EMWIS Flash N°43, January 2007

EMWIS Flash - January 2007 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. For further information: http://www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- with the support of the E.C. It is available in English, French & Arabic.

Please, change your links to EMWIS from www.emwis.org to www.emwis.net

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In this issue N°43 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash43)
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HEADLINE
1- Mediterranean Water Information Partnership
IN BRIEF
2- “Citizens of the Earth”: The Paris Conference for Global Ecological Governance
3- European Water Conference: Launch of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE)
4- Presentation of the Malaga-Marrakech Declaration on Groundwater in the Mediterranean
5- 3rd regional workshop on "Water demand management (WDM) in the Mediterranean
6- Framework Agreement for the organisation of the WWF5 between Turkey and the WWC
7- Ministerial Council for water & irrigation of the Union of the Arab Maghreb (UMA)
8- Middle Eastern countries will invest $117bn in water sector by 2015
9- Water problems in the Middle East
10- Joint action by UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and African stakeholders
11- African Water Facility fights against desertification in Northern Africa
12- Islamic Financing: water Waqf fund initiative launched by IUCN
13- PME and ISESCO hold the Second Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers in Jeddah
14- Lebanon: EIB pledged at the "PARIS III" €400 million for transport, wastewater and energy sectors
15- Lebanon: Specialists warn of potential water shortage
16- Morocco braces for drought
17- Morocco: Source of life, water is getting scarcer
18- Turkey: 3,000-year-old dam revives farming in Turkish town
19- France registers the right to water in its national law
20- Belgium: Wallonia creates a water Tax to finance the aid for water
21- Italy: tax on bottled water for development cooperation
22- Italy: Three-year plan to re-launch the economy of the lake
23- UK: minimum water efficiency standards for new buildings proposed
24- UK: Defra invests 1.5m in new flood risk strategies
25- Cyprus: More plant required for our water needs
26- Greece: High concentrations of nitrates taint much of Greek groundwater
27- Bosnia-Herzegovina: Environmental Performance Review
28- Oman: water desalination privatisation by 2009
29- Gulf: political will needed for sustainable water resources
30- Environmental research: free access to information for developing countries
31- GEONETcast, a new capability for Earth monitoring
32- The APFM promotes the concept of Integrated Flood Management (IFM)
33- Hydranautics selected for new Spanish desalination plant
NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS   
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS
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HEADLINE
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1- The first recommendations resulting from the feasibility study of a Mediterranean water observation mechanism were approved by the Euromed Water Directors in Athens (November 2006). On this basis the 2nd phase will be carried out in 2007 focusing on the potential development of a Mediterranean Water Information Partnership –MedWIP- with existing regional/international initiatives and complementary national studies with voluntary countries. The study Steering Group will meet in Paris, the 5th March to launch this 2nd phase. See 1st phase reports online. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- At the instigation of the President of the French Republic: Mr. Jacques CHIRAC, a conference for global ecological governance is to be held in Paris on 2-3 February 2007. The goal of the “Citizens of the Earth” Conference will be to mobilise international efforts to 1) raise awareness of the urgency of the situation, 2) to decide upon priority measures to combat those threats in order to respond to the global ecological issues for our time and for generations to come, and 3) to take action, at international level, to create a United Nations Environment Organization (UNEO) with a view to strengthening environmental governance. In a spirit of good world ecological citizenship, the Paris Conference will bring together government ministers, scientists, company heads, NGOs and public figures from over sixty countries around the world, all personally committed to promoting a vision for the environment and determined to take collective action. One of the workshops scheduled during this conference will deal with the issue of water & sanitation. The focus of this workshop will be on sanitation issues, especially in the developing world, and the actions to be planned to adapt the management of this resource to cope with climate change, in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Further information on EMWIS website.

3- The opening of the conference coincides with World Water Day. On the conference, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will present the first implementation report for the Water Framework Directive. On the same day, the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) will be launched. More information on the conference programme will be available soon. Registration for the conference is now open and can be done electronically. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- In the Mediterranean basin, man has had close ties with groundwater since prehistoric times, which magnifies the need to investigate and manage this resource in an appropriate way, to plan water use, protect it from pollution and to keep it in good condition for forthcoming generations. The Declaration on Groundwater in the Mediterranean is the result from two international congresses organised in 2006 (AQUAinMED’06, Malaga, Spain in April and GIRE3D, Marrakech, Morocco in May). UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) supports the Declaration as a major contribution to understanding groundwater in the Mediterranean context. The signatories of this Declaration recommend, as a general principle, promoting research, passing new regulations and national legislation to promote integrated groundwater management, and developing educational programmes to raise awareness of groundwater, to protect it and to promote sustainable use of this natural resource in Mediterranean countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- Plan Bleu announced the 3rd regional workshop on "Water demand management (WDM) in the Mediterranean, progress and policies" that it was tasked with organising, jointly with its partners, under the aegis of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development. This workshop is a continuation of those organised in Fréjus (1997) and Fiuggi (2002). It will take place in Saragossa (Spain), 19, 20 & 21 March 2007. Between 50 and 100 participants are likely to attend (professional and local experts - companies, local authorities, farmers, protected area managers, NGOs -, technical institute and university experts, experts from specialized Mediterranean networks in the fields of water, agriculture, urban settlements, industry, the environment, experts from financing and co-operation agencies). The workshop will be based on the presentation of national reports carried out in the voluntary countries, regional studies & papers. The local & national studies will aim to document concrete examples of good practices and to measure the progress actually made over the last years in terms of WDM in the main sectors of use (agricultural water, drinking water, industrial water), factoring natural water needs for the ecosystems into policies and factoraing WDM into water and cooperation policies. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- An agreement for Turkey to host the forum was signed last week by Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, World Water Council head Loic Fauchon and State Waterworks Authority (DSI) General Director Veysel Eroglu. Speaking at the ceremony held at DSI headquarters, Guler stated that over 15,000 experts and representatives of approximately 150 countries will attend the forum to be held in Istanbul in 2009 and that this will contribute to the promotion of Turkey. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- The Second session of the ministerial council in charge of water and irrigation of the Union of the Arab Maghreb (UMA) was held the 22 and January 23, 2007 in Nouakchott (Mauritania) with in the chair Mr. Omar Salem, Water Director in Libya. The meeting considered the evaluation of the implementation of recommendations resulting from the first session of the council held in April 2003 in Algiers (Algeria), the examination of several reports related to water policies in the union, the terminology of water in the union countries, the climate change and its effect on the hydraulic resources, the water quality and the follow-up of the workshops of desalination, the purification and the wastewater treatment. Among the projects approved by the Maghrebian establishment is the launching of a Maghrebian Observatory of Information on the water resources, and a folder on drinking water and sanitation, in addition to the establishment of the Maghrebian Council of water and irrigation. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- Middle Eastern countries, which are facing the prospects of fresh water shortage, will invest $117 billion in the next nine to ten years in the water sector. With population and economic growth stretching the supply of fresh water, and making the scarce commodity into an even more critical resource to humanity, governments in the Middle East region would be boosting investments in fresh water projects by 59 per cent between 2005 and 2015 compared to the previous decade, according to a recent research. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- Water availability in the Middle East will continue to remain problematic and a potential source of conflict, according to water expert Dr Walid Saleh. Dr Saleh has worked with the United Nations University/International Network on Water, Environment and Health in Abu Dhabi since 1996. In excerpts from an interview with IRIN, he said while some efforts were ongoing to improve supplies, better water management was essential. Further information on EMWIS website

10- A joint action statement between the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has been signed. The UNSGAB released “The Compendium of Actions” also known as the Hashimoto Action Plan that outlines a global work plan to help ensure the attainment of the MDG for water and sanitation. Participants committed themselves to the following joint actions: Focus international and African heads of government attention on African water challenges; mobilize financial resources; and increasing capacity for water management, water supply and sanitation in Africa. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- The African Water Facility (AWF) and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) signed on Wednesday 3 January 2007 in Tunis a grant agreement worth € 487,800 to finance the GEO-AQUIFER knowledge improvement and the Northern Sahara Aquifer System (SASS) Project. The main objective of the project is to improve the living conditions of the population through the enhancement of knowledge and the sustainable management of transboundary groundwater resources thanks to the use of satellite data, in the perspective of increasing concerted action among Algeria, Libya and Tunisia.
Further information on EMWIS website.

12- A new Waqf Fund Initiative for Water has recently been created by the IUCN West Central Asia & North Africa Regional Office (WESCANA) to finance water conservation activities. Waqf is an inalienable religious endowment in Islam by which an asset is used for Muslim religious or charitable purposes. It is conceptually similar to the common law trust. The Waqf Fund initiative is seen as a more flexible and innovative financing mechanism that will complement existing conventional regional development funds. IUCN WESCANA introduced the Waqf Fund Initiative for Water on 10 December 2006 at the 3rd Arab Regional Water Conference, organised by the Arab Water Council (AWC) in Cairo Egypt. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- The Second Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers was held during Dec. 13-15 in cooperation between the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO- and the General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of the fifty-seven OIC Member States, and in the presence of representatives of relevant regional and international organizations and a host of scientists and academics specialized in the environment. The Conference theme was "Environment Protection and Sustainable Development towards Building a Secure Future". Further information on EMWIS website.

14- EIB President Philippe Maystadt announced at the “PARIS III” International Conference on Support for Lebanon that the Bank will fund the recovery, reconstruction and reform plan drawn up by the Lebanese Government to the tune of €960 million over the next 5 years by financing key projects under the Public Investment Programme, supporting both private sector activity and public investment. With €400 million in support of priority infrastructure projects the Bank will continue its commitment to the transport, wastewater and energy sectors, encouraging the necessary sectoral reforms. Mr Philippe de Fontaine Vive, EIB Vice-President in charge of FEMIP, commented: “I can confirm that that EIB has exceeded the €300 million pledged at Paris II to support investment in transport, water and sanitation infrastructure and private sector development.” Further information on EMWIS website.

15- Lebanon: Specialists warn of potential water shortage: Water specialists have warned that Lebanon will face a severe water shortage over the coming years unless an effective water management system is soon put in place. "Some say that there could be a serious deficit by 2010 to 2015" or even sooner, said Fadi Comair, director-general of hydro-electrical equipment in Lebanon's Energy and Water Ministry. In a country where experts say water management is chronically poor, a shortage would not only mean that residents would have problems meeting their daily water needs, but also that the quality of the water would be adversely affected. For many years, households across Lebanon, in urban and rural areas, receive water from public water authorities a maximum of three times a week, for about eight to 12 hours a time. The rest of the time, groundwater is usually pumped into urban buildings, including hospitals and schools, using individually fitted pumps. This water is then stored in tanks.
Further information on EMWIS website

16- Morocco braces for drought: The severe rainfall shortage this year prompted the heads of regional councils to send a petition to Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou on Tuesday (January 16th) urging the government to "step up the implementation of a global and urgent programme to reduce the effects of drought and support farmers". This agricultural season saw 44% lower rainfall than average, as well as a significant fall in temperatures, the Agricultural Ministry said. These factors have caused a notable decrease in the cultivated land, especially in fall cereals. During the last cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Mohand Laenser announced the implementation of an emergency programme to safeguard and protect livestock and to soften the possible impact of a drought. The programme envisages providing food and water to livestock, reinforcing livestock health protection and implementing a programme for spring cultivation. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- A national debate on water management in Morocco focused upon water levels in the Souss Massa Basin when the Minister of Land Development, Water, and the Environment, Mohamed Elyazghi, held a meeting in Agadir. The Souss-Massa-Dra Region suffers from water shortages, and building reservoirs is becoming too expensive; a better long-term solution, agreed meeting participants, would be to teach farmers not to waste so much irrigation water. The Sebt El Guerdane area is a sad example: many farms there have been abandoned because of a lack of water. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- The excavation of the famous archaeological site of Alacahoyuk in Turkey's Corum Province has proved a boon to local farmers, who are now getting irrigation water from a dam built by the Hittites around 1240 BCE. Professor Aykut Cinaroglu of Ankara University, who directs the excavation, said that the restoration of the dam was unique in history and that its ancient purification pond and irrigation canals still functioned after 2.5 million cubic meters of mud were removed by the Turkish government. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- France has just published its new law on water and the aquatic environments (Law on water and the aquatic environments n°2006-1772 of December 30, 2006 “LEMA”) whose first article stipulates that: “each individual, for his food and his hygiene, has the right to reach drinking water under conditions economically acceptable by all.” The right thus defined is an individual right but it is not an opposable right fault of having indicated the authority in charge of the implementation. The advisory national Commission of the human rights decided in plenary assembly to evaluate the extent to which this right to water conceived as a right of access to drinking water can be regarded as an human right. The Report on the official recognition of the right to water (in France and at international level) is from now on available on the site of the Academy of water. Further information on EMWIS website.

20- In Belgium, the Walloon Government on the initiative of Mr. Benoît Lutgen, Minister of the environment, decided to institute a tax of solidarity on each m3 of drinking water distributed in Walloon Area. This will make it possible to strengthen the co-operation with the developing countries in the sector of drinking water and sanitation. The rate of this tax is of 1.25 c€ per m3, which is approximately 1.5 € by household and per annum. It is expected that 2 € million will annually be collected, which constitutes an increase of 10% of the amount that the Walloon Area collects on own capital stocks with the co-operation. This water tax plays a similar role to the tax of solidarity on the plane tickets founded recently to finance drugs (AIDS, etc) for the developing countries. For several years, the Walloon Area had founded internally a tax of solidarity on water to finance the water of the stripped households of Wallonia. The Area of Walloon is the first area of the world to have two obligatory instruments of solidarity to implement the right to water thanks to solidarity between all the users. Further information on EMWIS website.

21- The Italian government will tax the bottling of water for 1 Eurocent per 10 bottles of bottled water to be poured into a "Charity Fund", report Italian newspapers "La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera". The Fund will be run by the Italian Ministers Council Presidency to finance water projects in both Southern Italy and developing countries. Italy is the largest bottled water consumer in Western Europe, with total volume sales of 10,653.7 million litres in 2004. At 183.6 litres per person, Italy also boasts the highest bottled water consumption in the world. Further information on EMWIS website.

22- Environmental officials in Italy's Biella Province are about to launch a three-year plan to revitalize Lake Viverone, announced provincial councilmember Davide Bazzini. The two main sources of pollution are the local sewer system and farm runoff. The latter will be dealt with by helping farmers reduce their use of fertilizers. Inspired by the European Landscape Convention, the province also wants to establish a pilot area in the lacustrine basin to experiment with landscaping techniques.
Further information on EMWIS website.

23- The Government has initiated a consultation on proposals to make minimum standards of water efficiency performance mandatory in all new homes and new commercial developments. The proposed measures aim to build on the Code for Sustainable Homes launched on 13 December 2006, and on the recommendations of the Water Savings Group. Installing relatively cheap products like low flush toilets and water efficient taps in new homes could reduce household consumption by 15-20 per cent, according to Angela Smith, Minister for Sustainable Buildings. The UK’s Environment Agency welcomed the proposals, but stressed that the real challenge was to make existing homes more water-efficient. Many parts of the UK, especially in the south-east, are already struggling to cope with existing water demand. Government plans to increase housing supply in England to 200,000 a year by 2016, will increase the need to conserve water. The consultation is being managed by WRc plc.
Further information on EMWIS website.

24- Growing trees and crops on salt flood plains will be among the alternative flood strategies investigated in a 1.5m Pounds Sterling Defra-funded study, aiming at delivering innovation in flood management and coastal erosion. Six pilot projects will investigate the potential for trees to cut flood risk, recruiting the help of farmers and landowners to prevent coastal erosion, designing sustainable communities in floodplain areas and engaging local communities in the process of flood risk prevention.
Further information on EMWIS website.

25- The Minister of Agriculture in Cyprus will shortly submit a proposal to the Cabinet for a new desalination plant in Episkopi. It's intended to meet growing water needs in Limassol. The Water Board is proposing a new desalination unit in Paphos. Both proposals, along with warnings from the government of forthcoming water restrictions, were spurred by a year of sparse rainfall that left the island's reservoirs at only 20% of capacity. Total water reserves are 60 million cubic liters, half of what they were at this time last year. Rainfall has declined steadily over the past three years and farmers have been forced to rely upon treated wastewater for irrigating everything except vegetable crops. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- Even without heavy industry, Greeks have managed to pollute both the country's surface water and groundwater, reported a joint study by the National Technical University of Athens, the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, and the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE). In Attika Prefecture, high concentrations of nitrates due to intensive farming have been measured in the groundwater of a dozen communities. Farm runoff has also polluted groundwater in the Peloponnesos region in the south, the Thessaly region in the north, and the prefectures of Larissa and Karditsa. Parts of the Soulios, Pamisos, Alfeios, Strymonas, Evros, and Pinios rivers are contaminated and 70% of Greek lakes suffer from eutrophication. Other major contributors to the country's water shortage include wasteful irrigation practices; the salinization of groundwater due to the over-pumping of aquifers, which allows seawater to seep into empty spaces; and the under-utilization of surface water resources. Further information on EMWIS website.

27- UNECE: Since the end of the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina has made considerable progress, particularly in maintaining the peace, creating new institutions and establishing a legal structure. Other challenges reflect deeper underlying issues of socio economic and political transition. Serious environmental problems that date back to pre war years combined with a general unawareness of environmental issues, a very complicated institutional base and a lack of implementation of the legislation are the main obstacles to the sustainable development of the country. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- All power generation and water desalination companies in Oman are set to be privatised by 2009. This is the result of an agreement for a project that includes the first privatisation of Oman's electricity and related water sector restructuring process under a Share Purchase Agreement. Oman's Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of Energy Resource Council, Ahmad Bin Abdulnabi Macki, with other senior officials officially signed the AI Rusail/Birka II project on 11 December with the preferred bidder, the Suez Tractebel, Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala, Development and National Trading Company consortium. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- Political will of the authorities to take actions in accordance with science-based policy guidelines for the sustainable management of water and ecosystem resources are necessary pre-requisites for mitigating water-related harmful effects on ecosystems and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the freshwater resources in the Gulf, (according to the UNESCO Regional Office in the Arab States of the Gulf). Four of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Qatar, are rated among the 10 most water scarce countries in the world. The recent formation of the GCC Water Resource Committee is a positive step towards international co-operation. Total water demands are expected to increase 36% over the next decade. Today 91% of the combined total water demand is abstracted from groundwater, 7.2% by desalination of ground and seawater and the remainder from treated effluent and surface water. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE), an international public-private consortium coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Yale University, and publishers, gives developing countries free or low-cost access to over 1,000 environmental science journals. OARE also provides access to several abstract and information research databases, and full text books and technical reference materials.  Non-profit public and indigenous non-governmental organisations performing environment-related work, from 70 low-income countries can register for free access to OARE content. By 2008, nearly 40 other countries will be eligible for low-cost access. OARE is the third free access initiative set up in partnership with a UN agency. The others are HINARI - Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (WHO) and AGORA - Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (FAO). Further information on EMWIS website

31- GEONETCast is a near real time, global network of satellite-based data dissemination systems designed to distribute space-based, air-borne and in situ data, metadata about disease, agriculture, biodiversity, natural disasters, air and water quality, ocean conditions, and ecosystems to decision-makers around the globe. Introduced during the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Conference in Bonn, Germany, GEONETcast is the outcome of a cooperative effort being organised by EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), the United States, China and the World Meteorological Organisation. GEONETcast, in which GMES will contribute through the space priority contained in the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7), will be one of the key data dissemination systems within GEOSS (the Global Earth Observation System of Systems) aimed at developing a global monitoring network. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- WMO/GWP Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) promotes the concept of Integrated Flood Management (IFM). IFM integrates land and water resources development in a river basin, within the context of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), with a view to maximizing the efficient use of floodplains and minimizing loss to life. APFM has just published its 10th newsletter issue which deals with various topics related to IFM. Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Ente Publico del Agua, the local entity overseeing the port town of Escombreras, Spain, played an integral part in development of the new 17-mgd seawater desalination plant being built in this southern city to help meet the region's water needs. Over 5,000 Hydranautics' seawater RO elements were chosen for the plant, 3,150 SWC4+ and 1,890 SWC5. They were chosen by a partnering triad of Grupo ACS, Grupo Cobra and Tedagua... Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
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34- Dr. Abdelkader Larabi from "Ecole Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs – Rabat, Morocco" won the prize of "Groundwater"- Management of Coastal Aquifers, one of the categories of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. Prof. Abdul Latif Ahmad from Malaysia won the prize of "Alternative (non-traditional) Water Resources"-Treatment and Re-use of Waste Water, and Prof. Howard S. Wheater from the United Kingdom won the prize of "Water Resources Management"-Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions. Nomination is opened for the 3rd Award 2006-2008 of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water according to the announced topics. Deadline for receiving nominations : 31 December 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- New president for the International Scheldt Commission: Doctor Georges Pichot, head of MUMM, has been elected as president of the International Scheldt Commission for a period of 2 years, from 1st January 2007 on. This Commission manages the International Scheldt Agreement concluded in Ghent on 3rd December 2002 between France, the Netherlands, the Flemish region, the Walloon region, the Brussels Capital Region and the federal state of Belgium. One of the most important missions is to execute the Water Framework Directive at the level of the international Scheldt basin. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- Vacancy: Assistant Director (Water & Health), L-4 in UNU-INWEH. The Assistant Director (Water & Health) will serve as the chief scientist and manager of UNUINWEH’s Water & Health programme. The AD will manage and oversee the existing policy-relevant research and capacity building activities of the programme, and will be charged with leading the development of a dynamic portfolio addressing global health issues through the focus on water and sanitation services. The AD will serve under the direct supervision of UNU-INWEH Director. The AD will communicate research findings and project accomplishments at scientific meetings and international fora, and through publications. Closing date: 16 February 2007.
Further information on EMWIS website.

37- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Experts: The European Commission has published calls for proposals for the creation of a list of experts for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). One call addresses organisations in a position to propose experts, while a second is aimed at individuals who may wish to submit a proposal for establishing a database of experts. Experts will assist with the evaluation and monitoring of projects. Further information on EMWIS website.

38- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Marie Curie Awards. It is intended to award five prizes per year. The prizes are awarded to individuals. Candidates for the prizes can apply directly or can be nominated by others. The candidates shall be among those who have been awarded a Marie Curie fellowship under the Sixth Framework Programme, or have participated in a training or mobility action of one of the previous Framework Programmes, for a minimum period of 12 months, and who have achieved excellent research results. Deadline for application: April 26, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website

39- Lecturer in Water/Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. To undertake high quality research and to contribute to teaching at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level. Applicants are sought with experimental or computational research interests in any areas of water engineering or environmental engineering (including hydraulics, sediment transport, hydrology, public health and environmental engineering).
Closing date: February 2, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

40- Faculty Positions in Environmental Engineering, EPF Lausanne, Switzerland. EPFL plans a substantial strengthening of its School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). As part of this effort at EPFL, we are in the process of recruiting a number of new faculty members in Environmental Engineering. Junior faculty candidates are invited, specially with outstanding research records and potential in (1) Water Resources Engineering and (2) Environmental Process Engineering. To apply for two Assistant Professor positions (tenure track). Deadline: March 1, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website

41- Water and Environment Journal: Seeking Overseas Reviewers: From January 2006 CIWEM’s Journal – Water and Environment Journal – has been published on behalf of CIWEM by Blackwell Publishing. Reviewers peer-review technical papers to determine their suitability for publication and advise on any amendments or revisions necessary such that papers are credible and accurate; enhance knowledge and understanding of water and environmental issues; promote sustainable development and are a credit to the standing and reputation of CIWEM and the profession. Applications can be sent from anyone with suitable expertise in a subject within the scope of water and environmental management, especially from those overseas. Further information on EMWIS website.

42- Employment Opportunity at CIWEM: The CIWEM Policy department are looking to recruit a new member of staff to assist in the launch of the Journal of Flood Risk Management and help with other admin duties. This will be for a 12 month full time fixed contract based at our London office. The position offers a great opportunity for anyone wishing to gain an insight into the environment sector. Further information on EMWIS website.

43- Call for 10 guest researchers, University of Bergen, Norway. "Climate in the Nile basin area, with a particular reference to climate change and Climate and health": The Nile Basin Research Programme (NBRP) announced 10 vacant positions for guest researchers from the Nile Basin Region interested in Climate Change and Climate & Health. Application deadline: March, 1, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

44- Internship at BRGM (Montpellier, France): BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières), public institution having a scientific research activity, supporting the local administrations, authorities and council. Specialists in Geosciences, the environment and the problems related to under ground. are required. The objective of the training course is to develop various scenarios of evolution of the water supply for agricultural use on the Western part of the department of Herault. Duration: 6 months, starting from early Mars. Further information on EMWIS website.
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PUBLICATIONS
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45- The Mediterranean Institute of Water (IME) has just published its newsletter of December. It is available online at the website of IME. Further information on EMWIS website

46- European Water Partnership (EWP) : Facts and Figures 2006. The European Water Partnership is the European action-oriented open forum that unites all stakeholders to harness European innovative capacity, exchange views and stimulate partnerships to help address world water challenges. In March, the Partnership was created by sixteen founding organisations. During the year this number has more than doubled and currently stands at 35 organisations from eleven European countries. The members of the EWP come from all stakeholder groups: private sector, governments, knowledge institutes and NGO’s. This document gives a summary of these activities and those planned for 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- "Water Quality for Ecosystem and Human Health" is the first report of its kind produced by UNEP’s GEMS/Water Programme.  Drawing on examples from around the world, the report presents assessments of current status and trends in water quality.  It also provides an introduction to a diverse range of issues of concern in global water quality, and approaches to their detection, analysis, and resolution.  It is intended to be particularly useful and encouraging for our colleagues and their constituents in developing and transitional countries. The data and analyses presented in this report are derived from GEMStat, the global water quality database accessible at www.gemstat.org. Further information on EMWIS website

48- New publication: Practical guidelines for the valuation of wetlands: This guide aims to assist Ramsar-Convention stakeholders in having economic valuation information better available for decision-making on wetlands. The report outlines a framework which should assist readers to conduct an integrated assessment of wetland ecosystem services, and it sets out five key steps in undertaking a wetland valuation assessment. Further information on EMWIS website

49- New publication: Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Global Change: A North-South Analysis. This Volume contains selected papers from a conference held in Bonn, Germany in February 2005 and organised by the Global Water System Project (GWSP). Further information on EMWIS website

50- New publication: Integrated Water Resources Management Plans: Training Manual and Operational Guide
The training material presented in this CD-ROM seeks to assist people in countries developing a water resources management strategy or a water resources management plan. The CD-ROM contains the training Manual and an Operational Guide (based on lessons from around the world), Slide Presentations (these presentations complement the manual in training sessions, they can be copied and adapted to specific learning objectives), References and Tools. Further information on EMWIS website

51- Running Dry: the humanitarian impact of the global water crisis: “Our demand for water has turned us into vampires, draining the world of its lifeblood. What can we do to prevent mass global drought and starvation?” asked Fred Pearce, the New Scientist’s environmental expert and author of ‘When the Rivers Run Dry”, published in February 2006. There is some mordant irony that in the last 18 months parts of the world have witnessed colossal damage and lost of life due to the excess of water, at a time when the diminishing stock of freshwater continues to affect millions of people and threaten future crises. Further information on EMWIS website

52- Publication: HELP Newsletter Issue NO. 5: HELP is a joint UNESCO IHP-WMO initiative and is a cross-cutting programme of the Sixth Phase of the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO. HELP has just published its Newsletter Issue No 5 for December 2006. In this issue, it covers: The Symposium “Water in Mountains”, Global WaterWatch and HELP, The EU launch of the Centre for Water Law, Policy and Sciences, The 1st Announcement of the HELP, and the Symposium “Global Water Problems- lessons from the South”. Further information on EMWIS website

53- German EU Presidency FP7 launch event: speeches and presentations On 15 and 16 January 2007, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) hosted a kick-off event to launch the EU's new Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013). Commissioner Potočnik's speech, and presentations on the specific programmes and opportunities for participation are available online. 
Further information on EMWIS website

54- FP7 leaflet: taking European Research to the forefront. The FP7 leaflet is available in 23 languages. This 32-page brochure will help you to answer these questions: What is FP7? What is its budget? What is its overall duration? Which research areas does it cover? How will citizens, researchers, industry and SMEs benefit from FP7? Where can I find more information about European research? Further information on EMWIS website

55- ACP-EU Water Facility Newsletter N°13, December 2006: This issue deals with the news of the second call for proposals of the ACP-EU Water Facility, and presents a showcase of Water Supply and Sanitation for 14 Villages in Njombe District in Tanzania. Further information on EMWIS website

56- New publication: Integrated Transboundary Water Management in Theory and Practice: This book examines and analyses the problems inherent in integrated water management in transboundary conditions. Integrated Transboundary Water Management in Theory and Practice provides new knowledge and policy recommendations based on the experiences and results of a major 3-year interdisciplinary research project (MANTRA-East). Drawing on extensive studies of the Lake Peipsi region in Estonia and Russia, the book explores the political and social issues surrounding transboundary water management and introduces the way that qualitative-quantitative-qualitative scenarios have been used in real-life situations. The book presents conclusions and policy recommendations for integrated transboundary water management that will be invaluable to water managers, policy-makers and academic researchers working in this rapidly expanding field. Further information on EMWIS website

57- GEWAMED Newsletter, Issue n°3: This issue is about: - 3rd Arab Water Regional Conference, Special session: "Mainstreaming Gender in IWRM: Monitoring and Evaluation", December, Cairo-Egypt, - Training Programme on Gender Role in Extension and Water Awareness, September, Amman-Jordan, - First Session of the Consultation and Advisory Gender Committee, September, Bari-Italy, - Gender Training Seminar in Collaboration with AQUASTRESS Project, November, Silesia-Poland, - 6th Convention of the Women of the Earth, November, Rome-Italy, - CREAD: Gender and Water Network, - ARI and the Water Cooperation Session in Mediterranean River Basins, November, Athens-Greece, - MIO-ECSDE Activities and GEWAMED Project - Future Events. Further information on EMWIS website

58- The Mediterranean in 2020 - Issue number 15/2006: This "Statistics in Focus" aims at giving a first answer to the statistical needs expressed within the Horizon 2020 initiative, recently launched by the European Commission whose objective is to de pollute the Mediterranean by 2020. This issue defines the current statistical coverage with its limits for the three key topics of Horizon 2020, which are urban waste, urban wastewater and industrial emissions. Finally, it attempts to identify a set of tracks which could potentially contribute to the enhancement of the production of official statistics, as well as of the service to the users, such as Horizon 2020 initiative. Further information on EMWIS website

59- New publication: Proceedings of the International Junior Researcher and Engineer Workshop on Hydraulic Structures (IJREWHS'06) Organised by the IAHR Hydraulic Structures Section on 2-4 September, 2006, in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal. The proceedings contain 16 papers and they may be freely downloaded. Around 300 people downloaded the proceeding in the first week! Further information on EMWIS website

60- New publication: Environmental Aspects of Integrated Flood Management (IFM): WMO/GWP Associated Programme on Flood Management. Published by WMO, 2006. It aims to put environment friendly flood management into practice. Further information on EMWIS website

61- New Journal on Flood Risk Management: Following a successful year for the Water and Environment Journal CIWEM and Blackwell’s have chosen to continue their partnership and work together on a new venture. ‘The Journal of Flood Risk Management’ will be a global online only journal, jointly owned by CIWEM and Blackwell publishing and supported by Arup, MWH and Royal Haskoning. Publication of the first issue is scheduled for March 2008, topics covered will include: Modelling, Infrastructure Management, Hydrology, Flood Forecasting, Land Use Management, Policy and Legislation, and Uncertainty Analysis and Risk. The title will accept basic research papers as well as applied content. For further information please check future issues of E-news or contact Jo Cooper jcooper@ciwem.org . Further information on EMWIS website

62- The fourth issue of the WISE newsletter has been published. The WISE Newsletter is the information bulletin of the Water & Marine unit of the Environment General-Directorate of the European Commission. Further information on EMWIS website

63- Urban Water Conflicts, analysis of the origins and nature of water-related unrest and conflicts: This collection of essays is a new and systematic effort to survey the controversial aspect of the management and, in many cases, mismanagement of freshwater resources in an urban setting. It addresses and characterizes the conflicts that arise within large human settlements, due to the economic and social implications of access to and the use of basic water services. It also presents in-depth case studies from cities of various continents. Further information on EMWIS website.

64- New publication: About Corruption and Transparency in the Water and Sanitation Sector. Corruption undermines water and sanitation services. It is those without a voice, the poor, who are systematically deprived by corrupt systems. This paper is a brief overview of issues, approaches and information. The second half of the paper provides entry to the rapidly growing literature on corruption, transparency and honesty in the WASH sector. It is hoped that you, the reader, will find this a useful resource which will lead to further reading, learning about experience and research and, finally, to action promoting transparency, honesty and preventing corruption in the sector. Further information on EMWIS website.

65- The "Infeaux" newsletter n° 288 of December 15, 2006 and the n° 289 of January 15, 2007 are available exceptionally. Twice per month, this newsletter gives the latest news on research and advanced water techniques. It is a semi-monthly newsletter diffused exclusively by subscription. To subscribe with this letter, it is necessary to send the Coupon infeaux Subscription. Further information on EMWIS website.

66- A new issue of the Moroccan CRTS Journal "Geo Observateur" N°15, includes articles on the modeling and the cartography of the risk related to the fires of forests (case of the zone of Talambot province of Chefchaouène), Spatio-Temporal dynamics of the upwelling Moroccan coasts by remote sensing in the period 1985 to 2005, Development of a computerized decision-making system for the management of water resources, remote sensing and SIG for the study of the aquifers fissured of the crystalline base of Korhogo, Application of Remote Sensing to the study of the geomorphology and morphodynamic of the complex lagunaire of Nador, and remote sensing and modeling of the dynamics of Sidi Amira site (Forest of Maâmora, Morocco) in the period 1962 to 2002. Further information on EMWIS website.

67- Second TECHNEAU newsletter is available for download. This newsletter is designed to disseminate news, scientific results and developments to stakeholders. Newsletters are issued every six months. TECHNEAU (An Integrated Project Funded by the European Commission under the Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems Thematic Priority Area) challenges the ability of traditional drinking water supply systems to cope with present and future global threats and opportunities. TECHNEAU will rethink options for water supply and - through innovation, research and development – will provide and demonstrate new and improved technologies for the whole water supply chain. Newsletter 2 highlights recent outputs and activities from TECHNEAU. The Newsletter can be downloaded from the TECHNEAU website (www.techneau.org / www.techneau.eu) where comments on the Newsletter or on any project-related issue are welcome. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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68- 2nd call for proposals of the ACP-EU Water Facility: Statistics & Analysis of proposals received
On November 29 the presentation of a provisional list of recommended/not recommended proposals signalled the end of the detailed evaluation phase for proposals submitted under the Water Facility 2nd Call. The results of the detailed evaluation were sent to applicants on the 22nd and 27th of December 2006, and the applicants will now be informed in writing by the European Commission on the outcome of this third step. The deadline for the receipt of all requested eligibility documents and specific clarifications is 22 January, 2007. The final list, based on the eligibility of applicants, is expected to be released by mid-February 2007 at the latest once all submitted documents have been checked and confirmed and a final list approved.
Further information on EMWIS website

69- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - International Reintegration Grants (IRG): Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG, Indicative budget: 14.5 M€. This action consists of financial support during at least 2 and up to 4 years for professional (re)integration projects in the research area in a host organisation in a Member State or Associated country. The project can, amongst other things, address research activities, training, teaching, transfer of knowledge, commercial exploitation, diffusion, development of co-operation with the scientific and / or industrial sector of the third country from which the researcher is returning. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and October 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

70- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (General Call 1): Call identifier: FP7-KBBE-2007-1, Indicative budget: 192 M€. This call includes a.o. the following topics: - Activity 2.1: Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments. Deadline for application: May 2, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

71- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant: Call identifier: ERC-2007-StG, Indicative budget: 289 M€. The objective of these grants offered by the European Research Council (ERC) is to provide adequate support to the independent careers of excellent researchers, whatever their nationality, located in or moving to the EU and associated countries, who are at the stage of establishing and leading their first research team or programme. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and September 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

72- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Marie Curie Initial Training Networks: Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-1-1-ITN, Indicative budget: 240 M€. The action will be implemented by supporting competitively selected networks of organisations from different countries engaged in research training. The networks will be built on a joint research training programme, responding to well identified training needs in defined scientific or technological areas, with appropriate references to interdisciplinary and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields. Deadline for application: May 07, 2007 and September 25, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

73- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - Environment (including Climate Change): Call identifier: FP7-ENV-2007-1, Indicative budget: 200 M€. This call includes a.o. the following topics:
- Sub-activity 6.1.1. Pressures on environment and climate: Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in water policies (ENV.2007.1.1.5.1); Climate change impacts on vulnerable mountain regions (ENV.2007.1.1.5.2); Effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation measures related to changes of the hydrological cycle and its extremes (ENV.2007.1.1.6.2); Impact and feed-backs of climate policies on land use and ecosystems in Europe (EVN.2007.1.1.6.3).
- Sub-activity 6.1.3. Natural Hazards: European storm risk (ENV.2007.1.3.1.1); Frame for better vulnerability assessment (ENV.2007.1.3.2.1); Investigating Europe's risk from droughts (ENV.2007.1.3.3.3); European (multi) hazard database analysis (ENV.2007.1.3.4.1).
- Sub-activity 6.2.1. Conservation and sustainable management of natural and man-made resources and biodiversity: Assessing the ecological status of water bodies (ENV.2007.2.1.2.1); River basin twinning initiatives as a tool to implement EU initiatives (ENV.2007.2.1.2.2); Temporary water bodies management (ENV.2007.2.1.2.3); Integrated resource management in international co-operation partner countries (ENV.2007.2.1.2.4).
- Sub-activity 6.2.2. Management of marine environments: Development of advanced ecosystem models methodologies for the management and sustainable use of resources (ENV.2007.2.2.1.1).
- Sub-activity 6.3.1. Environmental technologies for observation, simulation, prevention, mitigation, adaptation, remediation and restoration of the natural and man-made environment: Innovative technologies and services for sustainable water use in industries (ENV.2007.3.1.1.1); Technologies for measuring and monitoring networks (ENV.2007.3.1.1.2); Development of technologies and tools for soil contamination assessment and site characterisation, towards sustainable remediation (ENV.2007.3.1.2.2).
- Sub-activity 6.4.1. Earth and ocean observation systems and monitoring methods for the environment and sustainable development: Improving observing systems for water resource management (ENV.2007.4.1.4.2).
Deadline for application: May 2, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

74- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - ERA-NET Plus Call 2007: Call identifier: FP7-ERANET-2007-RTD, Indicative budget: 28.9 M€.
This call from the ERA-NET scheme (European Research Area) covers a.o. conferences and other support actions.
Deadline for application: 31 July 2007 at 17:00 (Brussels local time). Further information on EMWIS website.

75- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - European Reintegration Grants (ERG): Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-2-ERG, Indicative budget: 9.5 M€. The action offers the opportunity to experienced researchers from Member States or Associated countries, to capitalise on their trans-national mobility period after having participated in a Marie Curie action either under the Seventh or the previous Framework Programme. The mechanism will assist the professional (re)integration of the eligible researchers in a research organisation in a Member State or Associated country, including in their country nationality. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and October 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

76- LIFE+ calls set for autumn 2007: The conciliation procedure between the Council and the European Parliament to finalise the LIFE+ Regulation will begin at the start of 2007. The Regulation, which will cover the period 2007-2013, is expected to be adopted by September 2007. The first calls for proposals should be launched before the end of 2007, probably in the autumn. As long as the conciliation procedure is not concluded, the details of these calls are uncertain. However, the subjects covered will include nature, biodiversity and other environmental issues. More details will be made available as soon as possible. In the meantime, potential applicants are advised to begin preparing their proposals. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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77- Call for Applications for the International Workshop on the Use of Space Technology for Sustainable Development: The Morocco Royal Centre for Remote Sensing (CRTS), which has been using space information to provide solutions necessary for sustainable development, is interested in expanding its efforts to technology transfer and to develop international cooperation. The workshop will be held in Rabat (Morocco) in 25-27 April 2007, and will also build upon the work being carried out by the Office for Outer Space Affairs within its Space Application Programme. Deadline for Submission of Applications: Friday 2 March 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

78- Call for abstracts for students participating in the 32nd IAHR Congress
The XXXII Congress of IAHR “Harmonizing the Demands of Art and Nature in Hydraulics” will be held in Venice (Italy) in the 1st week of July 2007 (01-06 July), and will have appealing consonances with the vicissitudes of Venice and its lagoon, as well as with many other aspects of the trade. A special Workshop devoted to “High Water Control and Environmental Issues in the Lagoon of Venice and Analogous Situations” will be held during the congress. Some courses will be also hold before the congress and Special Seminars during the congress. The ASCE – COPRI Costal Structures Conference will be held in parallel with IAHR and maritime colleagues registering for both events will be able to take part in a unique range of activities.
Deadline for Student Paper Competition: February 15, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

79- Call for papers for the International Workshop on Numerical Modelling of Hydrodynamics for Water Resources
The international workshop on Numerical Modelling of Hydrodynamics for Water Resources will bring together in Zaragoza during 4 days (18-21 June 2007) a group of scientists specialized on water resources modelling. Modern simulation techniques will be discussed from a problem-oriented perspective. The scope of the presentations will include (among other topics) canal and river flow, riparian areas and aquifers. These topics are relevant to hydrology, civil engineering, the environment and agriculture. Deadline for paper (4 pages) submission : April 1, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

80- The deadline for the submission of abstracts for the 5th IWHA Conference on ‘Past and Futures of Water’ has been extended until 31 January 2007. The conference, which is supported by International Hydrological Programme (IHP), will take place in Tampere, Finland, on 13-17 June 2007 and is organized by the International Water History Association (IWHA), the Department of History of the University of Tampere (Finland), and the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology (IEEB) of the Tampere University of Technology (TUT, Finland). The conference addresses diverse topics related to water history and future, and will provide an excellent opportunity for scholars and practitioners from a variety of disciplines and different parts of the world to meet and discuss the many fascinating aspects of water history. The major themes of the conference are: water and cities, water, health and sanitation, water, food and economy, water history and the future of humanity. Further information on EMWIS website.

81- Call for abstracts for the 3rd International Conference on Climate and Water: This conference will be held in Helsinki (Finland) in 03-09 September 2007. Climate change is likely to affect strongly on the hydrological cycle; some changes have already been observed. Water demand may grow due to climate change and water management faces a multitude of new challenges. The objective is to provide an opportunity for hydrologists, water managers and decision makers to exchange research results, ideas and concerns on impacts, adaptation and mitigation in the water sector, facing climate change.
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1 March 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

82- Call for abstracts for HYDRO 2007: "HYDRO 2007- New Approaches for a New Era" will be held in Granada (Spain) in 15-17 October 2007. Abstracts of up to 800 words, in English, are now invited on the themes listed or related topics. Please mail, fax or email abstracts to the address below. A short CV of each author should be included. Your abstract should summarize precisely the scope and content of the paper proposed. No artwork or bibliography is required at this stage. In the case of any project described,  its current status or date of completion should be mentioned. If the abstract is sent by email, please incorporate the author’s name in the file name. Abstracts should only be submitted if the author would be able to attend the conference (or send a representative). The deadline for receipt of abstracts is Friday 2 March 2007. Authors will be notified in April 2007 whether or not their paper has been accepted for presentation at the conference, or for publication in the Proceedings. Further information on EMWIS website.

83- Call For papers for the Special Issue on: “Integrated Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas”: The purpose of this special issue is to better understand the key aspects of the sustainable management of water resources in arid and semi-arid area, to construct new mathematical and physical models using modern instruments of system engineering, management science, and information technologies, and to attempt to determine what is needed to improve effective water resources management in arid and semi-arid areas. Articles for consideration are invited for submissions; manuscripts may be technical, conceptual, case-studies, policy or practice oriented and can range from original research to overviews, assessments, and reviews. Deadline for Submission: 15 May 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

84- Call for papers for the World Water Week in Stockholm 2007: The World Water Week in Stockholm to be held in the week 12-18 of August 2007 has announced a call for papers to be due on the 1st February 2007. The World Water Week in Stockholm is the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. On this site you'll find more information about the plenary sessions, seminars, workshops, side events and special activities that will take place during the next World Water Week in Stockholm. Abstracts are welcome on the specific workshop themes. Further information at EMWIS website.

85- The XIIIth World Water Congress to be held in Montpellier the days 01-04 September 2008, has announced a call for abstracts to be due on 31 March 2007. Authors will be notified of acceptance by 30 June 2007 and will receive detailed instructions for presentation of their paper or poster. Deadline for submission of accepted papers (complete version) is 31 January 2008. Further information at EMWIS website.

86- Call for contributions to the World Water Report Summary: The United Nations project to produce a youth summary of this year's UN Human Development Report which was released last week. It is on the theme of water. The UN want it out in English, French and Spanish by March 22nd: World Water Day. The Report is saying that water is a fundamental human right and that, with political will, we have the technology to get “beyond scarcity” to an equitable distribution of this basic human resource to all. The incentive is not just to get your story, or your poem or painting into a UN booklet that will be distributed around the world: it is also an opportunity for the best contributors to get an all expenses paid trip to the UK to work at the Editorial Meeting for the booklet at Peace Child’s International Centre near Cambridge in the UK. As any one who has been to one of these editorial meetings, they are a life-changing experience. On this one, you will get to work with some of the finest minds from the UN and leading UK think-tanks on an issue that is, literally, the source of human life. The deadline for your entries has been extended to 31st January 2007. Winners will be notified by e-mail on February 5th and will be expected to be ready to travel to the UK by 17th February. Further information at EMWIS website.

87- The 4th international conference on the Water Resources in the Mediterranean Basin "WATMED 4" that will be held in Algiers (Algeria) in 22-24 March 2008, announced a call for abstracts. Deadline for submission of abstracts is: 15 March 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

88- Call for abstracts for the Mediterranean NO DIG "for a sustainable world", XXVth International Conference and Exhibition: International NO DIG events arranged jointly by ISTT and affiliated societies, have been held in various countries with great success since 1985, and NO DIG '07 in Rome will be the 25th in the series and it is the first dedicated to the Mediterranean markets. For the second time this important event will be held in Italy (Rome) in 10-12 September 2007. Submission of abstracts for Speakers and Exhibitors deadline: 31 January 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.

89- Call for papers for the 4th European Conference on Contaminated Sediments: REUSED (Remediation, Recycling and Reuse of EUropean SEDiments), the organizing non-profit Foundation, promotes the remediation and recycling of contaminated sediments of European waters. REUSED organises the 4th European Conference on Contaminated Sediments in 20-22 June 2007 in Antwerp (Belgium), and it invites interested politicians, authorities, companies and persons to submit papers for this unique event. Papers can be submitted in categories such as: European & national political views, policies and legislation, International co-operation, National and regional consequences of the European Water Framework Directive, Innovative approach to contaminated (dredging) processing problem, Processes to re-use contaminated sludge, Product applications & case stories, and Research programmes, results and outlooks. Proposals for papers must be made no later than March 1st, 2007. Further information at EMWIS website.
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TRAINING
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90- 6-day intensive course on: “Operation and Maintenance of Distillation Processes” will be organised by the MEDRC in Tripoli (Libya) the days 10-15 February 2007. The course is aimed at those who are new to distillation and those who wish to improve their knowledge and understand the operation and maintenance of distillation processes. Further information at EMWIS website.

91- A training on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is organised by the CRTS (Royal Centre of Remote Sensing) in Rabat (Morocco) the week of 19-23 February 2007. The aim of this training is to learn the basic concepts of the GIS, to learn the advanced functionalities of the GIS, to deal with the cartography concept, and to practice with a GIS software. The other CRTS offers many other trainings during the present year. Further information at EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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[2007/02/27 - 2007/02/28] Third Euro-Mediterranean Sustainable Development Forum – ECO MEDA FORUM 2007: Working together for Sustainability, Barcelona, Spain.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/24 - 2007/02/28] Second International Conference and Exhibition on Geo-Resources in The Middle East and North Africa, Cairo, Egypt.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/21 - 2007/02/22] The international workshop on Monitoring of saltwater intrusions in coastal aquifers: Groundwater, Flood Waters and Saltwater - Approaches to Risk Minimisation, Braunschweig, Germany.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/19 - 2007/02/24] ESS2007 Conference: “The Environment: Survival and Sustainability”, Nicosia - Northern Cyprus.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/19 - 2007/02/23] A training on Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Rabat, Morocco.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/02/15 - 2007/02/18] "Les Frontières du court", Marseille, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/14 - 2007/02/17] WASAMED international conference: Water Saving in Mediterranean Agriculture & Future Research Needs, Bari, Italy.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/12 - 2007/02/16] Practical training on Mediterranean Protected Areas, Malaga, Spain.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/12 - 2007/02/14] International Symposium: "Climate Change and the European Water Dimension", Berlin, Germany.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/11 - 2007/02/16] International Conference on Water Treatment and Reuse II, Tomar, Portugal.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/10 - 2007/02/15] 6-day intensive course on: “Operation and Maintenance of Distillation Processes”, Tripoli, Libya.
Further information on EMWIS website

[2007/02/08 - 2007/02/09] Opening Conference of Nile Basin Research Programme, Bergen, Norway.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/07 - 2007/02/09] Aquaterra 2007: World Forum on Delta & Coastal Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/06 - 2007/02/06] The irrigation, Pioneer activity of a reconciliation between economic and environmental approaches? Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/02 - 2007/02/03] “Citizens of the Earth”: The Paris Conference for Global Ecological Governance, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/02 - 2007/02/02] World Wetlands Day, Athens, Greece.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/01 - 2007/02/01] Days of information on INSPIRE, Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/02/01 - 2007/02/01] NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Environmental Security: Integrated Water Management, Health and Safety, Venice, Italy.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/31 - 2007/02/02] Workshop on Participating in FP7, Pretoria, South Africa.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/31 - 2007/02/01] 8th Carrefour of Water local managements: What collectivity policy for water good state in 2015?Rennes, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/31 - 2007/02/01] CIWEM: World Wetlands Day Conference 2007- Developing Practice on the Ground, London, UK.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/31 - 2007/01/31] PIANC Seminar "Navigation and the EU Water Framework Directive", Brussels, Belgium.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/30 - 2007/01/30] Advanced International Training Program: Integrated Water Resource Management and Security in the Middle East, Kibbutz Ketura, Israel.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/30 - 2007/01/30] 3rd experts meeting : « Water policies in the heart of sustainable development », Lyon, France.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/30 - 2007/01/31] 2nd International Conference on Water and Environment, Blida, Algeria.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/30 - 2007/01/30] The Future of Flood Management, London, United Kingdom.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/29 - 2007/01/31] The 6th Seminars on Science and Technology of Water, Montpellier, France.
Further information on EMWIS website.

[2007/01/29 - 2007/01/29] The first meeting of the New Stakeholder Forum on Water Scarcity and Droughts, Brussels, Belgium.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/29 - 2007/01/29] International Conference on Diffuse Inputs into Groundwater: Monitoring - Modelling - Management- Agriculture and water management in the light of future challenges, Graz, Austria.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/29 - 2007/01/29] European Seminar on Integrated and Participative Management of Water, Brussels, Belgium.
Further information at EMWIS website.

[2007/01/28 - 2007/01/31] Environment 2007, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Further information at EMWIS website.

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