EMWIS Flash N°76, January 2010

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The MED Working Group on Water Scarcity and Drought (WS & D) will meet on the 17/02/2010 in Madrid (Spain). The last report of this group (2008) highlighted the need for data and common indicators to assess the situation on objective basis and monitor the impact of the WS & D management plans and mitigation process defined or under preparation by a large number of Mediterranean partner countries. This meeting will focus on the evaluation of indicators used by water authorities, the availability of data to fulfil proposed indicators, and examples of management plans for such extreme phenomena. The group will also initiate the preparation of a new report. The Mediterranean experts will have the opportunity to exchange with the representatives of the EU expert group on water quantities that will discuss similar issues during a parallel meeting on 17/02, also in Madrid. Both groups will join to attend the "International Water Scarcity and Drought Conference: The path to climate change adaptation", on 18 - 19 February. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- A partnership agreement was signed last January 7, 2010 between EMWIS and the project EUROPA JARATOUNA in view of promoting the dissemination of information on the water sector in the media of the Mediterranean countries. EUROPA JARATOUNA project is coordinated by the Society Press and Publishing consortium: (L'Orient-Le Jour) and Hayat / LBC with a funding from the European Commission EuropeAid Coordination Office, in order to enhance the visibility of the European neighbourhood policy in the South Mediterranean and to promote the Euro-Mediterranean relations. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- Over seventy local and regional representatives from thirty countries around the three shores of the Mediterranean have met in Barcelona for the inaugural meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Assembly of Local and Regional Authorities (ARLEM), calling on the EU to ensure an "inclusive process" and to give "priority to tangible action". Mohamed Boudra, mayor of Al Hoceima in Morocco, who was also elected co-president at the inaugural meeting, outlined the work programme that ARLEM members had set themselves: "In 2010, our activities will focus on four areas: urban and territorial development, decentralisation, the information society and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. ARLEM members, with their regions and local authorities, have committed themselves to twinning and decentralised cooperation initiatives in these areas." ARLEM is a response to the request to put the role of regional and local authorities in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership on an institutional footing. It gives the partnership a territorial dimension and seeks to involve local and regional authorities more closely in the specific projects of the Union for the Mediterranean. It is a joint project of the Committee of the Regions, regional and local authorities around the three shores of the Mediterranean, and European and international associations representing regional and local authorities working on the ground. ARLEM's two co-presidents will now meet the UfM secretariat to examine arrangements for ARLEM's formal recognition as the second pillar of the process, alongside the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- The general director of water in the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), Marta Moren, closed recently in Villarrobledo (Albacete), an information day on the agricultural sector in the Upper Guadiana, organized by the Consortium Alto Guadiana and the Union of Small Farmers and Ranchers (UPA). In her speech, Marta Moren said that Spain is moving towards a new model of water management in line with European legislation and taking into account both the economic value and social value and ecological value of the resource, in order to ensure their availability and quality, optimizing its use and protecting and restoring the associated ecosystems. Among the specific measures being taken by the MARM, Moren has highlighted the following: - The National Plan for Water Quality with a budget of 19,000 million euros in 2015 to reach the good ecological status of water bodies. - The National Plan for Water Reuse, which aims to make sustainable use of reclaimed water as a viable option for the environment, safety, health, economics and available technology. - The National Strategy for Sustainability of Irrigation horizon 2015, which aims to save water, technology transfer, promoting the use of non-conventional water resources, energy efficiency, improving farm incomes, the creation of additional jobs and generally promoting the sustainability of irrigated Spanish. This, coupled with effective implementation of educational policies to the public explaining the weakness of the resource and promote the rational use of water. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- The Minister for Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Elena Espinosa has submitted to the Spanish Congress, the Royal Decree-Law to be validated, by adopting urgent measures to mitigate the damage caused by drought in some river basins. The minister highlighted the three areas of Royal Decree - Law, focusing on emergency measures for managing water resources. The validation of Royal Decree Law, added Elena Espinosa, and their immediate implementation, will reduce water losses, encouraging the continuation of management strategies, demand management and promote new works of modernization.  Further information on EMWIS website.

7- A report by researchers at the Cartagena Technical University (UPCT) in Spain outlines a desalination process using renewable energy and resulting in lower environmental impacts. Population and industrial growth have placed a heavy demand on water supplies. Moreover, climate change and population density have brought the topic of water sustainability to the fore. Since the 1960s, Spain has been a global leader in desalination, and remains the largest user in the Western world of such technologies. Today, Spain's more than 700 desalination plants produce 1.6 million cubic metres of water a day - enough to meet the needs of eight million people. Over the last four decades, Spain has developed the second largest tourist industry in the world. Such growth has necessitated significant development along the country's Mediterranean coast. To meet the water demands of the region's many golf courses and holiday resorts, local authorities have relied heavily on desalination. However traditional desalination processes can cause environmental damage when brine, which has a higher salt concentration than seawater, is pumped back into the sea.  Moreover, a study on the potential impacts of desalination drafted for the European Commission found that in view of Europe's proposed 20-20-20 environmental target, desalination would place a high demand on energy resources at a time when increasing energy efficiency was a priority. The UPC desalination plant would involve both distillation and vapour compression, driven by renewable energy. The system proposed reduces environmental impacts and promises 100 m3 of freshwater an hour. Initially, seawater distillation would use heat provided by solar cells. The resulting saltwater flow would then be fed into a vapour compressor, driven by wind turbines, for final separation of salt and water. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- Desalination and water treatment are among the fields to be supported by a € 185 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to Spanish company Acciona SA in support of its research, development and innovation (RDI) programme. Speaking at the signing ceremony on 18 December 2009, EIB vice-president Carlos da Silva Costa said, "Acciona has gone down the road of innovation to maintain its competitiveness and position itself in the market as a provider of high value-added solutions with a strong RDI content. This project is therefore in total harmony with the policies and objectives of the European Union and the European Investment Bank itself." The EIB will be financing a number of actions under Acciona's wide-ranging RDI investment programme in the fields of: renewable energies; environmentally sustainable engineering applied to construction materials and processes; and water treatment and desalination. The bulk of the planned activities will be carried out at Acciona's RDI facilities in Madrid, Barcelona and Pamplona. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- Turkish Environment & Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu said last 8 December that Syria was willing to draw 1.2 billion cubic meters water from Tigris annually. "Why should not we give if there is water. Studies will take place however we will try to do our best to release this volume," Eroglu said speaking at a joint news conference with Syrian Irrigation Minister Nadir Al-Buni in Ankara. Eroglu and Al-Buni had a five hour meeting to review last-minute preparations for a number of cooperation protocols on water and irrigation as a part of a strategic cooperation deal signed earlier this year. The protocols were inked in a meeting on December 22-25 in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Eroglu said Turkey was eager to boost cooperation with Syria. The Asi River originates in Syria and flows through Turkey's Hatay province before spilling into the Mediterranean Sea. During the last visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Syria in December, several protocols and agreements were signed on water (see cooperation protocols on water and irrigation that were prepared earlier in Ankara last 8 December), health, transportation, industry, foreign policy and higher education during the visit. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- A Libyan government delegation recently arrived in Turkey for discussions on the import of 100 million cubic meters of water annually to the North African country. Sources in the Turkish Energy Ministry say if an agreement is reached on the export of Turkish water to Libya, it will preclude the possibility of exporting water at the same time to Israel. According to reports, Libya is planning to buy large quantities of water from the project set up by the Turks on the Manavgat River. The existing equipment at the project is able to load only 100 million cubic meters per year and investing in additional equipment would be extremely costly. Over the past decade, Turkish companies and businessmen have invested some $150 million in the project which has so far not been put into operation.  The governments of the two countries were due to jointly seek shipping companies that could transport the water to Israel. The Water Authority is believed to be in favor of importing water from Turkey, as a supplementary measure to water desalination, despite the high cost involved. However, the Finance Ministry is said to be opposed since the price of imported water would be about 80 cents per cubic meter, as opposed to 50 cents for desalinated water. A Foreign Ministry official in Jerusalem said the two sides had made headway in the negotiations and were currently working on two contracts, one between the governments and the other with the water carrier.  Further information on EMWIS website.

11- Syria is experiencing a severe drought that is jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of families. After a second straight year of poor rainfall, this country in the heart of the fertile crescent is, in places, becoming barren. The supply of potable water is also dwindling, particularly in regions that rely on well water. In response, the UN has issued a drought appeal for about $53 million to address the urgency of the situation. In Salamieh, in the central governorate of Hama, residents once depended on water from the Al Assi River processed through the 1960s-era Al Qantara Hydrostation. They now depend on local wells. As a result of the drought and climate change, well water is now only available at depths of 600 meters. Water from these wells, however, contains contaminants that make it unsafe for drinking. To address the problem, Al Qantara Hydrostation has been refurbished with a reverse osmosis unit. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Housing, the Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the Hama Governorate-with additional funding from UNICEF, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Embassy of Denmark.  Further information on EMWIS website.

12- More than 80% of the ancient Jordan land has been abandoned to the desert, even though in Jordan it takes on the magnificent forms of a land of ochre sand or a lost city hewn from the cliffs of pink sandstone bordered by a sea of salt. In May 2009, the EIB granted Jordan a USD 100m loan to enable it to build a strategic aqueduct to carry water drawn from an immense aquifer beneath the desert. As well as providing financial engineering the EIB made its leading-edge water expertise available to Jordan, underpinning a long-term reform of the country's water policy. The Hashemite Kingdom has launched several emergency plans in efforts to prevent complete desertification. One key element is a gigantic USD 1bn project to build the new aqueduct that will link Disi in the south of the country to Amman. This will tap into an immense reserve of fresh water lying around 500 metres under the Disi desert that was formed drop by drop since the Pleistocene glaciations era. This reserve contains enough drinking water to supply Amman for some fifty years. At present, this precious resource is pumped mainly for irrigation purposes in the middle of the desert, sometimes for very water-intensive crops such as citrus fruit, bananas and tomatoes. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- Jordan's water resources will be depleted by climate change even if the Kingdom witnesses an increase in precipitation, a report launched recently indicated. Climate change will severely impact the quantity of monthly surface water runoff, according to the report, indicating that even if current rainfall amounts remain unchanged, water basins and surface runoff will decrease due to rising temperatures. In the Kingdom's Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), experts noted that even if current rainfall levels increased by 20 per cent, it would not compensate for the water lost due to the expected rise in temperatures. The report, prepared by the Ministry of Environment, is to serve as the foundation for an analysis of the impact of climate change on the country following the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. The report included an assessment of climate change vulnerability and adaptation in various sectors. It indicated that maximum and minimum temperature time series in 19 meteorological stations across the country have shown significant increasing trends over the past 45 years.  Further information on EMWIS website.

14- Israeli NGOs say a planned 40 percent rise in water prices in 2010 will hit the most vulnerable in society hardest. Poor families spend some 100 NIS (US$27) a month on water but will have to spend another 40 NIS ($11) a month after the price increase. The Negev Bedouins, a traditionally pastoral and semi-nomadic Arabic-speaking minority in the Negev desert, southern Israel, are among the poorest people in the country, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, and are expected to be worst affected by the price hike. In Rahat, a Bedouin town in the Negev region, residents said they will have to revert to fetching water from ancient wells. Another resident said it would be like "going back to the dark ages" and warned of severe implications for hygiene. "We will go back to using back yards as toilets as we won't be able to afford to flush our toilets," he said. Some 50,000 people live in Rahat. Over 20,000 are unemployed and some 14,000 rely on welfare assistance, according to local welfare providers. Overall, some 180,000 Bedouins live in the Negev area in both recognized townships and unrecognized villages. Rahat Mayor Faiz Abu-Sabihan said poorer communities such as the Bedouins should receive subsidized water instead of being forced to pay more. ''It is an unnecessary extra burden for the weaker population," he said. Further information on EMWIS website.

15- Israel Desalination Engineering and the Hutchison Group were reported by IsraelNN.com on 15 December 2009 to have been awarded a Shekel 1.8 billion (US$ 475 million) contract to build the Soreq desalination plant near Ashdod. The price per cubic meter of desalinated water in the winning bid was reported to be Shekel 2.19 (US$ 0.58), but, with the linkage mechanism requested by the winner, the price was Shekel 2.01 (US$ 0.53), significantly lower than previous desalination bids. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- The EU has signed new financing agreements with Lebanon, bringing to three the number that enter into force in 2009, worth a total amount of €42 million. The latest agreements were signed by the visiting Director for Europe, Southern Mediterranean, Middle East and Neighbourhood Policy at the EuropeAid Co-operation Office of the European Commission, Marcus Cornaro, in the presence of Prime Minister H.E. Saad Hariri. Among these financing agreements the  Support to local development in Northern Lebanon (€18 million) which will address the poorest region of Lebanon by promoting sustainable development. This project seeks to develop the sectors of agriculture, environment and infrastructure in the North, especially in Akkar. The local population will play an active role in the definition and implementation of priority projects.  Further information on EMWIS website.

17- An initiative between the Travel Foundation and the Moroccan National Tourist Office in January has helped hotels and guest houses in the country save up to a quarter of their average water consumption. Businesses involved in the Every Drop Counts project saved every month the same amount of water used by a local family of six over 30 years - enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.  One year's worth of savings is equivalent to the annual water consumption of a village of 2,000 people. The project gives hotels and guest houses access to expertise and practical help to reduce water consumption, an issue of particular importance for destinations such as Morocco where water resources are limited. As a result, businesses have been able to save between five and 25% of their average water consumption, decrease the number of litres used per guest by up to 20%, and reduce water bills. To date, 46 hotels and 44 guest houses in Marrakesh and Essaouira have been audited, as a first step in the project. Of these, hotels and guest houses representing 1,284 rooms have implemented measures to reduce water consumption such as installing flow reducers, reducing washing and checking for and fixing leaks regularly, whilst others have committed to make changes in the near future. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- The use of water touches at the heart of Mediterranean civilisation, a living memory of society's relationship with its environment.  Yet water heritage is staring extinction in the face, buckling under the pressures of development and demographic change. In the face of this threat, REMEE (Rediscovering Together the Water Heritage in the Mediterranean), a project funded by the European Union as part of the Euro-Med Heritage IV programme, is working to mobilise local communities through activities that aim to restore and raise awareness. Four of the project partners tested ideas in an educational project from 2003 to 2005 which was based on the theme of water preservation in the Mediterranean as part of the Mediterranean Network for Exchange in Environmental Education. This first collaborative project on water in the Mediterranean gave rise to more ideas for greater partnership working on a broader theme and provided the inspiration for the REMEE Project. The hydrological characteristics of the Mediterranean led societies living there to work together at an early stage to develop values, rules and techniques for the protection and distribution of water resources. This is part of a series of features on projects funded by the EU's Regional Programme, prepared by journalists and photographers on the ground or the ENPI Info Centre. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- The issue of water, this vital element in some rarefied corners of the globe, among the major concerns of Tunisia. Moreover, according to the World Bank, the country is a model for water management in the Greater Maghreb. At most, despite the paucity of water resources, the quota per capita is of 480 m3. In the same vein, and part of Tunisia efforts, there is a project for connecting the large waterworks at the north. The work will, in fact, well underway to lead a good command of the operation of water dams. This will, inter alia, the promotion of quality and quantity of water canal of Oued Medjerda. Moreover, to face the challenge of managing water resources, Tunisia has not failed to develop strategies related to maintaining the balance between supply and demand. Thus, two studies were recently completed on the status of water resources in Tunisia 2030 and 2050. These studies are based on planned strategies for dealing with potential climate change and lack of rainfall amounts and ensure the best balance of water resources by adopting both appropriate and effective water management policy. Further information on EMWIS website.

20- Algerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Rachid Benaissa said that the major State's support for agriculture sector in 2010 will go to water conservation and gene pool. The minister, in a national radio broadcast, said the sector will benefit this year of 210 to 220 billion dinars for rural and agricultural revival and to support the activities relating to research and technical assistance. Not only our country has not an important Useful Agricultural Surface (UAS), but there is a water shortage according to experts, he added. We cannot overcome such hindrances through the introduction of the technology relating to water conservation and the rational use of different inputs, or the introduction of technical methods to improve farmers and breeders' productivity, he stressed. Further information on EMWIS website.

21- New restricting measures have been taken to avoid making periodic re-evaluation of major water projects, Algerian Hydraulic Resources Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, said recently. Sellal had stressed that any re-evaluation operation should be limited to 15% of the project, and any re-evaluation exceeding 15% would forcely pass by Ministry Council ratification. On the other hand, An operation relating to the irrigation of the agricultural area of Hennaya (Tlemcen) with treated wastewater was launched recently, in the presence of Minister of Water Resources and that of Agriculture and Rural Development, respectively Abdelmalek Sellal and Rachid Benaissa. The two ministers were given full details on the irrigated area from the wastewater treatment plant of Ain El Houtz. The area, stretching over 912 hectares, is made up of 28 collective and individual agricultural exploitations specialized in citrus fruits, arboriculture, market garden produce and pulses. Further information on EMWIS website

22- The Algerian leading plan of water resources development and the national plan on water examined recently by Council of Ministers envisage the setting up of two planning instruments to guarantee the sector long-term development. The leading plans of water resources development works in the areas of the five existing hydrographical basins agencies. While the national plan on water is based on a consolidation and validation process of water resources development strategies, including transfers among hydrographical basins, and integrating the actions and measures likely to secure sustainable management of water and hydraulic facilities. Further information on EMWIS website.

23- The Centre of Water Studies and Arab Water Security (COWFS), a League of Arab States centre, has organised a workshop last 12-13 January 2010 in Damascus (Syria) to discuss the launch of an Arab Databank for Shared Water Resources. At the end of the workshop, the participants called Arab, regional and international organisations to support the Centre of Water Studies and Arab Water Security both financially and technically to implement the project. Participants stressed the need to accelerate the process of charging specialised organisations to develop a detailed document for the database to contribute to the implementation of the project and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with it, demanding the concerned Arab water ministries to nominate representatives in the technical and legal committees to be created by the COWFS. The workshop recommended the invitation of Arab, regional and international organizations to participate in the work of the technical committees, calling on the Arab ministries of water to provide the centre by water statistics necessary for the database and facilitate the linkage between the Centre and water information centres in Arab countries. EMWIS Technical Unit participated in this workshop, and will be actively involved in the implementation of the project as well as in mobilising its National Focal Points to support it. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- The Arab Water Council (AWC) holds its General Assembly meeting in Cairo during 17-18 December 2009. The meeting agenda included voting for electing the new Board of Governors members for the new ruling period (2010-2012). The 4th meeting of the AWC Board of Governors took place a day before (16/12/2009). At the same time, a start-up workshop on Public Engagement in Water Management took place in Cairo during 15-16 December 2009. The workshop aimed at presenting the project scope and objectives, finalizing the project implementation plans; explaining methodology and coordinating the project activities with related regional work by partner organizations. The project is financed by the World Bank and aims at strengthening the AWC's capacity for assisting stakeholders improve monitoring and evaluation capacity as a tool for strengthening water governance in the Arab World. Further information on EMWIS website.

25- Key water issues including socio-economic and environmental concerns, uncertainty due to climate change as well as conflicts related to shared water resources were at the forefront of discussions of the High-level Partners Meeting on Water Governance, hosted by the League of Arab States.  The Regional Bureau for Arab States of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-RBAS) together with the League of Arab States organized the meeting to mark the official launch of its newest regional initiative, the Water Governance Programme for Arab States (WGP-AS). The programme initiated in January of this year, in Cairo aims to support regional efforts to improve the effective management and use of scarce water resources in Arab States by addressing socio-economic and environmental dimensions of water governance within the integrated water resources management context. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- A new e-Participation project called U@MARENOSTRUM has been started this year. The project is co-funded by the European Commission within the e-Participation Call for Proposals 2008 and aims to involve citizens and local actors (community groups, associations etc.) from the Mediterranean costal zones in decision-making processes with the help of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) and GIS (Geographic Information System). These processes have to do with the adoption and implementation of water and marine environmental protection policies and legislations in the Mediterranean region in accordance with the European Union (EU) environmental legislation. The project will be developed between 1^st of January 2009-31^st of December 2009. The U@MARENOSTRUM project is implementing an internet platform featuring a Participatory GIS, which will capture all the information and the local knowledge on a geographical map. The idea of Participatory GIS revolves around the concept of public participation in the use of spatial data leads to broaden public involvement in policy-planning and decision-making and raise the citizens' awareness on environmental issues. A typical example of use of the platform would be public consultations on draft river basin management plan including program of measures, marine strategies, environment legislation that is essential for sustainable water protection. Trial applications during a period of 14 months will be conducted in 3 end-user locations around the Mediterranean region; namely the Region on Ionian Islands (Greece), the French Riviera (France) and the Region of Valencia (Spain). Three internet platforms will be hosted at the end of August 2009 in the participating regions and will be given a regional ‘look and feel' (including language) to ensure users' participation.  Further information on EMWIS website.

27- School children between the ages of 10 and 15 are being mobilised for the safeguard of water heritage in the Mediterranean through an Educational Programme implemented by the EU-funded REMEE project. REMEE (Rediscovering Together the Water Heritage in the Mediterranean), a project under the EuroMed Heritage IV programme, has initiated ‘Young Actors for Water Heritage' during the 2009/10 school year. It will see experts initiate children in six Mediterranean countries - Algeria, France, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey - to discover their water heritage and learn about the issues related to the management of this resource. The programme will involve about 100 pupils in each country in classroom and field activities. At the end of the programme, they will prepare an exhibition of their work in order to share their knowledge with their families and the broader public in their area. Themes to be tackled include: built heritage (mills, fountains, draining galleries, tanks, karsts, etc.); traditional skills and techniques for the management of water resources (irrigation and conservation methods, traditional fishing, etc.); and various oral traditions (tales, songs, languages, expressions, toponymy...) associated with water both in farming and in urban centres. Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which reliable water services can be delivered. Essentially, demographic growth, rapidly growing urban areas and economic development are putting unprecedented pressure on water, especially in arid regions. FAO, with the contribution of the Italian Cooperation, is going to develop an integrated package of technical and policy assistance guides to provide countries with a comprehensive methodology for assessing, analyzing and reporting on the use of scarce water resources. Coping with water scarcity - the role of agriculture provides a detailed assessment of agricultural water use, including its productivity, its value-in-use, and its efficiency during the water use process, gave the countries handles to adapt their water policy and improve their water management in the future through strategic interventions to increase their capacity to cope with water scarcity .The project is organized in three phases: the first, the comprehensive framework is to provide decision- and policy-making bodies with approaches and principles and a general framework upon which to formulate development strategies and monitor their implementation. Phase two focuses on "the development of national water audits", Phase three will deal with strengthening countries' national capacities to cope with water scarcity. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- Intensive irrigation of agricultural land in a Mediterranean water basin is altering the habitats of associated wetlands and changing the balance of the bird population living there, according to a recent study. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon is located in the Southeast of Spain. Inland there are an associated series of wetlands of ecological interest, protected by the Natura 2000 Network. The habitats of the wetlands are predominantly dry grasslands (salt steppes), but also include sandy areas, salt marshes and reedbeds. Agriculture is the main use of the land in the Mar Menor watershed, which drains into the lagoon: over the last few decades the area under irrigation has increased substantially. Drainage from agricultural sources enters the lagoon by two main routes: directly via surface outlets and diffusely via under-surface flow through the surrounding wetlands. Steppe birds are the key species which also support the designation of the wetlands as a Specially Protected Area (SPA) under the Birds' Directive. Since birds are good indicators of agricultural impacts, the researchers analysed how steppe birds have been affected by agricultural changes in the watershed. Between 1984 and 2008, bird surveys were carried out (not including aerial feeders and raptors) in one of the wetlands (Marina del Carmolí). Further information on EMWIS website

30- It has became a common conclusion for both environmentalists and "green economists" alike that any breakthrough in commitment to environmental remediation will only be economically feasible when the evidence is conclusive that the cost of remediation is less than the cost of inaction, and that economic benefits can arise from investing in environmental management options.  One of the most effective tools used by economists and environmentalists in the last few years is the Cost of Environmental Degradation (COED) analysis. The World Bank has conducted 7 studies of the COED on Arab countries. The country with the most severe ratio of environmental is Egypt with 4.8% of GDP totaling a staggering amount of 4.280 billion US $. Both Morocco and Algeria are next with a ratio of 3.7% and 3.6% loss to GDP based on environmental degradation. Mashreq countries come next with Syria (3.5%), Lebanon (3.4%) and Jordan (205 million US $ for 3.1% of GDP). The country with the best environmental performance was Tunisia, losing only 2.1% of its GDP to environmental degradation. Such figures provide a crucial economic estimate of the cost of unchecked environmental degradation and help policy makers to appreciate the need for integrating environmental concerns in planning to help prevent environmental losses before they turn into burdens. Further information on EMWIS website.

31- With the launch of this strategic partnership, UNESCO-IHE and the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) will work on UNESCO-IHE's Waters & Society Programme, on the World Water Development Report of the United Nations and on the follow-up of the outcomes of World Water Forum 5. WfWP and UNESCO-IHE were co-convenors of Topic 6.1 'Education and Capacity Development Strategies' at the World Water Forum, at which their creative approach in highlighting the issues drew many accolades. The strategic partnership is intended to broaden the joint efforts towards inclusion of gender issues and women's empowerment in the water and sanitation sectors. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- The Spanish coast is a popular destination for tourists. A recent study has assessed the sustainability of tourism in these areas and the results can be used to guide future planning decisions. This study focused on developing sustainability indicators for established coastal destinations in Spain, using a method which could be applied to resorts in other countries. Sustainability indicators can be used to track changes by selecting key measures that summarise the state of the environment. These indicators are useful to evaluate tourist destinations and to help planners design suitable policies based on diversity, quality and sustainability.  These global indicators suggest that the best destinations combine high sustainability conditions in waste and water management, safe beaches and lower ratios of peak season tourists to local residents because the tourist season is spread throughout the year. Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Nearly 200 scientists from more than 30 countries gathered at ESA’s EO for Water Cycle Science Conference held at the agency’s Earth Observation Centre (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy, 18-20 November, to assess the state-of-the-art instruments and scientific developments used in characterising global water cycle variability and to identify the main needs in modelling and data assimilation to improve our knowledge of water cycle science and our ability to quantify future changes in water cycle variables. The Vienna University of Technology presented its work aiming to develop the first global multi-decade soil moisture data set merging passive and activate microwave sensors. The project also explores advanced clouds and water vapour synergic products. This project, as well as the conference results, represents an ESA contribution to support the international coordination effort carried out by GEWEX to better understand, characterise and forecast the global water cycle. Earlier this year, ESA launched, as part of its new Support To Science Element programme, the Water Cycle Multi-Mission Observation Strategy (WACMOS) project in collaboration with GEWEX to support the development of novel techniques to study the water cycle with satellites. WACMOS aims to develop the first global map of evapotranspiration. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- Last 11 December, the European Commission and the European Water Partnership signed a contract to start the INNOWATER project. INNOWATER, an innovation partnership to promote better innovation support tools and delivery mechanisms in sustainable water and wastewater, will start its activities on February 1st 2010 in The Netherlands, Denmark, Cyprus, Spain and the UK. One of the most important challenges Europe will face in the 21st Century are its water challenges, which threaten its sustainable development and economic growth and have a large effect on health issues around the continent. Europe has most instruments in place to address the challenges, but their effective implementation is lacking. This fact also clearly holds true for the implementation of new and innovative technologies. This is the gap INNOWATER will address, by establishing and implementing a water innovation partnership that develops and tests new and better innovation support tools and delivery mechanisms for innovative SME's and first user industries.  INNOWATER is supported by the European Commission Europe Innova programme. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- An innovative water treatment system which uses filters with nano-sized holes could help the international community increase the number of people with access to safe drinking water. A new study shows the technology has been successfully applied in rural areas of South America and Africa.  Spanish researchers have developed a filtering system, which aims to design a low cost, automated water treatment system that can be used in developing countries. The system has been tested at lab and pilot scale, as well as for three years in rural communities in Ecuador and Mozambique, where water supplies are highly contaminated. They suggest the system could be used in areas which lack the financial and structural investment for large, centralised treatment systems. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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36- Ahmad Masadeh appointed secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM): Jordan's ambassador to the EU, Belgium, Norway and Luxembourg since 2006, was appointed secretary general of the nascent Union for the Mediterranean Tuesday, 12 January 2010. This decision was referred to the foreign ministers of the UfM for a final endorsement within a period of two weeks in order to enable the new secretary general to start his job at the union's secretariat headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, no later than the middle of Februay. In a speech following his selection, Masadeh thanked all the UfM member states for his selection to this prestigious international post. He stressed that establishing the secretariat opens a new page for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and cements the principles and values that are at the core of the union. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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69- "ENPI-MED CBC: call for strategic projects announced": The Joint Management Authority announced that the call for proposal on strategic projects for Cross-Boarder Cooperation in the Mediterranean will be launched during the second semester 2010. These projects will involve a minimum of four partners representing four different countries, of which at least one EU Mediterranean Country and one Mediterranean Partner Country. Their budget range from a minimum of € 2 million up to a maximum of € 5 million. Budget annonced for this call about € 37 million. Water management will be one of the priority topics with 2 sub-themes: i) Quantity and quality of supply, with a focus on alternative water supplies and wastewater re-use; ii) Efficient use of water resources, with a focus on agricultural use. The following partner countries have signed a Financing Agreement with the European Commission : - Egypt - Israel - Jordan - Lebanon - Palestinian Authority - Syria - Tunisia.These countries are now fully eligible to receive Programme funds. All the Financing Agreements have been countersigned by the Joint Managing Authority. Further information on EMWIS website.

70- Service forecast notice for Support Mechanism for sustainable water management and Mediterranean de-pollution programme: A restricted individual service contract forecast for the Support Mechanism for the Sustainable Water Management and De-Pollution of the Mediterranean programme has been announced by EuropeAid, under the publication reference EuropeAid/129399/C/SER/MULTI. The purposes are: to draw the attention of Mediterranean Partner Countries' decision-makers and stakeholders to existing and forthcoming threats to water resources, to the necessity to adopt a more appropriate water consumption and water use model, as well as to the existence of solutions to tackle the problem; to support Partner Countries in designing and implementing sustainable water management policies at national and local levels, in liaison with existing international initiatives in the area concerned; to contribute to ensuring institutional reinforcement and the development of the necessary planning and management skills, in line with Horizon 2020 objectives, and facilitate transfer of know how. These project purposes will be pursued with a view to addressing the four interlinked issues referred to in the new Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean: water governance, water and climate change, water financing and water demand management. The indicative maximum budget, funded under the ENPI South programme, is €7 million. The intended timing of publication of the procurement notice is January 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

71- "Water competitions for all" call for projects: For the second consecutive year, the SUEZ ENVIRONMENT Foundation - WATER FOR ALL, based at the Institute of France, launched the competition "Water for All". It aims to develop projects promoting the improvement, development and professionalization of urban services of water and sanitation in developing countries. Two prizes will be awarded in May 2010 in Paris: - Grand Prize, awarded a sum of 100 000 EUR, - Special Prize, awarded a sum of 30 000 EUR. The call for applications is open till December 15, 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

72- Algeria: Call for proposals for twinning "Strengthening the capacity of the Algerian des Eaux (ADE EP) to improve its quality control of water distributed by networks". The overall objective of the twinning is to contribute to improving public health in Algeria and quality of water distributed. The specific objective is to strengthen the capacity of Algerian  des Eaux (ADE EP) to improve the quality of water distributed through its networks. Maximum project duration: 18 months. Total amount available for this call for proposals: EUR 900,000. The deadline for receipt of proposals to match the contracting authority by the national contact points is set for March 15, 2010 at 18:00 local time. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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TRAINING
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79- "The MSc IWRM: A bi-cultural Master program":  has the objective to form such experts and to promote the concept of IWRM in the context of German-Arab cooperation. Application deadline extended till March 01st 2010 (postal stamp). The overall objective is to educate experts in the field of Integrated Water Resource Management who are high on demand for leading positions in the water sector and are able to manage complex projects for international institutions and companies operating in the Arabic region. The participants receive a double degree Master of Science »Integrated Water Resources Management«, issued by the Cologne University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jordan. Further information on EMWIS website.

80- The International Development Research Center-Canada (IDRC), through a scoping survey across the MENA region carried out by the WaDImena project, identified the need for human and institutional capacity building to successfully implement more balanced water policies that incorporate both supply and demand management approaches.  The Arab Water Academy (AWA), recently established as a regional centre of excellence for executive water education, is aiming through its capacity building programs to accelerate the shift from a focus on supply augmentation and direct service provision to one of integrated water management and service regulation.The program will target managers and seniors professionals from ministries, government agencies, water utilities, private sector organizations, the academia and NGOs. Participants in the first regional training will be from: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. The first three learning events are scheduled as follows: • 5-7 January 2010: Regional course, Arab Water Academy, UAE • 3-5 February 2010: 1st national exchange platform, Morocco • 1-3 March 2010: 2nd national exchange platform, Egypt. Further information on EMWIS website.

81- Registration is open for the next Water Footprint Training Course. Period: 16-18 February 2010. Place: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands. Further information on EMWIS website.

82- UNESCO-PCCP and UNESCO-IHE to organize two short courses on water conflict and management: Negotiation and Mediation for Water Conflict Management I to be held from 8-26 February 2010; Negotiation and Mediation for Water Conflict Management II to be held from 1-19 March 2010, in The Hague (The Netherlands). Further information on EMWIS website.