May Edition
In this second edition of our monthly LinkedIn newsletter, we bring to you a small summary of the many things that happened around Water Science Policy; and we wouldn't want you to miss any of it... so buckle up!
During the month of May we featured communities globally come together to tackle water scarcity, protect oceans, improve wastewater treatment, ensure clean water access, empower marginalised groups, address climate change impacts, and revolutionise marine conservation. Collaboration and innovation play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future for all.
But that's just some of the articles and photostories that we published. This organisation is so much more; and it mostly involves the people behind it and the partnerships made with others to spread the word at a global scale. Some of these include the very first WSP workshop/retreat and working alongside old friends like the Somos OceanoS team.
Altogether, this wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the people involved with us, such as our translators, editors or fundraiser/proposal writers. Everything you can't miss in detail below. Just grab your glasses, make yourself a cup of coffee and start reading ; )
The Paper Park Index: A game-changer in evaluating marine protected areas
Let’s face it, the world is not going to achieve 30% of the ocean protected by 2030. Especially not after considering the latest work of Veronica Relano , one of our members, that classifies 1 in 4 Marine Protected Areas as ineffective and likely ‘paperparks’.
Together with Daniel Pauly and their team at The University of British Columbia Veronica set out to evaluate the real levels of protection that an MPA offers, introducing the Paper Park Index (PPI) as a tool to evaluate MPA effectiveness through stakeholder perceptions.
Evaluating the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas and their contribution to biodiversity preservation has always been a challenging, approximate science.?
But with the PPI there is a fresh and tangible perspective on conservation outcomes and MPA effectiveness. By incorporating stakeholder input, it offers a more comprehensive evaluation of real protection levels within these vital areas. This approach opens new avenues for enhancing marine conservation efforts and achieving global targets.
This study was originally published via Marine Policy and was supported by the Oak Foundation , Marisla Foundation, MAVA Foundation , Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies .
Read more - Available in:
From Cape Town to Santa Cruz: How people helped build water resilience
Droughts?are of increasing concern to cities, growing in intensity and frequency. Although dams and reservoirs are critical to ensure water supply to cities as rainfall becomes more erratic, soft infrastructure and behavior change are just as important.
? In Cape Town, the Water Resilience Advisory Committee (WRAC) helped address the city’s water crisis by bringing in external expertise and transparency to water governance.
? In Santa Cruz, California, the Water Supply Advisory Committee (WSAC) handed over plans for the city’s water supply to a group of citizens that provided solutions for managing water.
Thank you?Gina Ziervogel?and?360info?for sharing this informative article about impactful practices.
Read more - Available in:
We are oceans (Somos OceanoS)
In January 2022, a team of young?water?and ocean professionals ventured to the remote community of San Antonio in Patagonia, Argentina. The project was part of?Veronica Relano’s PhD research. The science-communication project involved data collection, the production of a documentary, and roundtables and movie nights with locals.
Many organisations came together to fund this initiative, highlighting the power of partnerships in creating new opportunities; these partners include?The University of British Columbia,?Saint Mary's University, the Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Fundación Azara, Fundación Inalafquen, and?Water Science Policy.
The Somos OceanoS (SOS) project demonstrates the importance of community engagement and collective knowledge in managing natural resources. The approach aims to inspire change in other coastal communities through partnerships and collaboration.
Read more - Available in:
Switzerland: Where improved wastewater treatment protects aquatic organisms
Must we raise the bar when it comes to wastewater treatment? Micropollutants, such as those found in pharmaceuticals and personal care products can have far-reaching effects on aquatic organisms that are still not fully understood. These chemicals can impact streams and lake ecosystems, and ultimately reach the ocean where their role in the disruption of marine food chains is only just being unravelled.?
Switzerland introduced advanced?wastewater?treatment to reduce the release of?micropollutants. Ozonation combined with additional post-treatment improves the quality of treated wastewater as measured with a variety of bioassays.
Read more - Available in:
How Ranontsika is bringing safe drinking water to Malagasy Communities
Ranontsika?is an NGO based in Madagascar that is transforming access to safe drinking water in remote areas.
Through their innovative approach of setting up water kiosks and partnering with key stakeholders, Ranontsika is making a tangible impact on the lives of over 30,000 people in Madagascar. Moreover, their water analysis lab ensures that the water is of the highest quality.
Additionally, Ranontsika has launched vital programs such as "Water in School," promoting access to clean water for young students, and has collaborated with NGOs to provide much-needed clean water to sickle cell anemia patients.
Thanks to?1001fontaines?we can learn more about water related issues in Madagascar through their story and photography.
Read more - Available in:
领英推荐
Treating septage and stigma: How Odisha is empowering women and transgender communities
Exciting news from Odisha! The Odisha Government is making great strides in tackling sanitation challenges by partnering with communities, utilizing self-help groups to manage septage, promoting safe practices, and harnessing the power of art to raise awareness.
But that's not all. What makes their approach truly exceptional is their commitment to empowering transgender communities in the WASH sector. Odisha has successfully redefined the identity of the transgender community, setting an inspiring example of creating livelihoods and an inclusive sanitation model for the entire country.
Thank you?G Mathi Vathanan,?p k mohapatra?Suryabarti Majhi,?Pragyal Singh?Sarith Sasidharan?Elisa Patnaik?Rasmirekha Biswal
Read more - Available in:
The sinking city: Alexandria’s race against climate change
The Pearl of the Mediterranean, Alexandria, is grappling with a disheartening reality: its slow descent into the sea. This distressing phenomenon has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the city's borders. It is also a future that many cities around the world are facing.
As seawater seeps into the fertile delta, the risk of saline contamination looms over Egypt's most productive agricultural region. With over 90% of the country being a desert, this could have devastating effects.
Photographer?John Wreford?has skillfully captured the essence of Alexandria’s crumbling coast.
Read more - Available in:
Other things you might have missed...
First Water Science Policy Workshop / Retreat
The team spent the beggining of the month in the Alps on the first-ever WSP workshop/retreat with a group of eight people representing eight different nationalities. They all work towards WSP's vision of building more bridges across borders to improve water supply, sanitation and the environment for all. This time while logging a few hikes and drinks.
Being May the 9th, we couldn't think of a better way to, nearly coincidentally, honor Robert Schuman's commitment to unity and collaboration.
Whether it's through travel, work, or simply meeting a bunch of friends with different backgrounds to develop your project, let's strive to build bridges and create a more united, equitable and inclusive world.
Legends in the pictures are?Athéna?s Georges,?Lama Ranjous,?Kseniia Goniaeva,?Ivana ?ekovi? E?kenazi,?#lindaloca,?Chris Fischer,?#pol,?Franti?ek Ficek
Exciting news!
After producing the “El pueblo es el mar” documentary last year in San Antonio, Patagonia, Argentina, our colleagues?Veronica Relano?Kseniia Goniaeva?Chris Fischer?Ana Julia Leon?Jose Reyeros Sanchez?are currently in Mexico shooting another one! The second documentary will be taking place in the Espíritu Santo Island Complex, Baja California, Mexico.
The Somos OceanoS (SOS) project demonstrates the importance of community engagement and collective knowledge in managing natural resources. The approach aims to inspire change in other coastal communities through partnerships and collaboration. Besides the documentary, the SOS project includes research, educational activities for children and exhibitions - all to help protect and celebrate cultural heritage and marine ecosystems, communicate local and traditional knowledge to a global audience, identify problems and offer possible solutions.
Working with AMCOW
This spring we had the honour to work with the?African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW)?on the?African Union's Africa Water and Sanitation Report. The report is based on both analytical work and countries’ self-assessments. It presents unique insights into the local state of the water and sanitation affairs.
Many team members contributed to the production but the heaviest bulk of work was done by our amazing graphic design warrior?Kseniia Goniaeva, responsible for GIS and the graphic identity of the report.
It’s hard to summarise so many pages in a LinkedIn post, so you’ll have to read it for yourself. In short, while plenty of progress has been made, many systemic issues like lack of financing, or sector governance are slowing down progress on the way to universal access to Water and Sanitation services in Africa. They must be addressed if Africa is to reach Sustainable Development Goal 6 and related SDGs. All the better that there’s a few actionable suggestions in the report to do exactly that.
However, who has time for a full report? Close to no one, unfortunately! So, we also prepared a video accompanying the report that explains the most important points. Read up here
Meet some of May's featured WSP members:
Let's give a big shoutout to?Muhil Nesi, one of?Water Science Policy’s most active editor and writer. Muhil has been working tirelessly for the past two years to bring us quality content - primarily based on the world class science done at?Eawag!
We're so grateful for all the hard work and dedication she's put into making our articles shine. And let's not forget about the amazing graphic art she created along the way - it truly brought the articles to life! We are incredibly grateful for her creativity and talent.
Muhil, your team thinks you are competent, reliable, and an overall fantastic person to work with. Thank you for everything you do and best of luck during your new PhD chapter at?Utrecht University.
See some of the work she’s done in collaboration with Eawag here
Athéna?s Georges?is one of the volunteer?translators?for the German and French languages, for which we are sincerely grateful. Her passion for languages, knowledge about water topics, and overall great spirit have not gone unnoticed.
By expressing her dedication to?Water Science Policy, her role has changed, and she has seamlessly transitioned into the Assistant Fundraiser/Proposal Writer role. We look forward to continuing our journey together! See some of her work here
You're now up to date. Thanks for reading!
Visit watersciencepolicy.com | More Water Science Policy here | Follow us on: