What types of water resources are covered?
Data from all types of inland aquatic environments are important for GEMS/Water. These include surface waters such as lakes, reservoirs, streams, rivers, estuaries, and wetlands; and ground water aquifers. Monitoring stations include baseline, impact, trend and flux stations. What is the process? The Drive is launched today and will be implemented over the next six months, closing in December 2004. Activities and results are part of the Portfolio of Water Actions. What is the desired result? The main outcome will be a strengthened scientific basis for global and regional water assessments and early warning. The results of the Data Drive will be reported to key UN fora, such as the UNEP Governing Council (February 2005, Nairobi) and the 13th session of the UN’s Commission on Sustainable Development (May 2005, New York). Water Quality Facts • Water-related health impacts are well established. • less than 1% of all the water in the world is readily available freshwater and no one is makin
