Arid Lands Newsletter (link)No. 51, May/June 2002
Using geospatial technologies to understand dryland dynamics

Selected news of interest

compiled by Katherine Waser

 

RE-Source Award for Sustainable Watershed Management

Swiss Re, one of the world's major reinsurers, has launched the RE-Source Award for Sustainable Watershed Management in order to support and encourage water-related initiatives. The RE-Source Award is worth USD 100 000 in total and is granted to one or several projects selected by Swiss Re's jury (an independent international panel of watershed experts from NGOs and governmental institutions as well as some knowledge managers from Swiss Re). Launched in spring 2002, it aims to become an internationally recognized prize for leadership in implementing the principles of sustainability in watershed management. Submissions for this year's entry are due by 31 August 2002. The winner(s) of the award will be announced in January/February 2003.

Swiss Re is looking for projects which genuinely seek to contribute to raising awareness of the ecological, social and economic significance of water sources. Such projects should be based on transferable concepts and thus enable sustained efforts to be made to protect the quality and availability of (drinking) water in other locations. The award is to be used exclusively for project implementation.

NGOs, scientific institutions, private-public-partnerships and similar bodies are invited to participate in the tender for the RE-Source Award for Sustainable Watershed Management. Those players with strong links to the local communities of regions where water sources are located are particularly encouraged to take part. No more than one project may be submitted by an institution/organization/partnership/participant. Participants are asked to provide proven track records in sustainability and in project planning and/or management in the specific field of water and source management.

Further details are available on the Swiss Re web site, http://www.swissre.com/, or contact:
Corporate Sponsoring
Swiss Reinsurance Company
Claude R. Etique
Mythenquai 50/60
CH - 8022 Zurich
Email: Claude_Etique@swissre.com

Upcoming conferences of interest

III Simposio Internacional Sobre la Flora Silvestre en ZONAS ARIDAS (III International Symposium on Wild Plants in Arid Zones)
9-11 October 2002
Hermosillo, Mexico

The objectives of this Spanish-language Symposium are to promote awareness of current and possible future research on arid zone flora; define strategies for future research and development of products from such plants; promote interactions among all potential stakeholders, as well as the involvement of the official sector in such research and development; and promote the formation of an international association of researchers in this area. Major themes of the Symposium include taxonomy and ethnobotany; ecology and conservation; phytochemistry of wild plants; and agronomy of arid lands plants. For more information, contact:
Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (DICTUS)
Rosales y Niños Héroes S/N
A.P. 1819
C.P. 83000
Hermosillo, Sonora
Mexico
http://www.uson.mx/eventos/eventos/evento8-dictus.shtml
M.C. Magdalena Ortega Nieblas
President, Organizing Committee
mortega@guayacan.uson.mx


First International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management
18-22 November 2002
Monterrey, Mexico

The objective of this symposium is to review the main issues involved in the management of transboundary basins and aquifers with an integrated scope. Water quantity and water quality management, as well as aspects related to agricultural and industrial development, forests and fisheries, will be considered. Social, economic, political and education issues will also be included. Several experts have been invited to give keynote speeches dealing with different topics related to transboundary waters management. Further details can be found at the Symposium web site, http://www.TransboundaryWatersMexico.org; or contact:
Dr. Javier Aparicio
email: aparicio@tlaloc.imta.mx

Second South Asia Water Forum
17-19 December 2002
Islamabad, Pakistan

Organized by the Pakistan Water Partnership. Topics include: groundwater in South Asia; resources assessment and planning; recharging aquifers; groundwater institutions; demand management; dams; groundwater, poverty, and IWRM; and gender. For more information, contact:
Mr Karamat Ali
Secretary, Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP)
638-WAPDA House, The Mall
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42 9202226; Mobile: +92-3000 8414923
Fax: +92-42 9202485
E-mail: s.pwp@cgiar.org
Web: http://www.gwpforum.org/servlet/PSP?iNodeID=204&itemId=2622

 

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