EUCC has been invited to develop an ICARM Marker, based on the ICZM Progress Indicator set, in order to support UNEPs Integrated Coastal Area and River Management (ICARM) programme in areas outside Europe. UNEP want an ICARM Marker which will show how far river and coastal management authorities are inter-linking to implement ICARM. The idea will be for EUCC to work together with local managers in Latin America, Africa and S.E. Asia, together with UNEP’s ICARM Goup of Experts. The work will be done throughout 2005 and the results presented to the World Water Forum in March 2006.

This work is a result of EUCC’s participation, as the only NGO, in the UNEP ICARM Expert Group under the FreshCo partnership. This initiative is to promote river basin management and integrated coastal zone management. An important aspect of the work concerns pollution and the water quality of the rivers and estuaries. Within a European perspective it is looking at how the Water Framework Directive can be helpful in a holistic water management context.

Sponsor: UNEP