Water is a dealmaker for Sustainable Development Goals and the health and prosperity of people and the planet. But our progress on water-related goals and targets remains alarmingly off track, jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda. The United Nations Water Conference held from 22 to 24 March 2023 must result in a bold action program on water that will give this vital element for our world the commitment it deserves.
Enabel’s LATAWAMA project was represented at this conference by the project manager, Mr. Didier CADELLI. In his presentation, he was allowed to present and promote the Lake Tanganyika Water Management Project at the launch of the “TEI on Transboundary Water Management in Africa”, co-organized by Belgium and the European Union, and at the side event on “Collaborative Innovation: the key towards a Water Smart Society”, organized by VITO.
He stressed the importance of establishing an environmental monitoring network as a prerequisite for implementing integrated water resources management and preserving biodiversity. The complementarity of the “in-situ monitoring” and “remote monitoring” approaches is essential and requires scientific and technical training, targeted investments, and data exchange protocols in conjunction with regional and international laboratories, Universities, and Research Centres.
The monitoring network will contribute to implementing policies to comply with the commitment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: 30% protected inland waters by 2030!
Ensuring the future financial and technical sustainability of environmental monitoring of Lake Tanganyika and its basin is the challenge that the European Union and #Enabel intend to address through their support to the Lake Tanganyika Authority.