The 6th World Water Forum took place in Marseille, March 2012. It is a major global event that enables some of the most pressing issues confronting the water sector to be shared and solutions sought. The Forum is divided into a series of different processes, priority focal areas and targets. Each target is time-bounded, specific and relates to a particular issue that needs addressing in the coming years.
The aim of this project was to provide support to Wetlands International who lead the session proposal for Target 3.1.4 “By 2018, x river basin and water resource management plans and related implementation strategies safeguard and restore ecosystem services”.
The initial phase of work to be carried out to deliver this target up to and beyond delivery of the session at the World Water Forum involved the development the target session proposal and action plan, which commenced with an initial evidence gathering exercise on the state of the art of river basin management and its current and potential role in safeguarding ecosystem services.
Evidence gathered was used the shape session outline, provide examples of existing and innovative solutions and shape the process for engaging and developing partnership commitment to the proposed target. Targets were identified and guidance and wider support mechanisms developed, to facilitate both the identification and agreement specific targets for specific river basins.