Experts mull global system to monitor water resources

"There's demand for a global reporting mechanism that will help us see what is the status of water security and how water is used around the world as a resource, whether in agriculture, industrial production or any other way," Joakim Harlin, senior water resources advisor for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) told Alertnet.

The process, which will be discussed by more than 2,500 participants at the World Water Week conference would establish indicators for water-resource management, and build capacity in developing countries so they can collect data, analyse and report on these indicators, he said.
Food security and the relating water resources management, water infrastructure, supporting women farmers and introducing early warning systems for agricultural emergencies are also on the agenda of the meeting. Experts are optimist that there is enough water to meet human needs in most regions, and where there is real water scarcity, there are solutions to prevent it causing conflict.