Posted on 16 November
2011
Water, energy or food.
Which would you pick to do without?
None of them, of course.
All three are essential to our well-being.
They are the foundation of our societies
and the lifeblood of our economies. They
are also closely linked, and as we focus
on one, too often we overlook the implications
for the others.
This week in Bonn, Germany,
representatives from governments, businesses
and organizations like WWF will meet to
discuss the “nexus”: the link between water,
energy and food.
Under the auspices of
the German government, the “Bonn2011 Conference:
The Water Energy and Food Security Nexus
– Solutions for the Green Economy” is intended
to develop policy solutions to improve the
management of natural resources to meet
the needs of a growing global population.
“Agencies and organizations
have been working on water, energy and food
security for decades. But, for the most
part, we have treated them like distinct
issues, and that has held up progress,”
said WWF International Director General
Jim Leape.
If we are going to get back within the ecological
limits of our planet and fulfill the rights
and aspirations of billions of people who
lack access to clean water, sufficient energy
and nutritious food, we have to take a different
approach. This conference is about capitalizing
on the connection between water, energy
and food, and developing policies that yield
benefits across all three.
Specifically, WWF asks governments and businesses
to: Govern and manage water according to
natural rather than political boundaries,
and within the framework of integrated,
participatory river basin management.
Invest in integrated programming between
freshwater conservation and water, sanitation
and hygiene.
Protect and restore freshwater ecosystems
so they can sustain biodiversity and the
functions that are vital for human health,
livelihoods, well-being and security
Mitigate cities’ water footprint, increase
urban resilience to climate change and variability,
and reduce water risks in urban settings
Increase efficiency in the food system by
reducing waste in the production and distribution
of food
Promote alternative consumption patterns,
including more balanced diets that are less
rich in meat, fish and dairy in high-income
countries
Reduce the footprint of agriculture by making
sustainable food production central to development
and encouraging the treatment and re-use
of wastewater for agricultural purposes
Adopt, enforce and comply with laws, regulations,
policies and standards on sustainable hydropower
Introduce fiscal policy and incentives to
drive private investment in renewable, reliable
and sustainable energy supplies in developing
countries.
+ More
Romania takes steps
to protect 250,000 ha of virgin forests
Posted on 15 November
2011
Bucharest, Romania - Three weeks after the
launch of WWF’s campaign to save Romania’s
virgin forests, a ministerial commitment
has been secured to put Romania’s most important
and valuable forests under protection. On
a visit to Sinca forest near Brasov today,
the Minister of Environment and Forests
Mr. Laszlo Borbely could see how the lack
of legislation meant that trees in virgin
forest were cut down legally. Earlier the
minister had committed to visiting virgin
forest areas with WWF to analyze the situation
on the ground.
“By the end of the year we hope to finalize
the legislative act which will put all our
virgin forests under protection”, said Laszlo
Borbely. “Virgin forests are pure treasure,
especially for those who recognize their
important role”.
The minister later clarified
that Romania will have around 100 million
Euro from EU funds to compensate private
forest owners.
Within the coming weeks a Memorandum of
understanding between WWF and the Ministry
of Environment and Forests will be signed
which will stipulate what actions will be
taken to ensure legal protection of Romania’s
most important forests.
According to the minister, a new evaluation
of virgin forests in Romania will be carried
out by the middle of 2012, replacing the
now outdated 2003 study.
Over 65,000 signatures
“In the space of only three weeks, together
with our partners, our campaign managed
to raise over 65,000 signatures and a huge
public interest in the state of our virgin
forests”, said Magor Csibi, Country Manager
of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme in
Romania. “Virgin forests have become a hot
topic in Romania. Today we see the light
at the end of the tunnel for the first time.
A Memorandum of understanding with the authorities
would guarantee that the problem will be
solved. Today we received a first commitment,
and we hope that we will be able to finalize
the agreement soon”.
250,000 hectares of virgin forests in Romania
are awaiting protection according to the
“Save the virgin forests!” campaign launched
by WWF on 24 October. The campaign is seeking
protection for over 80% of Romania’s virgin
forests, which are currently left unprotected.
Virgin or old growth
forests are untouched by humans, the last
places where nature survives in its pure
state. They are wonderful complex systems
where seedlings, young, mature and old trees
are interspersed by very large, old live,
imposing trees. Dead trees and decaying
logs are just as important as the living
trees, building up together an environment
that is home for many different flora and
fauna. Romania’s virgin forests are home
to up to 13,000 species.
More vulnerable than
ever
Virgin forests have survived because of
their inaccessibility and the low economic
value of the wood coming from the old trees.
However, today virgin forests are more vulnerable
than ever because of socio-economic pressures
in Romania. These include the ever increasing
demand for wood and the challenges of managing
small patches of forests in a business way.
Over the past few decades,
virgin forests have disappeared in the developed
countries. Romania’s virgin forests represent
up to 65% of the virgin forests still remaining
in Europe, outside of Russia. They are an
important part of Europe’s natural patrimony
and were lost mostly due to bad management.
Their scientific, educational, and ecological
value is undisputed.
