UNEP’s Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) Water Programme marks World Environment Day at the Eighth Water Information Summit by highlighting the role of Latin American partners

Burlington/Nairobi/Brasilia, 5 June 2006. To mark World Environment Day this year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its GEMS/Water Programme, is recognizing the important role that partners in Latin America play in regional and global water information systems.

The GEMS/Water Programme operates GEMStat, the only global database on water quality. GEMStat provides environmental water quality data and information of the highest integrity, accessibility and interoperability. These data serve to strengthen the scientific basis for global and regional water assessments, indicators and early warning. The GEMStat website is designed to share surface and ground water quality data sets collected from the GEMS/Water Global Network, including over 1,500 stations, two million records, and over 100 parameters.

In his opening address for the Eighth Water Information Summit (WIS-8) this morning, Dr. Richard Robarts, GEMS/Water’s director, emphasized that Latin American participation in water information systems such as GEMStat is critical: “Over 30% of the world’s renewable water resources are in Latin America. So, it is essential that reliable and comprehensive data for the region be available and accessible.” Dr. Robarts called specific attention to the participation of Brazil in GEMStat. Brazil has taken the opportunity to participate in GEMStat through governmental representation by a National Focal Point (NFP), as well as non-governmental participation by a Collaborating Focal Point (CFP). The result is a better reflection of Brazilian water quality data and information available to the international community. For example, with Brazil’s CFP data, GEMStat now has 2,700 monitoring stations. “I hope that more countries in this region will designate official NFPs and CFPs, so that the region is properly included in UN water assessments.”

All focal points benefit from GEMS/Water activities by gaining access to wide set of data in GEMStat, and the GEMS/Water Global Network, an international system of water quality monitoring and assessment professionals. GEMS/Water also offers core services such as laboratory performance evaluation studies, capacity building tools and publications.

UNEP’s GEMS/Water Programme is mandated to collect data and information on inland water quality for environmental assessments at regional and global levels. These water quality data cover both surface and groundwater resources. However, there are many gaps that need to be filled, especially in terms of geospatial and temporal coverage. The current state of data distribution was featured in the 2005 UNEP Annual Report (www.unep.org) and specific details are reported country-by-country in the 2005 State of the GEMS/Water Global Network and Annual Report.

GEMStat is accessible at www.gemstat.org, and user feedback and data submissions are welcome.

What does GEMS/Water do?
Since its establishment in 1978, UNEP’s Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) Water Programme has become the primary source for global environmental water quality data. It is a multi-faceted water science centre oriented towards knowledge development on inland quality issues throughout the world. Major activities include monitoring, assessment and capacity building. The twin goals of the Programme are to improve water quality monitoring and assessment capabilities in participating countries, and to determine the status and trends of regional and global water quality. These goals are implemented through the GEMS/Water data bank, GEMStat, including water quality data and information from more than 100 countries, with over two million entries for lakes, reservoirs, rivers and groundwater systems. By compiling a global database, GEMS/Water adds value to country-level data by contributing to global and regional water quality assessments. The Programme also carries out evaluations on a range of water quality issues and methodologies. GEMS/Water data have been used by other organizations, including the UN system and universities around the world.

World Environment Day is considered one of the most important events on the environment calendar, is celebrated every year in more than 125 countries. The occasion serves to inspire political and community action. Governments, individuals, non-governmental organizations, community and youth groups, business, industry and the media undertake a variety of activities aimed at renewing their commitment to the protection of the environment. Individuals and organizations are invited to post details about their planned WED events and learn about what others are doing to celebrate WED across the globe.

Eighth Water Information Summit (WIS-8): Linking and Strengthening Information Networks for Water and the Environment takes place June 5-7, 2006 in Brasilia. WIS-8 is organized by The WaterWeb Consortium, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN) and hosted by the National Water Agency of Brazil (ANA). See www.waterweb.org/wis8/.

For more information about water quality, please contact: Dr. Richard D. Robarts, Director, UN GEMS/Water Programme, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4A6, Canada, tel: + 1 306 975 6047 fax: + 1 306 975 5143 e-mail: richard.robarts@gemswater.org website www.gemswater.org. UNEP website is at www.unep.org.