Ivan Zavadsky of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) gave this presentation at the recent NIWR meeting in DC, Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action.
Download Zavadsky_Ivan Global Environmental Facility - GW Governance
Here is a link to more information and below is the document describing its Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action project:
Download 10-04-10 COUNCIL DOCUMENT_0
The above document is actually a proposal (starting on page 20 of the entire PDF) submitted by FAO for GEF funding and ancllary documents. I gave it a very cursory read and liked most of what I saw; much of the budget is from in-kind contributions. Hmm....I'm also curious to see some of the people who will be doing the work: heavy on UN-type organizations. I know for a fact that the USGS is on board in a consultation role for the Americas portion of the project.
I like the fact that groundwater will be treated as a 'cross-cutting' topic (see Part II-D). Other excellent statements from Section 1 of the proposal (starts on page 7):
Groundwater has a critical, yet not fully realized, role in adaptation to climate change. (page 7)
Groundwater: highly under-valued water resource. (page 7)
The evidence of effective groundwater management that can sustain a set of social, economic and environmental services is thin. (page 8)
Lost opportunities to realize full benefits of IWRM. (page 8)
I will be anxious to learn more about this at the upcoming 6WWF; there will be side event on Thursday, 15 March 13:15 - 14:15. I am sure there will be much buzz.
Thanks to friend and colleague Ari Michelsen for bringing Zavadsky's presentation to my attention.
“We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.” - Charles F. Kettering
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