Using the world's water wisely

27-04-2004

Representatives of governments and non-governmental groups from around the world have been meeting in New York at the 12th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD-12), to assess progress in meeting international commitments to sustainable development. The meeting, which opened on April 14 and ends on April 30, has focused particularly on water, sanitation and human settlements.

Representatives from the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) have been attendeding the meeting because water management is so critical to the survival of wildlife and people. Over–use of scarce water resources, and increased demand in the future, along with the continued degradation of watersheds, all pose serious threats to biological diversity and human well-being.

Natural resources are the basis for development, but to genuinely eradicate poverty, governments and others must manage those resources sustainably so that they can continue to form part of the complex web that supports all life on Earth - now and into the future.

The RSPB, with the wider BirdLife Partnership, wants to make sure that governments attending the CSD keep their commitments to environmental protection. It has also teamed up with other environment and development groups to urge the UK government and others to demonstrate how the challenge of safe water, basic sanitation and integrated river management can be met for all users.