Data collection and sharing

Several Dutch institutes have a particular comparative advantage in data collection and sharing. This includes modeling and analysing the global hydrology and water resources, water accounting, earth observation through remote sensing and flow forecasting. Water accounting approaches may support transboundary water sharing agreements and monitor the achievement of selected future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Implementing the Sandwatch initiative in the Netherlands

The Sandwatch initiative promotes environmental stewardship amongst youth, enhances scientific observations of environmental change, and encourages pro-active environmental action. It is open-access, and already underway in primary and secondary schools in 30 countries worldwide. Through Sandwatch, children, youth, teachers and community members work together to scientifically monitor, critically evaluate and practically address the environmental and social challenges facing coastal environments.

Below some relevant links of the Sandwatch toolbox can be found:

  • The Sandwatch tutorial videos can be watched here.
  • The free access Sandwatch Manual (English version) can be found here.
  • The Sandwatch Global database can be accessed here (with username and password: guest).

Together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, KIMO (Mike Mannaart), Vereniging Kust en Zee/Coastal&Marine Union (EUCC, Robert Steenbergen) and the acadamy for Coast and Sea management ‘van Hall Larenstein Hogeschool’ (VHL/KZM, David Goldsborough), the Committee has decided to try and implement Sandwatch in the Netherlands as well. An assignment will be set out with a group of students at the acadamy for coast and sea management. The will form a plan to (possibly) implement Sandwatch in the Netherlands.

Monitoring the Water SDGs

The new Integrated Monitoring Initiative (GEMI) will integrate and expand existing monitoring efforts, to ensure harmonised monitoring of the entire water cycle, by providing member states with a monitoring guide and engage and enhance their capacity in water sector monitoring.

sdg6-targets-and-global-indicators

The Netherlands have agreed to be a Proof of Concept country for GEMI. In that light, a Work in Progress Workshop has been organized at UNESCO-IHE with the help of the Netherlands IHP-HWRP Committee. The topics discussed have been of interest to members of the committee and it will be interesting to follow the developments in the Netherlands and internationally in order to find other connections for the committee members with the SDG process. The current result is the GEMI Proof of Concept Report, that gives input into the GEMI process.

As a result of the Proof of Concept process, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Deltares and eLEAF began a limited project aiming to show what can be compiled for the indicators under SDG 6.4 for the Netherlands and what could be compiled to support other countries in the process of evaluating the 6.4 SDGs. A link to this memo can be found on the website of CBS. The memo is also included into the GEMI Proof of Concept Report.

The follow-up process includes:

  • Writing a paper with the title “How WA+ can strengthen the water accounts that monitor water efficiency, water stress and the state of water-related ecosystems, key SDG indicators”. The  paper has been announced with a presentation during a Special Session: 16th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium. The abstract can be found here. The first write-shop was held on the 9th of December at UNESCO-IHE. The paper is currently under construction.
  • Linking Dutch approach on water security with the international approach

Interested in this theme? Contact us via ihp.hwrp@unesco.nl