No. 12 (136) May 2007

SESSION “ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN CENTRAL ASIA: ANALYSIS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK”

Events on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of ICWC took place on 23-28 April 2007 in Almaty with participation of key local and foreign organizations and specialists. The general objective of the conference was to analyze the current situation and problems in water sector of Central Asian countries and agree joint efforts to implement specific actions including ASBP-2 in the near and distant future.

Within the framework of the jubilee conference, CAREC organized and held on 26 April 2007 a special session “Environmental Challenges in Central Asia: analysis and future outlook”, with participation of representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Water Resources of Tajikistan, BWO Amudarya, Asian Development Bank, OSCE, Scientific Production Association “KAZMEKHANOBR”, Almaty City Maslikhat (Council), Almaty Province Akimat (Administration), NGOs of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Regional Environmental Center of Caucasus and Central Asia.

The following issues were discussed at the special session:

• Central Asian Initiative on Sustainable Development
• Urgency of inter-sectoral cooperation in forming environmental policy in Central Asia
• Integrated management in Ili-Balkhash basin
• Standards of surface water quality in Central Asia
• Issues of aquatic ecosystem conservation in Central Asia
• Environmental education and education for sustainable development in Central Asia
• Caspian environmental program: sustainable development of local communities
• Rural water supply in Ili-Balkhash basin
• Public and NGO participation in water resources management

After discussions the participants of the special session suggested:

1. Taking into account the information about Central Asian initiative on sustainable development within the framework of preparatory process to Belgrade Ministerial Conference on the Environment; Further ensuring cooperation with SIC ICWC and other stakeholders in regard to rational use and protection of water resources in Central Asia
2. Preparing together with the Regional Council of GWP CACENA and CAREC and inserting a Report on Achievements of Central Asian Initiative into the UN Report towards the 16th UN CSD session;
3. Preparing a report using materials of the Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Ecosystem Assessment, results of activities under the Program fir Small Grants and Program for Environmental Education of CAREC, and presenting it at the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit;
4. CAREC together with REC Caucasus should develop a concept for public protected natural areas using the experience from formation of public-protected natural areas in Japan;
5. Preparing and submitting project proposals to Almaty Maslikhat for participation in on-budget programs of the city of Almaty;
6. Preparing and submitting project proposals to provincial administrations for the environment, for participation in provincial on-budget environmental programs of Kazakhstan.

RESOLUTION OF SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP
“TOWARDS 1^st ASIA-PACIFIC WATER SUMMIT”

25 April 2007, Almaty, Kazakhstan

We, participants of sub-regional workshop “Towards 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit” to be held within the framework of Asia-Pacific Water Forum activities, who represent Central Asia and Caucasus, regional and international organizations:

• are ready to make a specific contribution to implementing objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015;
• take into account the inter-governmental mandate given to the Executive Committee of International fund for the Aral Saving (EC IFAS) and the important role of the Global Water Partnership for Caucasus and Central Asia (GWP CACENA) in development and strengthening of the cooperation and assistance to regional initiatives in water sector;
• support the call of Heads of Central Asian states for providing an effective assistance to mitigate the environmental crisis in the Aral Sea, which has reached global catastrophe extent and represents a serious danger to sustainable socio-economic development in the region;
• acknowledge the vital importance of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum and its 1st Summit in sustainable water resources management to achieve MDGs in Asia-Pacific region.

Having heard and discussed the presented papers, the participants appealed to EC IFAS and GWP CACENA, which are coordinators in Central Asia and Caucasus sub-region, for support in further steps within the framework of APWF, in particular:

1. Materials received from members of the Regional Working Group (WG) shall be sent to members of ICWC, ICSD and other stakeholders. If necessary, WG members shall provide required further information to coordinators before the end of May 2007;
2. Coordinators with participation of ICWC, ICSD and EC IFAS Country Offices shall integrate received materials into one document and send it to all stakeholders for submitting remarks and supplements;
3. Upon agreeing with ICWC, ICSD and EC IFAS Country Offices, final version of the Regional Document shall be sent to all National Governments in Central Asia and Caucasus (no later than September 2007);
4. Upon completion of activities, a Regional Document covering information on the countries under three Priority Themes of APWF shall be prepared, based on which a brief resume of no more than 20 pages shall be made up.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BY 2015”

International Conference “Water Resources Management by 2015: implement IWRM to achieve Millennium Development Goals” organized by the Danish Government in cooperation with the UN-Water was held in Copenhagen on 13 April 2007. the conference was attended by the Minister for Cooperation Development of Denmark and Executive Director of the UNEP as well as over 50 high officials from developing countries, representatives of donor countries and international organizations.

The conference emphasized the vital role of water for achieving United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) including those related to hunger, health, water supply and sanitation, and environmental sustainability and gender balance. The importance of water management is stressed in a new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other reports. Effective water management is an integral part of efforts made by all countries of the world to achieve and stabilize MDGs by 2015. Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is an approach that considers competing water needs in an equitable, effective and sustainable manner that is universally recognized as an adequate response to the current challenges.

Road-map of IWRM towards MDGs and beyond

The conference reminded that World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in 2002 that adopted the Johannesburg Plan for Implementation. The plan includes a goal for all countries to develop a National IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan by 2005. One of the objectives was to guarantee that water management can contribute to achieving MDGs. It should be noted that by 2006, 25% of the countries had already developed their national IWRM plans, 50% of the countries had started planning process, but for different reasons, in particular due to the lack of local capacity, 25% of the countries have not started IWRM planning yet.

Recognizing the importance of the contribution made by water management, in general, to sustainable development and, in particular, to achievement of MDGs, the Conference discussed how better can the process be continued. A Road-map for IWRM Implementation by 2015 and beyond was proposed with intermediate stages, at which the United Nations World Water Development Report in 2009, 2012 and 2015 will be presented. The Road-map will be presented in conference proceedings in detail.

Road-map and its intermediate stages is not obligatory for countries, but it should serve as a recommendation describing general notion of the process.

Proposed intermediate stages

Due to that countries are in different stages of water development and management, it seems impossible to establish rigid global time frames. Instead, it is suggested to regularly review the progress in key elements of water management, which are necessary to achieve MDGs. In particular, the following is suggested:

• In 2008, all countries shall present reports towards the 16th session of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development on their progress in national IWRM planning and implementation of priorities set by countries for MDGs related to water management.
• In 2009, measures taken by countries to provide conditions needed for implementation of set priorities shall be reviewed.
• In 2012, progress in IWRM reforms shall be reviewed.
• In 2015, it shall be evaluated how strongly initiatives taken in IWRM implementation have impacted on MDG achievement in countries.

Monitoring and reporting should be carried out using indicators being now developed by the UN-Water.

Direction of further actions

The Conference came to an agreement that improved water management is a significant factor to achieve MDGs, therefore all actors should participate in the further process more actively, in particular:

• An assistance should be provided to countries in finalization of their IWRM Plans and implementation of priorities set by countries for MDGs.
• Using a mechanism of the United Nations World Water Development Report, the UN-Water should continue monitoring the process.
• All participants in the process should seek for opportunities to promote partnership for mutual assistance in IWRM implementation to maintain sustainable achievement of MDGs.