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DAM-L IUCN launches new strategy: Global Action to Improve Dams (fwd)



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Date: Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:08:55 -0600
Subject: IUCN launches new strategy: Global Action to Improve Dams
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Right to Water (right-to-water@iatp.org)    Posted: 11/06/2001  By  svarghese@iatp.org	
============================================================



IUCN launches new strategy: Global Action to Improve Dams

Gland, Switzerland (IUCN): IUCN - The World Conservation Union approved a
Strategy for policy change and local action that will promote and implement
the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams (WCD) for sustainable
water resources and energy development.

During the 1990s, dam construction amounted to US$ 39 billion per year and,
currently, there are 1700 dams under construction of which almost 500 in
Brazil and over 700 in India. Dams have brought energy and water supply for
many, but have also displaced downstream communities (40 - 80 million
people) and caused environmental damage. Twenty per cent of fish species has
become extinct due to the fragmentation of rivers.

The report of the WCD, published in November 2000, offers principles and
guidelines for the decision-making process for dams and improvement of their
performance. The IUCN Strategy takes these recommendations to
(inter)national policy and local action. It is to ensure that dams are
planned, constructed and operated in consultation with all stakeholders and
that environmental damage is avoided. "The Strategy will help stakeholders
to examine all options for development and, when dams are the best option,
to avoid the problems we have seen in the past", says Yolanda Kakabadse,
President of IUCN.

The Strategy follows the IUCN Statement on the WCD Report, the result of a
thorough review of the WCD report by representatives from Governments,
industry and civil society and experts with a variety of scientific
backgrounds. They concluded: "The WCD Report is a major step in the debate
on energy supplies and water resources development, and dams more
specifically"; and: "IUCN believes that the recommendations must be used in
good faith and to the largest extent possible."

This positive review led to the commitment to implement the findings of the
WCD where it relates to IUCN's mandate on biodiversity, sustainable
development and multi-stakeholder dialogues. At the same time, IUCN calls
upon all parties involved in the WCD process, including the World Bank, to
do the same. "Financiers, builders and planners must work with the WCD
report. Especially the World Bank can do more on sustainable energy and
infrastructure development. We believe that the forthcoming Water Resources
Sector Strategy of the Bank must reflect its commitment to implement the WCD
recommendations", says Director General Achim Steiner.

The Strategy will promote discussion and application of the WCD
recommendations by Governments, financing institutions, donor agencies, the
private sector, and non-governmental organisations. It will also implement
ecological rehabilitation projects in many rivers where the ecosystem is
affected by the construction of dams, such as the Logone river (Cameroon),
Senegal river (Mauritania), and the Zambezi river (Southern Africa). "IUCN
will collaborate with all committed stakeholders to avoid or mitigate the
impacts of dams on biodiversity and livelihoods. Where rivers have been
damaged, IUCN will help to restore them", says Jean-Yves Pirot, Co-ordinator
of the IUCN Wetlands and Water Resources Programme.

Measures to mitigate or reverse the damage to downstream ecosystems and the
livelihoods of local communities are available. The example of the Senegal
river in Mauritania shows how fishers saw their annual catches decline to 10
tons because of a dam, and then increase to 110 tons after the introduction
of artificial floods by IUCN and its national partners.

Finally, the experiences of measures that mitigate adverse impacts will be
used to develop tools for the design and operation of dams. For instance,
the question how much water is needed by the downstream ecosystem to sustain
biodiversity and livelihoods will be examined and tools for public
participation in planning will be developed.

The example of Bujagali dam in Uganda shows that a different approach can
avoid some of the adverse affects. The dam is being redesigned in
consultation with all stakeholders and displaced communities are to receive
full compensation. A review showed the project to be compliant with the
guidelines of the WCD and the project is less contentious than other dams
under construction, which show serious and at times violent conflicts.

The foreseen investment for the Strategy over the coming years is US$ 15
million, US$ 5 million of which has been secured from various sources,
including the IUCN Water & Nature Initiative.

More information
Mr. Elroy Bos
Tel +41.22.999.0251
Fax +41.22.999.0025
Elroy.Bos@iucn.org

A copy of the IUCN Statement on the World Commission on Dams report and the
IUCN Strategy on Dams are available from Elroy.Bos@iucn.org or
http://iucn.org/themes/wetlands/WCD.html.

The WCD Report is available from http://www.dams.org and
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/







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