Water and Nature Declaration: no water security without ecological security, no ecological security without water security, call for signatures!

Published on 02/03/23

Since 2021, the "Water and Nature" declaration has gathered 81 signatories around the world. This initiative, launched by the World Water Council (WWC), the International Office for Water ( OiEau), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), calls for a strengthened and sustainable dialogue between the water and nature communities.

On the occasion of the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in September 2021 in Marseille, the World Water Council (WWC), the International Office for Water (OiEau), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) launched an initiative for the signature of the "Water and Nature" declaration with the slogan "No water security without ecological security / No ecological security without water security".

The "Water and Nature" declaration underlines the interdependence between water and the environment and emphasises the need to preserve aquatic ecosystems and water resources and thus ensure sustainable water management in the long term.

The main objective of this initiative is to call for a strengthened and sustainable dialogue between the water and nature communities, to make water management and nature protection policies more coherent and to accelerate the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS).

In this way, each signatory commits to work towards "better integration of ecosystems and biodiversity in water sector activities".

The appeal currently gathers 81 signatories throughout the world, from associations, non-governmental organisations, water agencies, governmental and international bodies, research institutes, etc.

INBO, together with the World Water Council and The Nature Conservancy, organised a special session entitled "SFNs for Water and Ecological Security" at COP27 in November 2022. The event gave a voice to basin organisations and government representatives. On this occasion, the initiative received the political support of the high-level speakers on the programme: Ms. Bérangère Couillard (French Secretary of State for Ecology), Mr. Serigne Mbaye Thiam (Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal), Dr. Florika Fink-Hooijer (Director General for Environment at the European Commission) as well as leaders of large national and transboundary basins in Africa and Latin America.

Other events will be dedicated to this theme on the occasion of the United Nations Water Decade 2023 Conference which will take place in New York, from 22 to 24 March.

On the occasion of the 10th General Assembly of the World Water Council in December 2022, during which Eric Tardieu, General Manager of OiEau and INBO Secretary General, was appointed Vice-President, the call for signatures was reiterated.

To sign the declaration, click here.

Sign the declaration!

Signatories of the "Water and Nature" declaration, they testify!

The water cycle, in its natural but also urban dimensions, is threatened, as water is the first marker of climate change. The challenges of access to water and sanitation are enormous and endangered by increasing urbanisation. The development of multi-functional infrastructures with more room for green infrastructure offers interesting perspectives for building resilient solutions. We can only achieve this collectively: the declaration "No water security without ecological security / No ecological security without water security" must be THE roadmap for rethinking water resource management, integrating society, nature and its biodiversity, and building together resilient solutions to disasters.

Armelle PERRIN-GUINOT

Deputy Director for Sustainable Development, Veolia (France)

Sustainable and integrated water resources management must take into account the ecological and natural specificities of each region. The return to nature, and more specifically the adoption of nature-based solutions, is a very interesting alternative for adapting to the effects of climate change on water and for improving the resilience of territories to global changes.

Samira EL HAOUAT

Director of the Bouregreg and Chaouia Water Basin Agency (Morocco)

The International Commission of the Meuse River is particularly concerned with the integration of ecosystems and biodiversity in the activities of the water sector. In this context, since 2021, it has undertaken to broaden its missions in this direction in order to be in line with the United Nations Decade for the restoration of ecosystems and the European Union's Biodiversity Strategy.

Jean-Noël PANSERA

Secretary General, International Commission of the Meuse (Belgium)

Conservation International fully supports this statement. We strive to preserve essential freshwater ecosystems around the world as a foundation for sustainable development. Our freshwater programme is based on the fact that people need water and water needs nature.

Robin ABELL

Freshwater Lead, Conservation International