IUCN calls for adopting the right methodologies and participatory approaches in Integrated Water Resources Management : Regional Dialogue on the Future of Ground Water in the MENA region

Under the Patronage of HE Dr Mahmoud Abu Zeid President of the Arab Water Council and Egyptian Minister of Water & Irrigation, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) through its West Asia Middle East Regional Office is holding a Regional Dialogue on the Future of Ground Water in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Region between 12-14 July, 2008 in Cairo. This dialogue is held in cooperation with Center for Environment & Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), The Arab Water Council and funded by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCS), IUCN Water & Nature Initiative (WANI), in addition to the Global Water Partnership - MED.

The Dialogue will lead to a high level policy meeting where possible avenues for more sustainable use of ground water can be translated in long-term policies in participation with all stakeholders. The Regional Dialogue will take place within the larger perspective of IWRM but focus on groundwater and its conjunctive use and management with other water resources (surface water, use of waste water, desalinization of saltish water).

"The dialogue hopes to foster a Regional Network of Water Knowledge Nodes and will be closely linked to different demonstration projects on sustainable ground water management implemented in countries of the region by the Regional Water Resources & Drylands Programme (REWARD)." Said Dr Odeh Al-Jayyousi, IUCN West Asia/Middle East (WAME) Regional Director.

"The purpose of this dialogue is to adopt the right methodologies and participatory approaches in Integrated Water Resources Management with special attention to the Ground Water Management. IUCN through its REWARD programme will adopt those methodologies in a number of its projects in Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen." Said Peter Laban, IUCN West Asia/Middle East (WAME) REWARD Programme Coordinator.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region suffers from severe water scarcities, high over-abstraction of ground water resources and low conjunctivity of ground and surface water. There are few alternative options for water resources available. The most prominent seem to be desalinized sea water and use of treated waste water. High environmental negative impact on ecosystems and human development can be foreseen when not dealing well with environmental flows and conjunctive use of all water resources.

Ministries of Water, Environment, Agriculture will participate in this dialogue in addition to International donor agencies as well as local and international NGOs. This Dialogue will be made operational through a series of Regional Dialogue Expert Meetings with key institutions in the region over a period of 4 to 5 years.