Posted on May, 13 1999

San Jose, Costa Rica - WWF, the conservation organisation, today launched its Living Waters Campaign , aimed at ensuring that people and nature benefit from adequate water resources now and in the future. The campaign was launched in response to findings that show a stark decline in the world4s freshwater systems, habitats and species.

Half of current available freshwater is already being used. With economic development and increasing population pressure, the situation could worsen for 1.3 billion already-affected people worldwide.

" The Living Waters Campaign is part of our contribution to a larger goal of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources," said Dr. Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International. "We need to ensure that we leave our children a Living Planet, as well as satisfy our immediate and future needs for water."

Launched on the fourth day of the 7th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 7) to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar 1971), the campaign seeks to take actions to avert global water shortage, and conserve the species and ecological services offered by the world4s rivers and lakes, springs, marshes, and ponds.

When concerns over potential budget cuts brewed at Ramsar COP 7, WWF has announced ambitious plans and funding to increase the protected wetlands worldwide. In addition to making some small grants for the improvement of current wetland sites, the campaign aims to conserve 25 million hectares of protected areas worldwide - about one third of the hectares protected since the beginning of Ramsar 28 years ago.

The campaign will take conservation action in catchment areas such as the Orinoco River Basin where water collects before flowing into major water bodies. Some ways of implementing these targets will be through local-level fisheries management; restoration of wetlands that were once lost; and ensuring the natural functions of existing wetlands.

Freshwater biodiversity and habitats are vital to supporting human life and development. Without effective management of freshwater sites, important resources could continue to be severely depleted. These resources include rice, fish, medicinal plants, and peat for fuel. By protecting wetlands and conserving freshwater resources, WWF will seek to keep ecological functions intact and support human needs for freshwater resources.

Contacts: Richard Holland, tel: (506) 293-4735, e-mail: rholland@wwfnet.org ; Lisa Hadeed, tel: (506) 293-4735, e-mail: wwfcop8@sol.racsa.co.cr . Olivier van Bogaert, tel: +41 22 364 95 54; fax: +41 22 364 83 07; e-mail: ovanbogaert@wwfnet.org