The future of the world water resources remains uncertain

The water demand will grow in all continents causing problems in the future. Unfortunately the official declaration adopted at Budapest Water Summit did not put enough emphasis on the preservation of water resources, even though the conclusions point out several important issues.

Jim Leape, Director General of WWF stated that water runs through the post-2015 Rio+20 development agenda like a blue thread. “Three facts underlie responding to the challenge of having the water needed for successful development: water comes from living systems; our success will come from our ability to manage those systems on nature’s terms; management will only succeed if we find ways to collaborate among governments and across sectors.”

Over two-thirds of the Danube former floodplains have disappeared. Due to the decline in industrial production the river water quality has improved in recent decades, but little has been done to restore the natural dynamics of the river. “Research shows that along the Danube some 400 potential sites may be restored totalling more than 1.4 million hectares. Restoration of these areas would be at least as big a commitment as to achieve sustainable development goals”, says Akos Fath, CEO of WWF Hungary.

WWF had a special stand at the Budapest Water Summit where the WWF Green Heart of Europe initiative and the Liberty Island restoration project on the Danube river were presented.