Groundwater makes up the most of the world’s fresh water reserves; it often sustains wetlands and rivers and prevents sea water intrusion in coastal areas. Groundwater is invisible and its enormous importance – not only to water supply and irrigation – is not easily recognised. Therefore the Netherlands hosts and supports IGRAC, the UNESCO Groundwater Centre, that facilitates sharing of expertise necessary for sustainable groundwater management. Further, The Netherlands has valuable, sometimes unique groundwater expertise (at knowledge institutes and universities, water boards, water supply utilities and several small and large companies) and an impressive information sharing tradition and technology. Obviously, engagement of experts through the UNESCO-IHP contributes to both sustainable groundwater management and increased appreciation of Dutch (ground)water expertise.
(Ground)water resources in the Caribbean SIDS
Groundwater makes up the most of the world’s fresh water reserves; it often sustains wetlands and rivers and prevents sea water intrusion in coastal areas. Groundwater is invisible and its enormous importance – not only to water supply and irrigation – is not easily recognized. Therefore the Netherlands hosts and supports IGRAC, the UNESCO Groundwater Centre that facilitates sharing of expertise necessary for sustainable groundwater management. Further, The Netherlands has valuable, sometimes unique groundwater expertise (at knowledge institutes and universities, water boards, water supply utilities and several small and large companies) and an impressive information sharing tradition and technology. Obviously, engagement of experts through the UNESCO-IHP contributes to both sustainable groundwater management and increased appreciation of Dutch (ground)water expertise.
In the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), high population densities, combined with population growth, urbanization and economic development, particularly also tourism, have led to the contamination of surface water and underlying aquifers and deterioration of coastal water quality. Ensuring access to good quality water in sufficient quantity for all users and uses, while maintaining a good status of water resources is a serious challenge in SIDS. Failing to do so might threaten the health of people, ecosystems and economic growth. There is an urgent need to address these water challenges by identifying priorities for action at the highest political level, building on existing partnerships and launching new innovative ones.
Together with IGRAC, NWO-Caribbean and NCSI, we are interested in discussing topics like:
- Training of government staff concerning topics on geohydrology, geology, surface waters; mainly related with policy, research and inspection, and environmental, sanitary, contamination and health topics.
- Establishing the relation between possible pollution of coast waters due to (ground)water run-off that is probably polluted with nutrients. In particular for protection of coral reefs.
- An interdepartmental task force is being created (by Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for the 6 islands of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
- Identifying policies and laws available on the (Dutch) SIDS concerning groundwater and surface water hydrology and geology in order to manage and protect these resources, and identify the gabs.
- Bring awareness to the Caribbean Dutch islands concerning environmental governance, water management and climate related topics.
- Look into the dynamic and highly complex groundwater flows between land and sea. The geology and thus groundwater hydrology differs strongly in these islands and is because of that very complex. In order to develop the coastal zone and abstract groundwater for drinking water purposes in a sustainable way, these processes need to be understood and thus researched.
- Top experts have signed the Declaration Kralendijk, in order to combine effort for research, creating policy and developing strategic climate adaptation plans.
- This team of experts is also committed to help with concrete plans in the region.
- Look into possibilities for creating workshops/summerschools on groundwater monitoring in SIDS.
Interested in this theme? Contact us via ihp.hwrp@unesco.nl