WORKSHOP ON MANAGING WATERSHEDS FOR A BETTER FUTURE

The Government of Grenada is aware of the problems associated with watershed degradation and is deeply committed to the development and management of watershed systems which would, in the final analysis, ensure the incessant supply of clean and safe drinking water.

The importance of adequate water supply to the country's development could never be overemphasized. The survival of two of the island's most important industries, i.e. Agriculture and Tourism, is intrinsically intertwined with the availability of a sustainable source of adequate water supply.

This is the context in which the project Managing Watersheds For A Better Future must be seen. Given the enormity of the importance of Watershed Protection Management, a Forestry Policy was developed by the Forestry and National Parks Division a few years ago and was approved by Government. As part of this policy, a new Watershed Management Unit was established to address soil and water conservation issues in Grenada. It is instructive to note that because of this Unit, the CAMP Project was conceived and executed with conviction, dedication and enthusiasm.

The CAMP Project (Catchment Management for Poverty Alleviation) is a collaborative research effort between the Grenada Forestry Department, and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom. The projects seek to have stakeholders within a watershed benefit from the water it carries. By means of integrated assessment techniques, the project seeks to develop an understanding of how hydrological, ecological and other biophysical parameters can be linked with socio-economic information to produce a holistic picture of how water resources can be more effectively managed.

By working closely with the Upland Watershed Management Unit, the researchers are examining the way water is used in the catchments by different stakeholders, such as, the farmers, households, commercial companies, NAWASA, the Forestry Department, etc.

The expectation is that this methodology will reveal some vital information on how the water can be valued for different purposes, and as a result, how it can be effectively allocated to maximize economic and social benefits.

By examining how the different stakeholders impact upon each other throughout the watershed, it is hoped that some compensatory mechanisms can be designed for more equitable management of this vital resource. The CAMP Project is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) through its Forestry Research Programme.

The Project has been under implementation for almost three years now and is due to be completed towards the end of February 2004. It essentially focuses on sustainable watershed management strategies in specific catchments in Grenada, Tanzania and South Africa.

At the wider level, the project is seeking to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both conventional Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and Sustainable Livelihood (SL) approaches to watershed management. The former methodology basically concentrates on the 'availability of the resource' (i.e. water) while the latter deals specifically with the direct and indirect impacts that 'access to the resource' has on the livelihoods of the various stakeholders in the watershed area.

Project Aims and Objectives: The aims of the research project are to demonstrate both the hydrological and economic linkages and inter-dependence among the various stakeholders groups, and to examine current problems related to water, both from a qualitative and quantitative standpoint.

As far as concrete objectives are concerned, the project is charged with delivering Policy Briefing Notes to the Government Ministries concerned. Additionally, it is expected that the means by which equitable access to water can be provided will also be suggested. Wherever possible, compensation mechanism would be suggested for disadvantaged stakeholders.

Grenada, topographically, is a mountainous island where intensive agriculture is practiced in the upper highland regions by many of our farmers. A substantial number of those farmers apply agrochemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) to their crops and very often some of those chemicals, through leaching find their way into the many streams and rivers.

In addition, intensive soil preparation results in erosion through which significant amount of soil particles and vegetation find their way into the rivers and streams, contributing significantly in the process, to the loss of top soil and sedimentation. These sedimentation and agrochemical residues impact negatively on the quality and quantity of water availability. These impacts occur along the entire river course, resulting in silting up of river mouths, and mangrove areas. Eventually our coastal waters are affected and offshore reefs destroyed.

When these practices continue unabatedly, the ecosystem integrity of the river deteriorates resulting in the destruction and eventual loss of aquatic habitats. In a small island like Grenada, the impact of such practices can have devastating consequences, as not only will water supplies be contaminated, resulting in increased cost of purification, but, also, our tourism and fishing sectors will pay a high price.

Compensation Mechanisms as Motivational Tools: There is growing evidence which suggest that the problems outlined above are already occurring in Grenada. In order to motivate farmers to adopt good watershed protection measures, the project is proposing that some form of compensation be given to them. This could be by way of NAWASA passing on all the savings made as a result of reduction in purification costs to the farmers implementing these new practices.

The other compensation mechanism contemplated by the project involves a voluntary donation system for tourists visiting Grenada. Voluntary to ensure that it cannot be construed as a tax, which in these times are not accepted in the tourist industry.

The project is of the view that by farmers implementing good watershed protection practices, the tourist industry would benefit through cleaner offshore water for recreating and other activities. The project also proposes that Industries or Companies consuming high volumes of water also contribute to the fund.

I am very happy to report that Cabinet on 31st March 2003 approved the proposal for introducing and developing compensation mechanisms as a motivational tool to support better watershed management practices in Grenada. This is indeed a vivid demonstration of the Government's unwavering commitment to the protection of watershed areas in Grenada. Impact of the Project on Grenada.

Under the project, a study was conducted into watersheds in Concord, St. John's and Annandale, St. George's; and a livelihood assessment survey was completed in Concord and Annandale with the objective of showing how the people in both communities benefit from the water produced in those two areas. These help the Watershed Management Unit to develop policies to guide water resource management in Grenada.

Word of Advice To Participants in the Consultation Workshop. The Government of Grenada is extremely pleased to be associated with the CAMP project given the enormous benefits that I have alluded to earlier. Grenada is now at a critical stage of its development, where, over the last few years, significant infrastructural work has been done in all sectors including that of water. In the absence of efficient watershed protection management systems, the benefits of all those investments would be diminished significantly.

It is very heartening to see the very large number of participants attending this workshop. The basic philosophy of the Government and indeed the executors of the Project is that watershed management requires a participatory approach in order for the stakeholders to feel a sense of ownership of the process. That, ladies and gentlemen is of fundamental importance.

I would like to take this opportunity to implore upon participants at this workshop, who, by and large, are representatives of all the major stakeholders of The CAMP Project, to spend quality time here today to come up with innovative and creative ideas.

At the end of the day, the real beneficiary of your effort would be our Agricultural and Tourism Industries, our domestic consumers of water, our manufacturers of beers and soft drinks, our agro-processors and most importantly, our country Grenada. Ladies and gentlemen, such is the importance attached to this workshop. Additional water filtration 'News'and to compare the various technologies, see water purifiers.

Author Notes:

Andre Walles contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.water-purification-filters.com.  Get educated on the benefits of water purification systems and different water filters available.