International Year of Water, 2003: Swiss National Action Plan on Water
Bern, 12.12.2002 - «Water is valuable», «Water is unpredictable», «Water knows no borders» - these are the key themes for the International Year of Water in Switzerland. The importance of water as a resource is being highlighted by an action plan organized by three federal bodies: the Federal Office for Water and Geology (FOWG), the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The beginning of «Water Year» will be marked by a water festival, which is to take place on the Bundesplatz in Bern on 21 March 2003. In addition to a wide range of activities, an educational campaign is also planned.
Two years ago, 2003 was proclaimed by the 87th plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Freshwater. Today (Thursday) the Year of Water will be launched by the UN General Assembly in New York. The international community is called upon to initiate campaigns, programmes and projects designed to raise public awareness of the need for a sustainable approach to the use of water – a resource that is vital to the survival of humans and the natural world.
In Switzerland, various aspects of the water issue are being jointly addressed in a national action plan organized by the Federal Office for Water and Geology (FOWG), the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). To supplement these efforts, concrete projects and programmes will be carried out in the countries with which Switzerland has development cooperation partnerships.
The key concerns of the Action Plan are the protection of water, water bodies and associated ecosystems, such as wetlands, floodplains and forests; the sustainable use and conservation of water resources; and protection of the public against water-related hazards (cf. Key topics).
National platforms and decentralized activities
During Water Year, national platforms for debate and practical action will be available for federal, cantonal, and local authorities, NGOs and the private sector, and decentralized activities will be supported in various ways. Information materials will be provided on the key topics, and campaigns and projects will be initiated.
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
