White Water to Blue Water: A WSSD Partnership Initiative

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White Water to Blue WaterA WSSD Partnership
Initiative

• An Integrated Watershed and
• Marine Ecosystem-based Management Approach

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Principles for a Sustainable Future
Economic Growth
Social Development
Sound Stewardship Of Natural Resources
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WSSD Oceans Goals

• By 2010 Application of the ecosystem approach to
  fisheries and marine ecosystem management.
• By 2015 Maintain or restore fish stocks to
  levels
• that can produce maximum sustainable yield.
• In 2002-2006 Advance implementation of the
  Global Programme of Action (GPA), with particular
  emphasis on municipal waste water, physical
  alteration and destruction of habitats, and
  nutrients.

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Initial Focus Wider Caribbean Region
Member States
Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Colomb
ia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican
Republic European Economic Commission France Grena
da Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico
Netherlands

Nicaragua Panama St. Kitts and Nevis Saint
Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United
Kingdom United States of America Venezuela

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The Challenge

• The greatest challenge to Sustainable Development
  in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), including
  the Gulf of Mexico, is achieving integrated
  watershed and marine ecosystem-based management.

• Human activities on land and in water are
  resulting in the loss of ecosystem function.
• This has environmental, economic, and social
  impacts.

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Watersheds

• Globally, 80 of marine pollution is derived from
  land-based sources.

• Increased sedimentation/
• nutrients from agricultural practices
  deforestation.
• Habitat destruction.
• Urban/waste water run-off.

These issues are of major concern in the Panama
Canal Watershed, especially in Chagres National
Park.
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Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems

• Over fishing.
• Poorly managed aquaculture.

• Destructive ecosystem practices

• Use of explosives.
• Unintentional by-catch.
• Bottom trawling.

• Loss of important habitats.

Panama, as a major commercial- and sport-fishing
destination, faces many challenges to the
sustainable use of this nationally
internationally important fishery and marine
resource.
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Marine Transportation

• Operational Impacts
• Anchor damage
• Noise
• Wake/propulsion damage

• Accidental Impacts
• Oil Spills/Invasive Species
• Collisions
• Groundings

Environmentally sound development and management
of the Panama Canal is critical to its future
viability.
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Tourism

• Discharge of sewage and waste water.
• Loss of habitat and biodiversity, resulting in
  increased erosion.

• Damage to coral reefs and other resources related
  to a lack of management guidelines.
• Need for water conservation at coastal
  developments.

Ecotourism and sustainable development will be
the key to ensuring that places like Panamas
Coiba Island remain beautiful sanctuaries for
both humans and nature.
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Needed Actions

• Awareness of the linkage between land-based
  activities and coastal health
• National and regional capacity to practice
  integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based
  management
• Science-based decision making
• Coordination among local, regional, and
  international long term strategies
• Engagement of business partners to promote best
  practices and support regional activities

• Active promotion of successful strategies

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WW2BW A Positive Impact on Integrated Watershed
and Marine Ecosystem Management
Water Supply Management
Conservation Programs
Urban Development
Industrial Development
Harbor Management
Forestry Activities
Aquaculture Programs
Agricultural Development
Coastal Tourism Development

• Progress will rely on forging multi-sectoral
  partnerships that leverage funds and achieve
  shared CSD goals.

Courtesy UNEP-GPA
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White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW)
Goal

• To stimulate partnerships that promote integrated
  watershed and marine ecosystem-based management
  in support of sustainable development

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Partnerships
a new way of doing business

• The initiative is designed to bring together new
  partners that can
• Identify gaps and new opportunities.
• Promote an active exchange of ideas and
  information.

• Rely on lessons learned.
• Improve collaboration and communication.
• Build on existing partnerships, mechanisms, and
  organizations.

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WW2BW Partnership Initiative
A Catalyst for Change

• Improves collaboration between governments, IOs,
  NGOs, and the private sector
• National level
• Regional Level
• Enhances existing partnerships and promotes new
  ones
• Offers capacity building/training programs
• Promotes the best environmental practices
• integrated management procedures
• partnership models and principles

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Miami Stakeholders Conference

• A focal point for the WW2BW Initiative, to take
  place 21-26 March 2004.
• A gathering of diverse regional partners in the
  spacious facilities of the Miami Hyatt Regency
  Hotel.
• A new channel for partnership development.
• A good opportunity for education and training.

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Main Conference Themes
Environmentally Sound Transportation
Marine Ecosystem-based Management
Sustainable Tourism
Integrated Watershed Management

• Recognizes the overlapping nature of topics.
• Promotes new approaches of integrated management.

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Indicative Representation of the
International Steering Committee

• Government
• Governments of the region
• U.S.
• U.K.
• France
• Netherlands
• Canada

Intl Organizations

• UNEP-CEP
• UNEP-GPA
• CARICOM
• IBRD
• UNDP
• IOC-Caribe
• ECLAC

• OAS
• CCAD
• PAHO
• CEHI
• FAO
• IMO
• CATHALAC

• NGOs and Private Sector
• IUCN
• Environmental Defense
• EcoLogic
• Conservation International
• The Nature Conservancy
• Wildlife Conservation Society

• Universities
• University of the West Indies
• University of Delaware
• University of Rhode Island
• University of Miami
• Earth University

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National Country Teams
A countrys interagency delegation, possibly
comprised of representatives from
Government Ministries
Civil Society Organizations

• Finance
• Forestry
• Water
• Planning
• Health
• Agriculture

• Environment
• Fisheries
• Ports
• Education
• Tourism

Universities
Private Sector and Businesses

• Conference will sponsor at least 4
  representatives from each country
• Asking government to sponsor additional members
• Currently exploring opportunities to sponsor
  additional representatives

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Country Team Concept

• Responsibilities and Objectives

• Identify needs and national plan gaps prior to
  conference
• Showcase existing partnerships
• Explore new ways to link management strategies
  from the tops of mountains down to coastal
  environment
• Develop new cross-sectoral partnerships for
  action
• Provide post-conference feedback for use in
  future efforts in different regions
• Remain engaged in activities and continue to
  advocate for integrated watershed management
  strategies

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Pre-Conference
Conference
Post-Conference

• Steering committee
• Design of meeting
• Consultations/IVTs
• Formation of Country Teams
• Identification of priorities
• Partnership Website

• Partnership formation
• Best management practices discussions
• Coordination and strengthening
• High level opportunities
• Training and site visits

• Country Team deliverables
• Follow-on activities
• Website to facilitate continued partnerships
• Strategy for next steps
• Incorporation of lessons learned for future
  regional approaches

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Post Conference Phase

• Enhancement of partnership website and
  development of new partnerships
• Focus on national implementation to complement
  regional objectives
• Launching of new partnerships
• Continued promotion of watershed focus

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For More Information

• WW2BW Planning and Document Archive Website
  (e.g., committee updates, newsletters, workshops)
  
• http//www.international.noaa.gov/ww2bw/
• WW2BW Miami Conference Website
• http//www.miami.edu/ww2bw/
• WW2BW Partnership Website
• http//www.ww2bw.org
• Points of Contact
• Richard Wilbur, Office of Oceans Affairs, U.S.
  Department of State
• Tel [phone] E-mail WilburRM2_at_state.gov
• Para Español
• Brooke Ann Zanetell, Office of Oceans Affairs,
  U.S. Department of State
• Tel [phone] E-mail zanetellba_at_state.org