U.S. Participation in IHP Intergovernmental Council Meeting

June 2008

Aral Sea region, reproduction of a photograph of the Kokaral peninsula

The looming water crisis was the focus of the biennial International Hydrological Program (IHP) Intergovernmental Council (IGC) meeting, held at UNESCO headquarters from June 9-13, 2008.

Matt Larsen of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) headed the U.S. delegation, which included Verne Schneider, USGS, Bob Pietrowsky, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Gene Stakhiv, USACE, and Ross Corotis, U.S. National Commission to UNESCO. Among the approximately 200 participants were representatives of the 36 IGC Member States, as well as many other UNESCO Member States and non-governmental organizations. Matt Larsen was elected as the chair of the meeting’s drafting committee, which is influential in shaping the summaries of the major discussions and decisions.

The United States was very pleased at the approval of the U.S.-sponsored International Center of Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM), presented by Bob Pietrowsky. The center received enthusiastic support from all speakers, and following examination will now be considered for final approval at the UNESCO General Conference in the fall of 2009.

The focus of the ICIWaRM Center is improving water management through the effective delivery of water-related services in an efficient, environmentally sustainable manner. The center brings together a broad consortium of universities, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to integrate the best science with practical methods for comprehensive watershed management. In addition to advancing the science and practice of water management, the center plans to disseminate and transfer new technologies and engage in training and capacity building. The center expects to make a major contribution toward meeting the UN Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half, from 1990 to 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

U.S. Ambassador Louise Oliver hosted a reception on June 11th, in honor of the U.S. delegation to the IHP IGC meeting. Participants from most of the IGC Member States attended, along with the leadership of the UNESCO secretariat involved in freshwater issues. U.S. Deputy Permanent Delegate Steve Engelken outlined several key water issues and discussed the upcoming Water Forum in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2008. UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and Ambassador Oliver will both participate in the Forum.

The International Hydrological Program is one of the U.S. Mission’s top priorities in its work with the UNESCO's Natural Sciences Sector.