Linking the Management of Freshwater, Oceans and Coasts
The freshwater – coast/ocean system is closely inter-linked. It is a continuum to be recognized and managed as such.
Coastal conditions are strongly dependent on the flows from the river basins, which impact on the health of important coastal and ocean ecosystems, ocean productivity and ocean circulation patterns. 80% of the pollution load to the oceans originates from land-based sources. And upstream water use for human development activities reduce, or even sometimes stop the river flows to the coast.
The river system in turn is strongly affected by tides, surges and salinity intrusion from the coast. The two meet in the transitional waters such as estuaries and deltas.
Climate change, as affecting both the freshwater and the marine system, is an added challenge and call for urgency in addressing these linkages now.
Yet, the management of the two systems remain fragmented. The freshwater and the ocean/coastal communities live separate lives, speak different languages (IWRM and ICZM), and do not understand each others’ issues and problems, and hence solutions.
To bridge this gap, and move towards integrated freshwater and coastal management, the Conference recommends
- That both communities take steps to overcome the present lack of coordination by taking actions at all levels to combine forces: at the local (project) level; at the national level (including policy, planning, legislation); at the regional level (including trans-boundary water management); and at the global level (UN and international organizations), the latter starting with cooperation at the 5th World Water Forum and the World Ocean Conference, both in 2009.
- That steps be taken to communicate the seriousness of the issue and need for integration, including the cost of inaction, to raise awareness in the public and among decision-makers, and create the political will to act, and willingness by all parties to do their part.
- That particular attention be paid to non-point sources of pollution as responsible for most of the coastal/marine pollution, and that actions be taken by the agricultural community to contribute to the protection of our oceans
- That “seeing is believing”, and that joint demonstration projects – both successful and problematic – can help developing and testing the tools and good practices to be adopted in integrated river and coastal management 5. That lack of capacity and funding, particularly in the developing countries, represent serious constraints, calling for action and support by the international community
The Conference recognizes freshwater as a key cross-cutting issue in coastal and ocean management, and calls upon the freshwater community to likewise recognize the importance of coastal/ocean issues in water resources management.
The Working Group on Linking the Management of Freshwater, Oceans and Coast which met at the Conference is fully committed to continue this work and carry the message forward.
Source: 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, Hanoi, Vietnam, 7-11 April, 2008 Recommendations from Freshwater to Oceans Working Group http://www.thew2o.net/goc2008/freshwater.htm
