Surface Freshwater Community of Practice http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net These are the search results for the query, showing results 1 to 15. Zabaikalsky National Park http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/surface-freshwater-gef-iw-projects/8e1906b56dbe1bbf60145a075edae0c3 Meeting in Zabaikalsky National Park On 28 July, 2012 a meeting between the Project manager Sergey Kudelya and Director of Zabaikalsky National Park Michael Ovdin. The areas of cooperation were identified and joint action plan was discussed during the meeting.

]]> No publisher Taya 2013-03-01T10:31:37Z Feed Item Yunnan tops in China for wetland biodiversity http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/watershed-connect/c55bf8d73b2c11ccd4c68a2b90eb0c5f No publisher Stefano Barchiesi 2014-07-16T10:22:13Z Feed Item Yoshino River : Japan’s water policies have been revised and adapted over the past 60 years in response to changing needs http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/rivers-network/639b2e39369c6a34a2faa6b9cde8028a The Yoshino River flows through Shikoku Island in southeastern Japan. The Yoshino River Basin Management Plan of 1966 was one of the first such efforts in Asia and the Pacific region. It was formulated through consultations held with local stakeholders, including riparian residents in Tokushima on the east of Shikoku Island, upstream residents of Kochi on its southern coast, and transboundary water users in Ehime and Kagawa on its northern side.

The Yoshino River flows through Shikoku Island in southeastern Japan. The Yoshino River Basin Management Plan of 1966 was one of the first such efforts in Asia and the Pacific region. It was formulated through consultations held with local stakeholders, including riparian residents in Tokushima on the east of Shikoku Island, upstream residents of Kochi on its southern coast, and transboundary water users in Ehime and Kagawa on its northern side.

]]> No publisher admin 2013-09-05T13:31:52Z Feed Item Yom river : Thailand’s inclusive approach ensures effective and innovative basin management through stakeholder participation http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/rivers-network/21dc1957a467a120765bb624c58d93e5 Plans to build a dam on the Yom River of Thailand have caused disputes between water users and communities living in the basin. In 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, with support from the Asian Development Bank, launched a collaborative integrated water resources management initiative that focused on participatory processes for the management of the Yom River Basin.

Plans to build a dam on the Yom River of Thailand have caused disputes between water users and communities living in the basin. In 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, with support from the Asian Development Bank, launched a collaborative integrated water resources management initiative that focused on participatory processes for the management of the Yom River Basin.

]]> No publisher admin 2013-09-05T13:31:52Z Feed Item Yellow river : The PRC’s extensive water management framework extends vertically and horizontally from the central government to its townships and villages http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/rivers-network/1829b54b6a49c618157975bb3c80c796 The Yellow River – the second-longest river in the People’s Republic of China and one of the ten longest rivers in the world – plays an important role in the national economy.

The Yellow River – the second-longest river in the People’s Republic of China and one of the ten longest rivers in the world – plays an important role in the national economy.

]]> No publisher admin 2013-09-05T13:31:53Z Feed Item Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis Interview on the Verde River http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/rivers-network/12417e29a70bdae714711d8cf7de7728 Click on "read more" to watch part 2, 3 and 4

Click on "read more" to watch part 2, 3 and 4 ]]> No publisher Stefano Barchiesi 2013-07-07T08:26:21Z Feed Item Yangtze River expedition points to decline of endangered finless porpoise http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/c959f05396b173ee58e4395b9da586d6 Yichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago. A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon. Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized. "We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them. Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species. "In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.  The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. "Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB. Finless or Yangtze river porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides); Hubei Province, China © Michael Gunther / WWF-CanonYichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago.

A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon.

Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized.

"We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang.

Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them.

Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species.

"In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer. 

The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

"Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB.

]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:40Z Feed Item Yangtze River expedition points to decline of endangered finless porpoise http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/6368029530da4b110f6f8dcacb2473b7 Yichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago. Finless or Yangtze river porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides); Hubei Province, China © Michael Gunther / WWF-CanonYichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago.

A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon.

Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized.

"We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang.

Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them.

Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species.

"In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer. 

The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

"Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB.
]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:34Z Feed Item Yangtze finless porpoise population nosedives to 1,000 http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/19d4c798e46c59dce114fe612a3786bb Wuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.

 The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their survival. The study also found that the rare species annual rate of decline now stands at 13.7 percent, which means that the Yangtze finless porpoise could be extinct as early as the year 2025. The report comes after a 44-day and 3,400-kilometer round-trip research expedition on the Yangtze River between Yichang in Hubei Province and Shanghai. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, WWF and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November 2012.

 The crew visually identified 380 individual Yangtze finless porpoise in the river's mainstream during the 2012 survey. Based on this observation, scientists determined through analyses that the population in the Yangtze mainstream is about 500, down from 1,225 in 2006.
 In October 2012, research was carried out in two adjoining lakes, the Poyang and Dongting, where the population was about 450 and 90, respectively, according to the report.

In a sharp contrast, 851 individuals of Yangtze finless porpoise were visually identified in the mainstream of the Yangtze during the 2006 survey. That research, however, did not cover the two lakes.
 "The species is moving fast toward its extinction," said Wang Ding, head of the research expedition and a professor at the IHB.

Attempts to find traces of the Baiji Dolphin, another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise, failed during the 2012 survey. The Baiji dolphin was declared "functionally extinct." According to data captured by acoustic equipment onboard the observation ships, the largest numbers of finless porpoise were found in the river sections east of Wuhan, with 67 percent recorded between Hukou in Jiangxi Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the report shows.

 There is a notable sign of scattered distribution pattern which could be the result of "shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habitat loss," said Wang with the IHB.

 The report also cautions that small groups of Yangtze finless porpoise living in comparative isolation may have a negative impact on their ability to reproduce.
 There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries were made in wharf and port areas, scientists found.

 "They may risk their lives for rich fish bait resources there. But busy shipping traffic close to the port areas poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.

 "Lack of fishery resources and human disturbances including shipping traffic are among the key threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise survival," Lei Gang, director of freshwater programme at WWF-China, said.
 Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.

 A set of enhanced measures that include in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation approaches are essential for efforts of saving the species from its distinction, said Lei.

Given that, the report calls for all-year-round fishing ban for all river dolphin reserves, establishment of a national reserve in Poyang Lake and ex-situ conservation reserves along the Yangtze. For further information: Qiu Wei, WWF China, +86 10 6511 6272, WQiu@wwfchina.org A Yangtze finless porpoise found in Dongting lake, China on April 15 2012. Some 32 finless porpoise deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year. © Xu DianboWuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.



The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their survival.

The study also found that the rare species annual rate of decline now stands at 13.7 percent, which means that the Yangtze finless porpoise could be extinct as early as the year 2025.

The report comes after a 44-day and 3,400-kilometer round-trip research expedition on the Yangtze River between Yichang in Hubei Province and Shanghai. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, WWF and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November 2012.



The crew visually identified 380 individual Yangtze finless porpoise in the river's mainstream during the 2012 survey. Based on this observation, scientists determined through analyses that the population in the Yangtze mainstream is about 500, down from 1,225 in 2006.


In October 2012, research was carried out in two adjoining lakes, the Poyang and Dongting, where the population was about 450 and 90, respectively, according to the report.

In a sharp contrast, 851 individuals of Yangtze finless porpoise were visually identified in the mainstream of the Yangtze during the 2006 survey. That research, however, did not cover the two lakes.


"The species is moving fast toward its extinction," said Wang Ding, head of the research expedition and a professor at the IHB.

Attempts to find traces of the Baiji Dolphin, another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise, failed during the 2012 survey. The Baiji dolphin was declared "functionally extinct."

According to data captured by acoustic equipment onboard the observation ships, the largest numbers of finless porpoise were found in the river sections east of Wuhan, with 67 percent recorded between Hukou in Jiangxi Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the report shows.



There is a notable sign of scattered distribution pattern which could be the result of "shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habitat loss," said Wang with the IHB.



The report also cautions that small groups of Yangtze finless porpoise living in comparative isolation may have a negative impact on their ability to reproduce.


There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries were made in wharf and port areas, scientists found.



"They may risk their lives for rich fish bait resources there. But busy shipping traffic close to the port areas poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.



"Lack of fishery resources and human disturbances including shipping traffic are among the key threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise survival," Lei Gang, director of freshwater programme at WWF-China, said.


Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.



A set of enhanced measures that include in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation approaches are essential for efforts of saving the species from its distinction, said Lei.

Given that, the report calls for all-year-round fishing ban for all river dolphin reserves, establishment of a national reserve in Poyang Lake and ex-situ conservation reserves along the Yangtze.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, WWF China, +86 10 6511 6272, WQiu@wwfchina.org

]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:38Z Feed Item Yangtze finless porpoise population nosedives to 1,000 http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/d153e5471d34d9b8627df10e81870354 Wuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.

 The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their ... A Yangtze finless porpoise found in Dongting lake, China on April 15 2012. Some 32 finless porpoise deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year. © Xu DianboWuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.



The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their survival.

The study also found that the rare species annual rate of decline now stands at 13.7 percent, which means that the Yangtze finless porpoise could be extinct as early as the year 2025.

The report comes after a 44-day and 3,400-kilometer round-trip research expedition on the Yangtze River between Yichang in Hubei Province and Shanghai. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, WWF and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November 2012.



The crew visually identified 380 individual Yangtze finless porpoise in the river's mainstream during the 2012 survey. Based on this observation, scientists determined through analyses that the population in the Yangtze mainstream is about 500, down from 1,225 in 2006.


In October 2012, research was carried out in two adjoining lakes, the Poyang and Dongting, where the population was about 450 and 90, respectively, according to the report.

In a sharp contrast, 851 individuals of Yangtze finless porpoise were visually identified in the mainstream of the Yangtze during the 2006 survey. That research, however, did not cover the two lakes.


"The species is moving fast toward its extinction," said Wang Ding, head of the research expedition and a professor at the IHB.

Attempts to find traces of the Baiji Dolphin, another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise, failed during the 2012 survey. The Baiji dolphin was declared "functionally extinct."

According to data captured by acoustic equipment onboard the observation ships, the largest numbers of finless porpoise were found in the river sections east of Wuhan, with 67 percent recorded between Hukou in Jiangxi Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the report shows.



There is a notable sign of scattered distribution pattern which could be the result of "shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habitat loss," said Wang with the IHB.



The report also cautions that small groups of Yangtze finless porpoise living in comparative isolation may have a negative impact on their ability to reproduce.


There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries were made in wharf and port areas, scientists found.



"They may risk their lives for rich fish bait resources there. But busy shipping traffic close to the port areas poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.



"Lack of fishery resources and human disturbances including shipping traffic are among the key threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise survival," Lei Gang, director of freshwater programme at WWF-China, said.


Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.



A set of enhanced measures that include in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation approaches are essential for efforts of saving the species from its distinction, said Lei.

Given that, the report calls for all-year-round fishing ban for all river dolphin reserves, establishment of a national reserve in Poyang Lake and ex-situ conservation reserves along the Yangtze.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, WWF China, +86 10 6511 6272, WQiu@wwfchina.org

]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:30Z Feed Item Yangtze finless porpoise population declines http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/9eb954f42c7977737fbdd8786de792e6 Wuhan, China -- A total of 380 Yangtze finless porpoise have been visually identified during a survey expedition along the Yangtze River, marking a significant decline from a previous research in 2006, according to initial results. Meanwhile, acoustic equipment identified 172 finless porpoise during the expedition. "There is a notable downtrend in the population size of the finless porpoise based on our observation," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Two survey ships docked at IHB's wharf in Wuhan of Hubei on Monday, concluding a 44-day and 3,400km round-trip voyage between the Chinese cities of Yichang and Shanghai.   Results of the expedition, including the population of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River, are to be made available in about two months after sufficient analysis, said Wang. "Compared with the 2006 survey, the distribution areas of finless porpoise remains roughly the same, with signs of scattering in some parts," said Wang. There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries have been made in wharf and port areas. "That could be attributed to rich fish bait resources there. Busy shipping traffic in the mainstream, especially in port regions, poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang. Shipping traffic in the mainstream of Yangtze River -- the lower reaches in particular – has increased considerably, with an average of 100 cargo ships per hour passing through. Rates were even higher in the Zhenjiang-Jiangyin section of the Yangtze, with an average of 105 cargo ships passing every half hour. "Such shipping traffic volumes would become a potential threat to the finless porpoise who rely on their sonar system to survive," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer. The team encountered 9,643 cargo ships and 736 fishery ships during voyage, which ran from 11 November – 23 December 2012.  . Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation, such as the Jiajiang River, and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.   . "Generally, the finless porpoise are scattered in the Yangtze mainstream, with a small group of them living in a comparatively narrow area. Such an isolation is not necessarily a positive thing for their reproduction," cautioned Wang. The scattered distribution pattern could be the result of shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habit loss, said Wang. The findings on the number of population and variation trend are to be finalized according to a model that takes validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered into consideration. The results are to contribute to the drafting of Action Plan for the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Conservation by the Ministry of Agriculture and proposals concerning the conservation areas. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. For further information: Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272  Every death brings the Finless Porpoise closer to extinction. © Gao Baoyan / WWFWuhan, China -- A total of 380 Yangtze finless porpoise have been visually identified during a survey expedition along the Yangtze River, marking a significant decline from a previous research in 2006, according to initial results.

Meanwhile, acoustic equipment identified 172 finless porpoise during the expedition.

"There is a notable downtrend in the population size of the finless porpoise based on our observation," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Two survey ships docked at IHB's wharf in Wuhan of Hubei on Monday, concluding a 44-day and 3,400km round-trip voyage between the Chinese cities of Yichang and Shanghai.
 
Results of the expedition, including the population of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River, are to be made available in about two months after sufficient analysis, said Wang.

"Compared with the 2006 survey, the distribution areas of finless porpoise remains roughly the same, with signs of scattering in some parts," said Wang.

There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries have been made in wharf and port areas.

"That could be attributed to rich fish bait resources there. Busy shipping traffic in the mainstream, especially in port regions, poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.

Shipping traffic in the mainstream of Yangtze River -- the lower reaches in particular – has increased considerably, with an average of 100 cargo ships per hour passing through. Rates were even higher in the Zhenjiang-Jiangyin section of the Yangtze, with an average of 105 cargo ships passing every half hour.

"Such shipping traffic volumes would become a potential threat to the finless porpoise who rely on their sonar system to survive," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.

The team encountered 9,643 cargo ships and 736 fishery ships during voyage, which ran from 11 November – 23 December 2012.
 .
Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation, such as the Jiajiang River, and attribute this to less human disturbance.

Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.   .

"Generally, the finless porpoise are scattered in the Yangtze mainstream, with a small group of them living in a comparatively narrow area. Such an isolation is not necessarily a positive thing for their reproduction," cautioned Wang.

The scattered distribution pattern could be the result of shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habit loss, said Wang.

The findings on the number of population and variation trend are to be finalized according to a model that takes validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered into consideration.

The results are to contribute to the drafting of Action Plan for the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Conservation by the Ministry of Agriculture and proposals concerning the conservation areas.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272 
]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:39Z Feed Item Yangtze finless porpoise population declines http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/f5535af1f85e6a47da18fc75bdd56ee1 Wuhan, China -- A total of 380 Yangtze finless porpoise have been visually identified during a survey expedition along the Yangtze River, marking a significant decline from a previous research in 2006, according to initial results. Meanwhile, acoustic equipment identified 172 finless porpoise during the expedition. Every death brings the Finless Porpoise closer to extinction. © Gao Baoyan / WWFWuhan, China -- A total of 380 Yangtze finless porpoise have been visually identified during a survey expedition along the Yangtze River, marking a significant decline from a previous research in 2006, according to initial results.

Meanwhile, acoustic equipment identified 172 finless porpoise during the expedition.

"There is a notable downtrend in the population size of the finless porpoise based on our observation," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Two survey ships docked at IHB's wharf in Wuhan of Hubei on Monday, concluding a 44-day and 3,400km round-trip voyage between the Chinese cities of Yichang and Shanghai.
 
Results of the expedition, including the population of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River, are to be made available in about two months after sufficient analysis, said Wang.

"Compared with the 2006 survey, the distribution areas of finless porpoise remains roughly the same, with signs of scattering in some parts," said Wang.

There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries have been made in wharf and port areas.

"That could be attributed to rich fish bait resources there. Busy shipping traffic in the mainstream, especially in port regions, poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.

Shipping traffic in the mainstream of Yangtze River -- the lower reaches in particular – has increased considerably, with an average of 100 cargo ships per hour passing through. Rates were even higher in the Zhenjiang-Jiangyin section of the Yangtze, with an average of 105 cargo ships passing every half hour.

"Such shipping traffic volumes would become a potential threat to the finless porpoise who rely on their sonar system to survive," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.

The team encountered 9,643 cargo ships and 736 fishery ships during voyage, which ran from 11 November – 23 December 2012.
 .
Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation, such as the Jiajiang River, and attribute this to less human disturbance.

Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.   .

"Generally, the finless porpoise are scattered in the Yangtze mainstream, with a small group of them living in a comparatively narrow area. Such an isolation is not necessarily a positive thing for their reproduction," cautioned Wang.

The scattered distribution pattern could be the result of shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habit loss, said Wang.

The findings on the number of population and variation trend are to be finalized according to a model that takes validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered into consideration.

The results are to contribute to the drafting of Action Plan for the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Conservation by the Ministry of Agriculture and proposals concerning the conservation areas.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272 
]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:33Z Feed Item XVI Consultative Committee Meeting on Large Marine Ecosystems and Coastal Partners, Paris France http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/surface-freshwater-gef-iw-projects/75a408da550fc8519f9bde86332f771b (Conference: 8-11 July 2014) The opening session will provide the opportunity to take stock of 15 years of marine and coastal projects and consultative LME meetings under the global coordination of NOAA, and highlight the progress achieved in advancing ecosystem assessment and management.  

The objectives and expected outcomes of Global LME COP project will be presented, providing a framework for organizing present and future annual consultative meetings.

With a view to share learning on various issues, each topic will be addressed through panels bringing together global experts and project managers that are dealing with these issues through project implementation.

For more information, visit the event website.

]]> No publisher Stefano Barchiesi 2014-07-16T10:22:57Z Feed Item XI Plenipotentiary meeting http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/surface-freshwater-gef-iw-projects/a2be04797e168d436a702a4077136166 XI Plenipotentiary meeting on implementation the agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and Mongolia on the Protection and usage of transboundary water resources. Plenipotentiary meeting

XI Plenipotentiary meeting on implementation the agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and Mongolia on the Protection and usage of transboundary water resources was held in Ulan-Ude on 14-15 December 2012.

The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Head of The Federal Agency of Water Resources Igor Nikitin. The Head of Mongolian delegation was the Deputy Minister of Nature and Green Development in Mongolia - B. Tulga.

Plenipotentiaries believe that the working group has successfully completed the previous plan approved by X Plenipotentiary meeting. Plenipotentiaries expressed a willingness to make joint efforts to further cooperation in the framework of the existing mechanism.

http://www.infpol.ru/news/673/87319.php

http://www.newbur.ru/news/11611

]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:21:34Z Feed Item WWF: Water quality in Mendalam River, Heart of Borneo, now has significantly improved http://freshwatercop.iwlearn.net/news/wwf-freshwater/d67d6b2c55f0ede0ec0b69ec1d31e540 Analysis of hydrological monitoring activity by Equitable Payment for Watershed Services (EPWS) Program in West Kalimantan PONTIANAK (18/10) - The four years analysis on water quality of Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan since 2009 until 2012, done by WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program in collaboration with ICRAF, LIPI and PDAM Tirta Dharma (state tap-water company), showed a significant decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration in Mendalam River. "This study showed a decrease in the average concentration of turbidity, from 13.2 NTU in July 2009 to 8.4 NTU (36.4%) in the measurement from June to July 2012. Trend of sediment concentration indicated a decrease approximately 41.6%, from 26.4 mg / liter (2009) to 15.4 mg / liter in 2012," said Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc, researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). "To address the quality problem of the river in West Kalimantan Province, WWF-Indonesia, CARE and IIED, supported by WWF Netherlands DGIS, started since 2006, have been working together through implementation of EPWS Program in Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu," said M. Hermayani Putera, West Kalimantan Program Manager of WWF-Indonesia. Emanuel Haraan Ryanto, Director of PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu said that the study conducted in Mendalam River since 2007-2009 has informed that around 4-15 tons / year of sediment resulted from the river. At least 37 landslide areas with more than 100 meters depth occurred on the banks of the river, as well as more than 76 other landslide locations that are less than 100 meters. Forest cover in the Mendalam currently remains only about 40%. "The river supplies water for the PDAM Tirta Dharma in Putussibau. Turbidity of the water in this river is now reaching up to 16 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), far above the minimal score for drinking water standards according to the regulation of the Indonesia Ministry of Health, which is 5 NTU. If this trend maintains, it will have an impact on improving the quality of tap water treatment, eventually processed tap water distributed by PDAM will be safe for consumption and meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Health. We thank you for the efforts made by the WWF to improve the environment, particularly in Mendalam sub-watershed. This will be very useful for people who use tap water," added Emanuel. During the implementation of EPWS program, restoration has been done in the area of landslides along the banks of the Mendalam River. Mapping of critical areas, planting 140,000 cultivated tree types such as cocoa, rubber (local and superior quality), and also other types of useful local plants such as belian, tengkawang and gaharu. Restoration covered 5 villages totalling approximately 212 hectares. In addition, the program also helps to improve the capacity of the community through several activities such as comparative study on rubber management to one state-owned plantation company in Indonesia (PTPN XIII) in Sintang, training for plantation (nursery to planting), training on measuring water discharge, water sampling, and measurement of the landslides volume. The program has also installed three units of automatic rain gauge and 2 units of automatic water level recorder. All activities of monitoring and assessment involved local communities in 5 villages on the banks of Mendalam River. Zainal AM, the Head Village of Nanga Sambus, said that people in Mendalam sub-watershed area have hope that the PES program can be successfully realised, which will motivate them to continue to maintaining the river quality, particularly Mendalam River, and can improve revenue of communities who lives near the river. "Let's protect together. If the people who live in the upper stream protect the area, this will yield good impact to people downstream. They will appreciate the restoration effort done by upper stream people," he added. "We welcome the cooperation of the parties in integrating the whole comprehensive aspects involving economic, environmental and social development in the development of the sub-watershed. Hopefully this can be an example for other regions, "said Drs. Suparman, Head of Kapuas Hulu Local Planning Agency. "With the decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration, it has indicated that there is a positive impact of the activities carried out by EPWS Program in Mendalam River. To enhance the broader impacts, we recommend this work to be extended in two other rivers, the Sibau River and Kapuas River," said Hermayani. ---- end ---- For more information, please contact: WWF Indonesia Albertus Tjiu HP: 08125624019 Email: albertus@wwf.or.id   Puslit Limnologi-LIPI Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc. HP: 0816635801 Email: iwanridwansyah@gmail.com PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu Slamet Sugianto, Amd HP. 081257846888 Email: tirtauncakkapuas@yahoo.com Notes for Editors: Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of environmental services benefiting public. Services include the services of water, carbon, biodiversity and landscape beauty. Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) stated 60% of the world's ecosystem services have been degraded more rapidly than the ability to fix it. Particularly in Indonesia, with 62 watersheds covering an area of 18.5 million hectares, now are in critical condition. Conditions that cause a decrease in reserves of water resources, fluctuations in water discharge, as well as increasing the rate of sedimentation and erosion. The impact of these conditions will increase the cost of drinking water treatment and worsen the quality of water services and such a disadvantage for river transportation users. About EPWS Program In 2006, a partnership was established between the three international agencies to explore the business aspects of PWS (Payment for Watershed Services). The project is called "Equitable Payments for Watershed Services". Activities implemented through two phases. Phase I: Building the Business Case (2006 - 2009) Phase I goal is to prepare and build a real business case for buyers and sellers of PWS that are suitable for targeted project sites. This approach is essential to convince potential buyers and sellers that PWS mechanism that will be implemented is based on ecological and economical condition. At the end of Phase I, it is considered a successful business between buyers and sellers if agreement of cooperation in each location is signed. Activities in Phase I include baseline studies on: hydrology, institutions, livelihood and the business case (cost-benefit). Phase II: Implementing Equitable Payments for Watershed Services (2010 - present) Implementation phase will deal with relevant partners at the local, national and international, private sector, and government agencies. Expected result in Phase II is successful implementations of PWS mechanism in all targeted project locations, sustainable nature resource management, and improvement of community livelihoods. Activities in Phase II include restoration, Tembawang local tree enhancement and hydrology. WWF-Indonesia WWF is an independent global conservation organization, established in 1961 in Switzerland, with almost 5 million supporters and networks in more than 100 countries. WWF has been present in Indonesia since 1962 for one-horned rhinoceros project in Ujung Kulon, became a foundation in 1998 and present in more than 25 working areas in 17 provinces. WWF-Indonesia's mission is to save biodiversity and reduce the ecology impacts from human activities through: promoting strong conservation ethics, knowledge and conservation efforts in Indonesian people; facilitating multi-stakeholders efforts in biodiversity protection and ecological process at the eco-regional scale; policy advocacy, law enforcement to support conservation; and encouraging conservation for human welfare through sustainable utilization of natural resources. For further information, visit www.wwf.or.id or www.panda.org Heart of Borneo (HoB) The Heart of Borneo covers more than 22 million hectares (220,000 km2) of equatorial rainforest across the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. One of Asia's last great rainforests, it includes some of the most biologically diverse habitats on earth, and is one of only two places on earth where elephants, orangutans, rhinoceros and clouded leopards share the same territory. In the past 15 years, more than 500 new flora or fauna species have been discovered, at a rate of more than three per month. Borneo's cultural diversity is as distinct and varied as the island's animal and plant life. In Kalimantan (Indonesia) alone, 142 different languages are believed still to be in use today. Many people depend directly on the forest for edible and medicinal plants; fish; meat; construction materials and water. As the headwaters of the island's major rivers lie in Borneo's central highlands, protection is critical to ensuring reliable clean water supplies to a large number of human settlements, and the thriving industries that have developed in coastal urban centres. Heart of Borneo Declaration In February 2007, the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the Heart of Borneo Declaration to protect an area of more than 220,000 square kilometres in the centre of the island and bordering all three countries. Together they emphasised the fact that these tropical rainforests have strategic, global, national and local functions, not only for citizens of these three countries but for the global human race. The declaration is supported under important regional and international agreements such as Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).   For more information visit: www.panda.org/heartofborneo Installation of water level recorder © WWF-Indonesia / Radius HaraanAnalysis of hydrological monitoring activity by Equitable Payment for Watershed Services (EPWS) Program in West Kalimantan

PONTIANAK (18/10) - The four years analysis on water quality of Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan since 2009 until 2012, done by WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program in collaboration with ICRAF, LIPI and PDAM Tirta Dharma (state tap-water company), showed a significant decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration in Mendalam River.

"This study showed a decrease in the average concentration of turbidity, from 13.2 NTU in July 2009 to 8.4 NTU (36.4%) in the measurement from June to July 2012. Trend of sediment concentration indicated a decrease approximately 41.6%, from 26.4 mg / liter (2009) to 15.4 mg / liter in 2012," said Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc, researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

"To address the quality problem of the river in West Kalimantan Province, WWF-Indonesia, CARE and IIED, supported by WWF Netherlands DGIS, started since 2006, have been working together through implementation of EPWS Program in Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu," said M. Hermayani Putera, West Kalimantan Program Manager of WWF-Indonesia.

Emanuel Haraan Ryanto, Director of PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu said that the study conducted in Mendalam River since 2007-2009 has informed that around 4-15 tons / year of sediment resulted from the river. At least 37 landslide areas with more than 100 meters depth occurred on the banks of the river, as well as more than 76 other landslide locations that are less than 100 meters. Forest cover in the Mendalam currently remains only about 40%.

"The river supplies water for the PDAM Tirta Dharma in Putussibau. Turbidity of the water in this river is now reaching up to 16 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), far above the minimal score for drinking water standards according to the regulation of the Indonesia Ministry of Health, which is 5 NTU. If this trend maintains, it will have an impact on improving the quality of tap water treatment, eventually processed tap water distributed by PDAM will be safe for consumption and meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Health. We thank you for the efforts made by the WWF to improve the environment, particularly in Mendalam sub-watershed. This will be very useful for people who use tap water," added Emanuel.

During the implementation of EPWS program, restoration has been done in the area of landslides along the banks of the Mendalam River. Mapping of critical areas, planting 140,000 cultivated tree types such as cocoa, rubber (local and superior quality), and also other types of useful local plants such as belian, tengkawang and gaharu. Restoration covered 5 villages totalling approximately 212 hectares. In addition, the program also helps to improve the capacity of the community through several activities such as comparative study on rubber management to one state-owned plantation company in Indonesia (PTPN XIII) in Sintang, training for plantation (nursery to planting), training on measuring water discharge, water sampling, and measurement of the landslides volume. The program has also installed three units of automatic rain gauge and 2 units of automatic water level recorder. All activities of monitoring and assessment involved local communities in 5 villages on the banks of Mendalam River.

Zainal AM, the Head Village of Nanga Sambus, said that people in Mendalam sub-watershed area have hope that the PES program can be successfully realised, which will motivate them to continue to maintaining the river quality, particularly Mendalam River, and can improve revenue of communities who lives near the river. "Let's protect together. If the people who live in the upper stream protect the area, this will yield good impact to people downstream. They will appreciate the restoration effort done by upper stream people," he added.

"We welcome the cooperation of the parties in integrating the whole comprehensive aspects involving economic, environmental and social development in the development of the sub-watershed. Hopefully this can be an example for other regions, "said Drs. Suparman, Head of Kapuas Hulu Local Planning Agency.

"With the decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration, it has indicated that there is a positive impact of the activities carried out by EPWS Program in Mendalam River. To enhance the broader impacts, we recommend this work to be extended in two other rivers, the Sibau River and Kapuas River," said Hermayani.

---- end ----

For more information, please contact:
WWF Indonesia
Albertus Tjiu
HP: 08125624019
Email: albertus@wwf.or.id
 
Puslit Limnologi-LIPI
Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc.
HP: 0816635801
Email: iwanridwansyah@gmail.com

PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu
Slamet Sugianto, Amd
HP. 081257846888
Email: tirtauncakkapuas@yahoo.com

Notes for Editors:

Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of environmental services benefiting public. Services include the services of water, carbon, biodiversity and landscape beauty. Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) stated 60% of the world's ecosystem services have been degraded more rapidly than the ability to fix it.

Particularly in Indonesia, with 62 watersheds covering an area of 18.5 million hectares, now are in critical condition. Conditions that cause a decrease in reserves of water resources, fluctuations in water discharge, as well as increasing the rate of sedimentation and erosion. The impact of these conditions will increase the cost of drinking water treatment and worsen the quality of water services and such a disadvantage for river transportation users.

About EPWS Program
In 2006, a partnership was established between the three international agencies to explore the business aspects of PWS (Payment for Watershed Services). The project is called "Equitable Payments for Watershed Services". Activities implemented through two phases.

Phase I: Building the Business Case (2006 - 2009)
Phase I goal is to prepare and build a real business case for buyers and sellers of PWS that are suitable for targeted project sites. This approach is essential to convince potential buyers and sellers that PWS mechanism that will be implemented is based on ecological and economical condition. At the end of Phase I, it is considered a successful business between buyers and sellers if agreement of cooperation in each location is signed. Activities in Phase I include baseline studies on: hydrology, institutions, livelihood and the business case (cost-benefit).

Phase II: Implementing Equitable Payments for Watershed Services (2010 - present)
Implementation phase will deal with relevant partners at the local, national and international, private sector, and government agencies. Expected result in Phase II is successful implementations of PWS mechanism in all targeted project locations, sustainable nature resource management, and improvement of community livelihoods. Activities in Phase II include restoration, Tembawang local tree enhancement and hydrology.

WWF-Indonesia
WWF is an independent global conservation organization, established in 1961 in Switzerland, with almost 5 million supporters and networks in more than 100 countries. WWF has been present in Indonesia since 1962 for one-horned rhinoceros project in Ujung Kulon, became a foundation in 1998 and present in more than 25 working areas in 17 provinces.

WWF-Indonesia's mission is to save biodiversity and reduce the ecology impacts from human activities through: promoting strong conservation ethics, knowledge and conservation efforts in Indonesian people; facilitating multi-stakeholders efforts in biodiversity protection and ecological process at the eco-regional scale; policy advocacy, law enforcement to support conservation; and encouraging conservation for human welfare through sustainable utilization of natural resources.

For further information, visit www.wwf.or.id or www.panda.org

Heart of Borneo (HoB)

The Heart of Borneo covers more than 22 million hectares (220,000 km2) of equatorial rainforest across the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. One of Asia's last great rainforests, it includes some of the most biologically diverse habitats on earth, and is one of only two places on earth where elephants, orangutans, rhinoceros and clouded leopards share the same territory. In the past 15 years, more than 500 new flora or fauna species have been discovered, at a rate of more than three per month.
Borneo's cultural diversity is as distinct and varied as the island's animal and plant life. In Kalimantan (Indonesia) alone, 142 different languages are believed still to be in use today. Many people depend directly on the forest for edible and medicinal plants; fish; meat; construction materials and water. As the headwaters of the island's major rivers lie in Borneo's central highlands, protection is critical to ensuring reliable clean water supplies to a large number of human settlements, and the thriving industries that have developed in coastal urban centres.

Heart of Borneo Declaration
In February 2007, the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the Heart of Borneo Declaration to protect an area of more than 220,000 square kilometres in the centre of the island and bordering all three countries. Together they emphasised the fact that these tropical rainforests have strategic, global, national and local functions, not only for citizens of these three countries but for the global human race. The declaration is supported under important regional and international agreements such as Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).  

For more information visit: www.panda.org/heartofborneo


]]> No publisher admin 2013-04-25T05:20:41Z Feed Item