Winners of the International ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed Management 2002
One year later in Guatemala (winning-project 2002)
We are delighted to be able to announce the winners of the ReSource Awards for 2002.
By the end of August 2002 a total of 105 projects from all over the world had been submitted to Swiss Re. The projects were assessed in two rounds on the basis of set criteria: in the first round, the jury committee selected the ten best projects, while in the second the jurors chose the winners from among the ten finalists.
The winning project will be finalised and implemented with the financial support of Swiss Re. In view of the very positive assessment of the second- and third-placed projects, it was decided to award two runner-up prizes in addition to the prize for the overall winner.
- The first prize valued at USD 70,000 goes to the project: "Using the water fund as a financial mechanism to engage downstream water users in upstream forest conservation", submitted by WWF Central America, Costa Rica, and Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza, Guatemala.
- The two runner-up prizes of USD 15,000 each go to the projects: "Program R$.01/m3 - Jaguary River Basin", submitted by The intermunicipal consortium of the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiai River Basins, Brazil, and "Community-based land and water resource enhancement in the Galaundu Pokhare watershed", submitted by Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and Nepal Agroforestry Foundation (NAF), Nepal.
At the Award-Event held at the Centre for Global Dialogue in Rüschlikon, the ReSource Award 2002 was handed over to the winners. And a panel discussion on the question “To whom does water belong?“ took place.
Swiss Re would like to congratulate all those who are responsible for, and participated in, these three projects!
FirstPrize of USD 70 000: Using the Water Fund as a financial mechanism to engage downstream water users in upstream forest conservation in Guatemala
The picture shows the Salto waterfall from the SdM reserve exemplifies the exuberant natural setting that offers substantial sources of water to downstream users including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, various agricultural industries and a host of towns and communities. Innovative work by these companies in conjunction with local communities, government, WWF and Defensores is oriented to ensuring a long-term supply of clean water for the future.
Background
Sierra de las Minas in Central Guatemala is a biosphere reserve stretching over 240 000 hectares and rising up to just over 3000 metres above sea level. Unique in biological and cultural terms, the reserve is home to more than 2000 different types of plants and 800 species of birds. Nevertheless, the forest is under threat as population expansion has spurred the need to clear forest for agricultural land. At the same time, industry and farmers enjoy the water they depend on as a free resource. However, as the forest is the only insurance policy for a clean and stable supply of water, these processes are threatening to overstretch this key resource, which will have repercussions for the entire region.
Description of project
WWF Central America and the local Guatemalan foundation Defensores de la Naturalezahave formed an alliance to conserve the ecological and cultural integrity and stability of the watersheds of the Sierra de las Minas.
Within the scope of the ReSource Award, the project organisers propose the following measures:
1. Generation of base information: a monitoring plan will be established and implemented to better assess the effective water availability.
2. Valuation of water resource and "ability to pay" in a pilot region.
3. Construction of a financial mechanism (the Water Fund) as the heart of the initiative: a model will be developed for transferring payments from downstream water users (mainly industry) to upstream parties, the latter being obligated to undertake certain conservation measures and activities to ensure a clean water supply.
4. Strengthening local municipal and community involvement: support for an operational and financial mechanism for drinking water supply and waste water systems in towns.
Evaluation
The project stands out on account of its novel approach to financing, consideration of sustainability aspects, the inclusion of local stakeholders and the transferability to other regions. Furthermore, it is backed by recognised organisations, which have developed a sound and detailed project brief.
From Swiss Re's point of view, the project makes a significant contribution to the innovative and long-term development of the entire region. The key to achieving this is combining the interests of all parties involved, both upstream and downstream.
Executive summaryy of the "Water Fund in the Sierra de las Minas" project (English)
Achievements one year after the award
Read about the achievements made one year after Swiss Re awarded the ReSource Award to this project in Guatemala. An exposure-trip to the Motagua River and the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve entitled: "Hope for the bird of paradise".
Project-presentation by Steve Gretzinger, WWF Central America
Speech by Carlos Roberto Cobos, Guatemalan Government Representative to the Global Water Forum
Joint second prize of USD 15 000: Community-based land and water resource enhancement in Nepal
The picture shows that traditional water ponds are no longer capable to store all the required water for the increasing population and crop areas in the upper parts of the watershed.
Background
Degradation of the natural resources "land" and "water" is a deep-seated problem in the agricultural steeplands of Nepal, stemming largely from high population densities, lack of adequate education and wide-spread poverty amongst the rural population.
The aim of the project is to educate the local population in agroforestry and provide support in the application of these technologies. The project will be located in the Galaundu Pokhare watershed, approximately 100 km from Kathmandu. The watershed covers an area of 27 km2 and is home to 9000 people.
Description of project
The project will be implemented jointly by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Nepal Agroforestry Foundation (NAF). Its aim is to reduce soil erosion and river-sediment loads. The application of agroforestry technologies should improve the quality and availability of water, thereby providing a base from which to enhance land output.
Community-based organisations will be involved in running training programmes and awareness campaigns to ensure that the local population are involved from the outset. With suitable training, local people will acquire the skills they need to manage their forest, land and water resources in a sustainable way.
The individual activities planned are as follows:
1. to increase tree density in community-managed forests;
2. to improve the condition of grazing lands through reseeding;
3. to increase the vegetation cover on farmlands;
4. to provide clean drinking and irrigation water.
Evaluation
The training programmes and awareness campaigns will help the local population to guarantee its sustenance in the long term. The project will reduce soil erosion and improve water availability and quality. In addition, it incorporates a number of modern watershed management elements and is backed by proven experts.
Project-presentation by Gobal B. Thapa, Asian Institute of Technology
Joint second prize of USD 15 000: Financing mechanism for sustaining water resources on the Jaguari River, Brazil
The picture shows young people helping recover forest areas.
Background
The Piracicaba river basin is suffering from intensive water consumption and a series of conflicts over the use of water. Fifty-five percent of its sources is taken to supply the São Paolo region. This is the largest industrial centre in Brazil and has a high rate of urban growth.
The municipalities in a number of regions have formed the PCJ Consortium, a private non-profit organisation, with the purpose of recovering and protecting water resources.
Description of project
The PCJ Consortium has already established an investment programme which calls for a contribution of one Brazilian centavo (=0.01 of a real)per cubic metre of water in two sub-basins. This programme will now be introduced in the Jaguari river basin. The project proposes additional measures, such as shared watershed management, environmental education, and protection of water springs and streams, in order to ensure that the demand for clean water in the region is met. The individual activities of the project are as follows:
1. setting up a project management unit;
2. raising awareness of the significance of water resources by means of drama plays;
3. environmental education (planting tree nurseries involving young people and students);
4. protection of water springs;
5. reducing waste.
Evaluation
The jury were impressed by the project 's promotion of water quality and availability. Similar activities have already proven successful in two other sub-basins in the region. The project's approach of involving as many stakeholders as possible at all levels and simultaneously implementing technical solutions to address urban water and the protection of water springs is particularly promising.
Project-presentation by PCJ-Consortium
Speech by Mr João Bosca Senra, Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment
More about ReSource Award:
ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed Management
