outputs of project activities to both parties directly involved in the project: government representatives, institutions, international and national NGOs and individual experts and persons). The site furthermore offers facilities for regular updates on events, the exchange of background document on meetings and other events as well as discussion forums. The site also provides links to relevant partner projects, programmes and organisations. The main project site furthermore provides access to a specialized information management system set up by the project, referred to as the Nairobi Convention Clearinghouse Mechanism, and which for sustainability reasons (the site would later be maintained by the Convention Secretariat)is set up as a separate site, set apart from the general project information site. The Clearinghouse Mechanism presents relevant information sources on the eastern Africa Coastal and Marine Environment together in an organized and consistent manner using standards, guidelines and a common suite of tools and functions. Data holdings range from geo-spatial, socioeconomic, to environmental publications from institutes, departments, environmental management authorities, maritime services, data gateways, and relevant databases.

Global Mercury Project - UNDP/UNIDO

http://www.globalmercuryproject.org

The site brings a massive information about use of mercury in artisanal mining. We have also links with reports, videos and pictures. As the subject is usually overlooked by most environmental scientists we have presentations showing that Hg pollution from Artisanal Miners is the global LARGEST pollution from intentional uses of mercury. Accounting for 1000 tonnes/a of mercury releases into the environment we have been stressed that this is affecting the health of at least 100 million people in the planet. As this is a poverty-driven issue, the site brings lots of documents, manuals and reports to teach trainers how to demonstrate to artisanal miners and their communities ways to avoid mercury exposure and emissions using very simple locally-made techniques. The site will be soon re-build since we are introducing a database with 1000 entries on articles, scientific papers, reports etc. with information about the mercury use and misuse in artisanal gold mining. Vey soon, the site will have different levels of information (academic, technical, simplified) for the users in order to bring practical tips for people who are directly involved with miners in the field.

"Combating Living Resource Depletion and Coastal Area Degradation in the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Through Ecosystem-Based Regional Actions" (GCLME Project), Executed by UNIDO and Implemented by UNDP and UNEP

http://igcc.gclme.org

This site reports on GCLME project activities and achievements. The visitor will have a historical background of the Project and an explanation of its founding concept i.e. the LME Approach. He/she will also have information on Project management and steering choices. The display of Data from the Regional Environmental Information Management Center, either in tables, graphs or maps using available and open source tools, forms the basis of a future elaborated online decision support system. The site also enables exchange among scientists, NGO's, Environmental journalists and Lawyers, Private and Public sector stakeholders of the project, through the forum and the online chat tools. Provision is also made to link all UN and non UN organizations that have interest in or that deal with International Waters and/or related environmental fields; and also the official sites of the participating countries.

Noth Werstern Sahara Aquifer System ; GEF, FAO, DDC-Suisse, FIDA, FFEM

http://nwsas.iwlearn.org/

The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System shared by Algeria, Libya and Tunisia refers to the superimposition of two thick aquifer layers: - the Intercalary Continental (IC) formation, which is the thickest and has the greatest expanse, and - the Terminal Complex (TC) which is heavily exploited in the Algero-Tunisian Chotts region and in the Gulf of Sirte in Libya. Potential abstractions from these aquifers are limited first of all by economic constraints although the main constraints at present stem from environmental risks connected to the exploitation and vulnerability of Saharan watertables. The System covers more than a million km2 (1,800 km E-W, and 900 km N-S) of which 60% is in Algeria, a little less than 10% in Tunisia, and 30% in Libya.

ReefBase, The WorldFish Center

http://www.reefbase.org

ReefBase is a global information system on coral reefs and was developed by the WorldFish Center and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN). This online database provides quality information and GIS maps on the location, status, threats, monitoring, conservation and management of coral reef resources. ReefBase website content encompasses a broad spectrum of information about coral reef resources in over 130 coral reef countries and territories. ReefBase serves as the central database for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), as well as the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), and continues to provide valuable information services to managers, policy-makers, researchers, conservationists, educators and students around the world. The ReefBase website has been improved to provide a more informative and user-friendly interface. ReefBase has developed a new flash-hybrid version of online GIS (ReefGIS - http://reefgis.reefbase.org) to ease the users to navigate and access the information with better features and new GIS dataset. We strive to improve sharing and use of data, information, and knowledge in support of research and management of coral reef resources. ReefBase further expand its utility to develop the knowledgebase for lessons learned and best practices in the management of coral reefs. This project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The project will generate an interactive knowledgebase CD-ROM consists of a comprehensive Reef Manager’s toolkit, database, and relevant publication to maximize distribution and accessibility. This knowledgebase will contribute to enhancing the development, implementation and outcomes of future coral reef conservation and management projects by providing access to information, advice, the development of tools, resources and training based on the distillation of the best practices available and lessons learned from previous and ongoing projects.

Coral Reef Targeted Research Program (World Bank)

http://www.gefcoral.org

Audience: The site's main audience is an external audience - coral reef and coastal managers, policy-makers and researchers. It does, however, also operate as a resource for Coral Reef Targeted Research program members. Purpose: The main purpose of the site is to provide the main (external) target audience with credible, scientifically-proven knowledge on coral reef ecosystems. As an international program the website is our main information source. It provides easy-access to reliable information and products, as well as links to several of the world’s leading coral reef researchers. The web site is regularly updated with ‘latest news’ and ‘research updates’ to provide users with new, up-to-date information on the Program’s results. Future Needs: The web site will seek to engage the target audience via video streaming, discussion boards, posting boards, etc. As more research results come out more interactive functions will be developed, in order to involve the target audience in a dialogue about the program's outcomes. Many of the Program’s future products will be available in different languages for downloading, in order to expand this dialogue worldwide.

Fostering a Global Dialogue on Oceans, Coasts, and SIDS, and on Freshwater-Coastal-Marine Interlinkages

http://www.globaloceans.org

The website aims to provide information and services to ocean leaders around the world who are involved in decision-making and implementation of the global oceans agenda at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels. The website offers information on multi-stakeholder dialogues, policy analyses and other activities of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands involving government and intergovernmental and international organizations, non-government organizations, the private sector, ocean donors, and scientific institutions, that address the sustainable development of oceans, coasts, and small island developing States. Among a number of planned activities, the website plans to offer information and services for a variety of users in linking freshwater management with ocean and coastal management, including decisionmakers at the national level, planners (spatial planners, area management planners, sectoral management planners), and project implementers and water/coastal/ocean managers. This planned service will initially focus on a few themes for the preliminary version that would eventually include case studies, best practices/guidelines, and contact persons. It may include a glossary of common terms, relevant references, a maillist and links to other web services providing related services. In order to provide this web service, the project will be needing a fair amount of funding particularly in the development of case studies and in extracting best practices and guidelines from current and future experience in linking the management of freshwater and oceans and coasts.

UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project

http://www.undp-drp.org

The Project web site has two key targeted audiences. The first are our stakeholders, represented by the ICPDR - the Project key beneficiary (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) and its national experts and the second is wider public. The Project website provides: - general info on the Danube Basin and Project in a wider context - specific information on Project components (activities) with all outputs produced during the Project (focus on expert audience) - thematic information on Project activities (focus on wider public) - news and gallery section with stories on specific actions in the Danube Basin. The Project will be finalized in August 2007, but the web-site will be operational for two more years, to provide comprehensive overview on the Project activities and lessons learned. The content of the web-site will be also transferred to the ICPDR web site, this will ensure sustainability in use of the Project results.

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