Archive - Freshwater Resources UNESCO’s contribution to the development of approaches for sound water management has been primarily through the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), with work related to small islands including both reviews in particular technical areas and support to field operations (including training activities of various kinds) in Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and other island archipelagoes. Other work has been undertaken within the UN-system-wide World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) as well through the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. Cross cutting activities related to freshwater resources in small islands and other ‘sectors’ (e.g. cities, tourism, biodiversity) have also been promoted through the Coastal Regions and Small Island (CSI) Platform, including its internet-based discussion forums on Wise Coastal Practices for Sustainable Human Development (WiCoP) and Small Islands Voice (SIV).

Droughts in Small Coral Islands : Kiribati Case Study (1999) Droughts are frequent events in small coral islands and small island nations across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. >> More Freshwater Lens Recharge at Boniriki, Kiribati (1996) Knowledge of the recharge of the fresh groundwater lenses of small, low-lying islands in the humid tropics is essential in managing the sustainable extraction of potable water. >> More Groundwater Contamination by Sewage and Sanitation Systems on Tropical Islands (1996) This report provides a range of measures which can be adapted by local communities to meet their needs for safe water supplies, and give assurance of this, at reasonable costs. >> More Groundwater Recharge at Kiribati (1999) The aim was to involve the local community in the project, to identify local socio-cultural issues in land, groundwater management and ownership, particularly under variable rainfalls, and to determine concerns of local landowners about the study. >> More Integrating Social and Natural Science Inputs: Groundwater Monitoring at Lifuka (Tonga) and Recharge Study at Bonriki (Kiribati) (2001) This paper describes a groundwater pollution study on the island of Lifuka in the Kingdom of Tonga, in a village where private wells are an important source of water, in addition to dependence on household rainwater tanks and a public reticulated system. >> More International Year of Freshwater 2003 UNESCO and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs were the lead bodies for the International Year of Freshwater 2003, which provided an opportunity to promote the principles and practices of integrated water resources management. >> More Internet Discussion Forums Several issues related to freshwater resources in small islands and coastal areas have been taken-up in the virtual discussion forums on Wise Coastal Practices (WiCoP) and Small Islands Voice (SIV) operated by UNESCO Coasts & Small Islands (CSI) platform. >> More Participation Programme UNESCO’s Participation Programme is designed to provide direct assistance to initiatives undertaken by Member States in the Organization’s fields of competence, in line with priorities determined by the countries themselves. >> More Review of Hydrology and Water Resources of Small Islands (1991) An early (1991) multi-authored practical guide* was designed to assist technicians, hydrologists, engineers and managers in the identification, assessment, development, management and protection of water resources on small islands. >> More Semi-Popular Overview of Water Resources of Small Tropical Islands (1992) The water resources of small tropical islands* featured in one of a series of illustrated non-technical IHP reports on water-related issues of the humid tropics and other warm humid regions. >> More Training and Capacity Building In terms of training and capacity building, specialists and technicians from individual SIDS have taken part in various group training activities organized by UNESCO. >> More Wan Smolbag Theatre: Working with Communities through Drama In several island regions, participatory drama and theatre provides a means for promoting greater understanding of development issues, >> More Water for People, Water for Life (2003) The World Water Development Report is part of an ongoing assessment project to measure progress towards achieving the goal of sustainable development formulated at Rio in 1992, and the targets set down in the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000. >> More