Interview with the winners of the ReSource Award 2004
Ecuador
Can you briefly describe the features of the Tomebamba watershed project?
The Tomebamba watershed project consists of three basic drives, ie safeguarding the water quality of the Tomebamba River through new waste separation systems, encouraging community management of local natural resources and reintroducing the alpaca to the local region.
The Tomebamba River supplies most of the water for the city of Cuenca. Its water quality is increasingly being threatened by factors such as cattle grazing in the highlands and residual waters from settlements flowing into the river. As the water utility for the city of Cuenca, ETAPA is keen to promote programmes and policies designed for curtailing pollution in the area.
The project also entails establishing strong community relations and foresees the introduction of a new eco-based sanitation system and subsequent fertilizer production. Further, it entails instruction in improved agricultural and irrigation techniques for enhanced crop growth. Finally, the re-introduction of alpaca to the region is regarded as an ecological move since, compared with cattle, these animals pose less of an environmental burden.
What is the role of the government and how does it help fulfil project goals?
ETAPA is owned for the most part by the city government. To assist in meeting project goals, the Environmental Ministry has empowered the municipal government to do what is necessary locally to manage a water and soil protection programme at the operational level.
The award comes with a prize of USD 50 000. How will you allocate this sum?
Some of the money will be designated for manufacturing a number of new dry waste separation toilets which are a core element of this project. It will also be dedicated to programmes for strengthening relations with the community and for promoting awareness for this environmental protection project.
What are the initial activities in project implementation?
We have analysed the project scope in depth and one key goal will be to reinforce ties with farming community members and assist them in meeting their needs. We will also endeavour to train project leaders in each community and have added a new training programme at the school level to better educate young people regarding the ramifications of water quality improvement and environmental protection programmes. Another goal will be to create a model for integrating the project's basic concept in other water quality programmes throughout Ecuador.
China
Your project evolved from the recently approved Puzhehei watershed master plan and focuses on eco-sanitation. Can you briefly describe its key features?
Essentially, the project involves an ecosanitation plan for the Puzhehei lake environment, utilising new, low-cost measures in waste separation and management as an inroad for tackling and stemming fundamental pollution problems.
One factor which makes this project unique is the approach we adopted of involving local residents from the very start. Its foundation – and overall acceptance – rests with them. If the overall project makes sense and if its benefits are tangible for the local residents, they will be motivated to achieve established project goals.
The award comes with a prize of USD 50 000.
How will you allocate this sum?
The amount will be dedicated primarily to the further physical development of the project and for training programmes in a selected village in the area. It will also be channelled into disseminating information to highlight the Puzhehei Lake watershed project as a model capable of satisfying similar requirements in other areas of China.
Can you explain how the project fosters concrete action beyond promoting awareness? What are the goals you want to accomplish?
We want the project to accomplish its immediate ecosanitation goals, of course. One key goal is to infuse the necessary technical know-how so that ultimately this ecosanitation project can be managed and operated by local residents. In the end effect, we want to ensure that they will become the guardians of their own natural resources.
Back to Winners of the ReSource Award 2004
