News Archive   Oct 05, 2008 Another inconvenient truth According to a report by the International Water Management Institute, by 2025, about one third of the world's population, perhaps as many as 3 billion people, will face water shortages. From an agricultural standpoint, we may be looking at losses equivalent to the entire grain crops of India and the United States by then. According to some estimates, even without biofuels, we will very likely reach the upper limit of available fresh water for worldwide consumption, more than 2.9 billion cubic miles, by 2050. A growing reliance on biofuels would exacerbate an already difficult challenge. Read More   Sep 23, 2008 When the going gets tough... The report said food had to become more affordable and nutritious without degrading the land. In 2006,water specialists from numerous national institutes published the greatest-ever assessment of water and food. The International Water Management Institute's (IWMI) Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture report concluded one third of the world's farmers already faced water scarcity. Meanwhile, climate change, says the UN's Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO), is putting more pressure on the food supplies of the poor. In Bangladesh, where Dfid is contributing £75m to help adapt to climate change and maintain vulnerable food supplies, government meteorologists report higher winter temperatures, greater river flows and more flooding. Read More   Sep 22, 2008 Remote sensing and GIS for wetland inventory, mapping and change analysis "Remote sensing and GIS for wetland inventory, mapping and change analysis" - Rebelo et al 2008 listed as No 13 of the "Top 25 Hottest Articles". The "top 25" refers to the most read articles - counted by article downloads on ScienceDirect. Read More   Sep 19, 2008 Health concerns over imported fruit and veg The International Water Management Institute has found some farmers in 53 developing countries use untreated sewage and urban wastewater to grow crops. Institute director general Colin Chartres says we can't assume exporting countries are properly testing all of the produce we're importing. Read More   Sep 19, 2008 Tacio: Running out of water The Philippines used 28.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2000. A third of that flowed into farms. According to a UN-backed study by the International Water Management Institute, the amount of water needed for crop production will rise 60-90 percent by 2050, to 11,000-13,500 cubic kilometers from 7,200 cubic kilometers today, depending on factors including population growth and crop yields. Read More   Sep 19, 2008 Running dry MOST people may drink only two litres of water a day, but they consume about 3,000 if the water that goes into their food is taken into account. The rich gulp down far more, since they tend to eat more meat, which takes far more water to produce than grains. So as the world's population grows and incomes rise, farmers will-if they use today's methods-need a great deal more water to keep everyone fed: 2,000 more cubic kilometres a year by 2030, according to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a research centre, or over a quarter more than they use today. Yet in many farming regions, water is scarce and likely to get scarcer as global warming worsens. The world is facing not so much a food crisis as a water crisis, argues Colin Chartres, IWMI's director-general. Read More   Sep 17, 2008 Solving the food crisis needs water The International Water Management Institute, which I lead, is ready to take on this challenge and wants to do so in partnership with leading Australian and international agencies. Australian soil and water scientist, Dr. Colin Chartres is Director General of the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a non-profit research organization focusing on the sustainable management of water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment. Read More   Sep 11, 2008 Human waste to power US city "There is a large potential for wastewater agriculture to both help and hurt great numbers of urban consumers," said Liqa Raschid-Sally, who led the study published by the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute and released this week at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Read More   Sep 11, 2008 Lessons from World Water Week '06 In fact, the future would appear dire. This past week, a panel of scientists released a groundbreaking study on water usage over the past half-century. Under the banner of the International Water Management Institute, more than 700 researchers from 100 institutions across the world contributed to this important study. Their warnings should wake us from our collective slumber Read More   Sep 10, 2008 Forecast: dry, becoming drier The Middle East and North Africa, the driest population centre on the planet, is particularly vulnerable to water shortages. According to the International Water Management Institute, every country in the MENA region suffers from physical water scarcity or is approaching it. Yemen - fabled for the fertile ancient kingdoms of Arabia Felix - is expected to be the first country in the region to deplete its ground water. Read More   Sep 09, 2008 A benign dam But Surya K Sharma says there was no significant increase in the population of the other malaria vector. Also, the researchers did not come across any other vector borne disease that could be linked to the dam. "The study states its limitations that all dams will not exhibit this feature as a number of factors play a role in reducing malaria. In this instance, getting rid of the vector brought down the cases," says Priyanie Amerasinghe of International Water Management Institute, Hyderabad. Read More   Sep 08, 2008 Water Resources System Specialist - Ethiopia We seek a highly competent and motivated individual for the position of Water Resources System Specialist to research water resources and hydrology. The successful candidate will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will report to the Head of IWMI East Africa and Nile Basin Office. Read More   Sep 04, 2008 Through Bifocals That’s the conclusion of a joint report issued last month by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Water Management Institute, and the Stockholm International Water Institute. In addition, the amount of water needed to grow that food would meet the household needs of 500 million people. A population almost double that of the U.S. Read More   Sep 01, 2008 Of Salads and Sludge You may want to hold your nose for this one. A new study reveals where water goes when you flush the loo--basically, in your salad. In a survey of 53 countries, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) found that the majority of produce cultivated in urban plots is irrigated with water from polluted streams, lakes or wells. While only 10 percent of global agriculture is harvested in cities (and only part of that crop is consumed raw), some 1.1 million farmers produce greens and fruit for 4.5 million people in the areas studied. Project the numbers worldwide, and at least 200 million farmers rely on recycled water to sow 20 million hectares, an area twice the size of Hungary. Read More   Sep 01, 2008 Tapped out But the good grace of Mother Nature to keep the valley fertile through adequate rainfall may not be enough to sustain the crop growth and drinking supply needs of the Shoals in the coming years. Dawn Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the International Water Management Institute, said it could be 25 years before the nation, as well as the planet, faces serious water shortages, largely as a result of the finite nature of water as a resource. "The causes of water scarcity are essentially identical to the food crisis," she said. "There are serious and extremely worrying factors that indicate water supplies are steadily being used up." Read More   Sep 01, 2008 GLOBAL: Food wasted is water lost In Saving Water: From Field to Fork – Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain, a policy brief by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), projected food and cereal demand could double by 2050, and the world would need 10,000 to 13,500 km3/year of water supply to keep up with production requirements. Read More   Sep 01, 2008 Millions eat food watered with wastewater A study of 53 cities across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) showed 80% of those studied are using wastewater in urban agriculture. Revealing the results of the study at World Water Week, in Stockholm, Sweden, the IWMI said it is used more commonly for growing vegetables and cereals, especially rice. Read More   Aug 28, 2008 How Much Food Do Humans Waste? Try Half But since we’re not here to obscure reality as an excuse to make everyone feel better, here’s the truth: According to a new report by the Stockholm International Water Institute, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Water Management Institute, about half of all the food produced worldwide goes to waste. The report states that the amount of food we produce is more than enough to feed the world’s population, but between our inefficient (or nonexistent) distribution systems and our ridiculous practice of tossing out perfectly good food, a big chunk of humanity goes hungry while another eats itself into an epidemic. Read More   Aug 28, 2008 Economic costs of poor sanitation and Asia Day at World Water Week The event saw the launch of a number of new and groundbreaking studies, reports and initiatives designed to improve a global situation where billions of people are without sustainable access to safe drinking water or suffering ill health due to poor sanitation. Last week, the feature article in CSR Asia Weekly (Vol.4 Week 34) focussed on 'Water scarcity and food security', a 53 city study on waste water by International Water Management Institute (IWMI). This week will look at sanitation and its economic costs and the first Asia Day at World Water Week. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Water and Sanitation Looms Behind Food, Energy and Climate Crisis Concludes World Water Week SIWI, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) released the report, "Saving Water: From Field to Fork - Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain." Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Global Water Experts Urge Governments To Halve Food Waste By 2025 To Fight Famine, Save Water Organizations at [World Water Week, a meeting of 2,500 scientists, politicians and officials from 140 countries who met to discuss global water issues] in Sweden said policy makers and businesses have to drastically improve harvesting methods on farms and minimize waste in food processing. Consumers also must be made aware of the implications of food waste, which consumes large amounts of water that could otherwise be beneficially used in a world that faces water shortages, a report said. 'As much as half of the water used to grow food globally may be lost or wasted,' said David Molden, director of research at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) . …" Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Half of All Food Produced Worldwide is Wasted The brief authored by the Stockholm International Water Institute, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Water Management Institute shows that the current food crisis is less a crisis of production than a crisis of waste. Tossing food away is like leaving the tap running, the authors say. "More than enough food is produced to feed a healthy global population. Distribution and access to food is a problem - many are hungry, while at the same time many overeat," the brief states. But, it says, "we are providing food to take care of not only our necessary consumption but also our wasteful habits." Read More   Aug 25, 2008 DEVELOPMENT: Food, Fuel and Water Crises Colin Chartres, director general of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) said the causes of water scarcity are essentially identical to those of the food crisis. "There are serious and extremely worrying factors that indicate that water supplies are close to exhaustion in some countries," he said. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Water experts urge major cuts in food waste "As much as half of the water used to grow food globally may be lost or wasted," said David Molden, director of research at the International Water Management Institute. The report was unveiled at World Water Week, a meeting of 2,500 scientists, politicians and officials from 140 countries who met to discuss global water issues. The United Nations has named 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Human Waste Used by 200 Million Farmers, Study Says "There is a large potential for wastewater agriculture to both help and hurt great numbers of urban consumers," said Liqa Raschid-Sally, who led the study published by the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and released this week at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Tossed Food Is Also Lost Water The report, "Saving Water: From Field to Fork — Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain," was issued on Thursday by the Stockholm International Water Institute, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Water Management Institute (report pdf here). It outlines ways that governments could halve the amount of food lost between field and plate by 2025. The amounts of waste are staggering. In the United States, nearly one-third of the food that is produced each year, worth about $48 billion, is discarded. The water it took to grow and process that wasted food amounts to about 10 trillion gallons, according to the analysis. Many European countries have similar losses, proportional to their size. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 DEVELOPMENT: Wasted Food Is Also Wasted Water "That's like leaving the tap running and pouring 40 trillion litres of water into the garbage can -- enough water to meet the household needs of 500 million people," says the report co-authored by SIWI, along with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Sri Lanka. The study also says that wasted food is wasted water because of the large quantum of water that goes into the cultivation and processing of food. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Water Prize Award: Reducing food waste can improve water balance SIWI, along with the UN food agency FAO and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) compared discarded food to leaving the tap running in a joint report 'Saving Water: From Field to Fork - Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain'. 'As much as half of the water used to grow food globally may be lost or wasted,' IWMI researcher Charlotte de Fraiture said. Some 1.2 billion people were estimated to live in regions where demand for water is greater than supply. The pressure is increasing over demand for agricultural products like beef and bioenergy that are water intensive. Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Sewage could be vital to feeding the world These predictions come in a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) based in Sri Lanka, which is backed by the World Bank. The most detailed of its type, it is based on a survey of 53 cities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Charles Chartres, director of the IWMI, warned this week that the proportion of food grown using waste water is bound to ... Read More   Aug 25, 2008 Untreated wastewater used in agriculture The 53-city International Water Management Institute survey showed 80 percent of those cities regularly use untreated or partially treated waste water for urban agriculture. Officials said the practice is often critical to farmers' incomes and urban food security but raises health concerns. "Irrigating with wastewater isn't a rare practice limited to a few of the poorest countries," said IWMI researcher Liqa Raschid-Sally, lead author of a report on the survey. "It's a widespread phenomenon, occurring on (49 million acres) across the developing world …" Read More   Aug 21, 2008 Of Sludge and Salad: Wastewater Greens the World's Gardens In a survey of 53 cities worldwide, the International Water Management Institute (IMWI), a water research and advocacy group, has found that the vast majority of produce cultivated in urban plots is irrigated with what amounts to tainted water, fetched from polluted streams and lakes or wells. True, only a fraction (say 10 percent) of global agricultural output is harvested in the cities, and only a part of that crop is consumed uncooked. Yet in these cities alone, some 1.1 million farmers produce vegetables and fruit for 4.5 million people. Projecting the numbers worldwide, no fewer than 200 million farmers rely on recycled water to sow 20 million hectares, an area twice the size of Hungary. The findings were released during World Water Week, a summit of sages and policy types gathered in Stockholm through Aug. 23 in an effort to rethink the way the world farms and flushes. Read More   Aug 21, 2008 Global Talk: Water, Energy & Food in Stockholm Thought for Food -- "Water-Related Synergies and Trade-offs - Food and Bioenergy" and "Improve Food Security - Combine Productive Sanitation, Conservation Agriculture and Water Harvesting" discussed a report from the International Water Management Institute and "'eco-sanitation' to create synergies in agricultural production that can enable us to feed more people and improve the sanitation situation." Read More   Aug 21, 2008 World Water Week Kicks Off In Stockholm Reuters writes that a study released by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on Monday said "cities in developing countries around the world are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture, posing serious health risks to urban consumers. … The study looked at 53 cities in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. [The report …] found 80 percent were using untreated or partially treated wastewater. 'In over 70 percent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams,' the institute said. At the same time, the IWMI noted that wastewater agriculture contributes to urban food supplies and helps provide a livelihood for the urban poor. Read More   Aug 21, 2008 Wastewater irrigation is better than you think NORMALLY, news about the environment can be pigeonholed into one of two categories: a big one, labelled "Bad" and a smaller one, with a heading along the lines of "Encouraging" or at least "Not Quite as Bad as You Thought". But your correspondent has no idea where to file a report on the use of wastewater in agriculture released this week by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a research centre. Read More   Aug 21, 2008 Study shows wastewater used for agriculture Washington (PTI): As developing countries confront the first global food crisis since the 1970s as well as unprecedented water scarcity, a new 53-city survey, including Bangalore and Chennai, conducted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) indicates that most of those studied are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture. In over 70 per cent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams with wide ranging implications. Read More   Aug 19, 2008 World Water Crisis Underlies World Food Crisis As developing countries confront the first global food crisis since the 1970s as well as unprecedented water scarcity, a new 53 city survey presented at the conference by the International Water Management Institute indicates that 80 percent of those studied are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture. In over 70 percent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams. Read More   Aug 19, 2008 Sustainable agriculture gets Irish Aid CGIAR, which was established to achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through scientific research, has noted that parallel to the food shortage and price rises is a water crisis. Colin Chartres, the International Water Management Institute's director general said the reasons for water scarcity "are much the same as those that account for the food price crisis". Read More   Aug 19, 2008 Global survey: Wastewater extensively used in agriculture WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A new 53-city survey conducted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) indicates that most cities are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture. Wastewater use is critical to farmers' incomes and urban food security but raises health concerns, IWMI said in a statement released on Monday. In over 70 percent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams. Read More   Aug 19, 2008 Top scientist calls use of biofuels 'frightening' The International Water Management Institute, which published the findings, said that more than half of farmland near 70 percent of cities in Third World countries is watered with sewage that threatens to spread epidemics. An increasing demand for water and food has spurred the use of sewage to water crops but in many cases is the only form of irrigation for farmers who lack clean water, the study showed. It is mostly used to produce vegetables and cereals, and poses a major health risk to consumers of uncooked vegetables. Read More   Aug 19, 2008 Sewage use on crops sparks push for tougher controls A global food shortage and unprecedented water scarcity have driven an increase in the use of partially treated or untreated waste water to irrigate crops, according to the International Water Management Institute report released yesterday at a world water conference in Sweden. IWMU researcher Liqa Raschid-Sally said waste water was used mainly to grow vegetables and cereals such as rice, and posed major health risks to consumers of uncooked vegetables. Read More   Aug 19, 2008 Global study shows widespread sewage use on farms STOCKHOLM, Sweden: People in developing countries are facing growing health risks caused by the widespread use of raw sewage to irrigate crops, according to a study unveiled Monday at a global water conference in Sweden. The report, by the International Water Management Institute, says more than half of farmland near 70 percent of cities in Third World countries is watered with sewage that threatens to spread epidemics. Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Waste as a Resource The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) together with the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) will convene a full day workshop in Stockholm on Tuesday 19 August on "Waste as a Resource". Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Scores of cities using untreated wastewater, study says STOCKHOLM - Cities in developing countries around the world are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture, posing serious health risks to urban consumers, a study released on Monday said. "Irrigating with wastewater isn't a rare practice limited to a few of the poorest countries," said researcher Liqa Raschid-Sally, a researcher for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). "It's a widespread phenomenon, occurring on 20 million hectares (50 million acres) across the developing world, especially in Asian countries, like China, India and Vietnam, but also around nearly every city of sub-Saharan Africa and in many Latin American cities as well." Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Millions eating food grown with polluted water, says UN report At least 200 million people around the world risk their health daily by eating food grown using untreated waste water, some of which may be contaminated with heavy metals and raw sewage, according to major study of 53 world cities. Urban farmers in 80% of the cities surveyed were found to be using untreated waste water, but the study said they also provided vital food for burgeoning cities at a time of unprecedented water scarcity and the worst food crisis in 30 years. Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Winner of Stockholm Water Prize criticizes biofuels and urges vegetarianism The winner of the Stockholm Water Prize criticized the growing use of biofuels Monday and urged people to eat less meat to help cut the amount of water used in food production. British professor John Anthony Allan said the effect of the growing use of biofuels "is too frightening to even begin to realize." Allan, 71, of King's College, London, was awarded the 2008 water prize for his concept of "virtual water," which measures the amount of water used in industrial and food production. He said meat consumption was bad for the environment. "Non-vegetarians consume five cubic meters (176 cubic feet) of water per day; your bath is a tiny puddle compared to that. It is the water for food that is the big problem," Allan told The Associated Press. "Be rational and eat less meat." Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Sanitation and waste water use on World Water Week agenda Stockholm - Lack of access to sanitation remains a major impediment to global development while claiming hundreds of lives daily, experts agreed Monday as the annual World Water Week opened Monday. Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander one of the dignataries at the meeting, that said despite progress to build latrines and improve sanitation around the world 'there is still a long way to go' and underlined the need to break taboos about sanitation. Asia and Latin America had experienced 'remarkable progress' in terms of better sanitation, he said in his opening remarks. Willem-Alexander noted improvements in Africa although 'the increase cannot keep pace with population growth. More people means more waste. It's that simple,' he said in his opening remarks. Read More   Aug 18, 2008 Wastewater fears for urban farms Urgent action is needed to remove pollutants from urban wastewater, which is often used in cities to grow food, an international study has warned. Data collected by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) found that 85% of cities discharged the water without any appropriate treatment. With many developing nations swiftly urbanising, the authors said people were at increasing risk of disease. Read More   Aug 11, 2008 Punjab facing major irrigation and drainage challenges This was stated by Senior Minister Punjab/ Minister for Irrigation & Power, Raja Riaz Ahmad while delivering his key-note address at the inaugurating session of the workshop on "Assessing the impact of physical and management interventions on irrigation system performance in Punjab", organized by International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with Punjab Irrigation & Power Department here Mondat. Riaz Ahmad Khan Advisor Ministry of Water and Power, Abdul Hakeem Khan Head IWMI Pakistan, Dr. Charlotte de Fraiture Senior Researcher IWMI Colombo, Chief Engineers and senior officers of the Irrigation Department also attended the workshop. Read More   Aug 11, 2008 Traditional forms of agriculture: Unexpected degree of diversity, time-honored principles The research carried out was conducted with contributions from researchers from CIRAD, the CNRS, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, the Center for International Forestry Research (Indonesia), the Institut français d'études andines (Peru), the International Water Management Institute (Ghana), the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (Brazil) Read More   Aug 11, 2008 India's Rains Leave Central Bankers Guessing: Andy Mukherjee "After 200 years of canal building, less than 15 percent of Indian farmlands benefit from canal irrigation," says Tushaar Shah, a principal scientist at the International Water Management Institute in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. India can lessen the risk to the economy from monsoon failures by thinking small. A simple but effective strategy will be to provide incentives to farmers to recharge their wells, which they have traditionally used to pull water out of the ground, though not to put moisture back into the aquifer. Read More   Aug 03, 2008 CPWF Vacancy : Science Director The CPWF wishes to appoint a Science Director to provide leadership in the design and implementation of all scientific research conducted by the CPWF. This includes identifying directions in which the scientific research agenda must advance, given evolution in and progress along impact pathways and related planning and management tools. This position reports directly to the CPWF Program Director. The successful candidate will be based at the CPWF Secretariat, located at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka. Read More   Aug 03, 2008 CPWF Vacancy : Impact Director The CPWF wishes to appoint an Impact Director to provide leadership in the design and implementation of all CPWF activities relating to generating and evaluating outcomes and impacts. This position reports directly to the CPWF Program Director. The successful candidate will be based at the CPWF Secretariat, located at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka. Read More   Aug 03, 2008 IWMI Vacancy : Economist-Impact Assessment We require a highly competent and motivated individual for the position of Economist-Impact Assessment. The successful candidate will be based in IWMI's headquarters in Colombo and will report to the Leader of IWMI's Water and Society Theme. The work of the selected individual will form a core component of IWMI's Water and Society Theme and will have two primary objectives: 1) to assess the impact of technologies, institutions, and reforms on, among other variables, water management and poverty alleviation to inform future policy and 2) to assess the impact of IWMI's own research projects and programs to ensure that they meet the needs of stakeholders and partners and to inform future priority setting processes. In addition to carrying out individual ex-ante and ex-post impact assessment studies, the work will also involve fostering a strong impact assessment culture throughout the Institute and establishing strategic partnerships with universities, other CGIAR centers, and the CGIAR's Standing Panel on Impact Assessment. Read More   Jul 31, 2008 IWMI Working Paper 121 posted as South Asia Featured Research on www.gdnet.org The paper deals with environmental and social values of river water. Although many decisions on water allocation in river basins are made on economic grounds but environmental and social benefits of water should also be considered in river basin management. The objective of the study is to evaluate the costs and benefits of environmental water allocations, referred to as 'environmental flows' (EF). The Menik Ganga (River) in southern Sri Lanka has been used as a case study in order to draw these conclusions. The components of EF evaluated include the requirements of the religious festival, the requirements of the Yala National Park, the requirements of the Pilinnawa Coastal Wetland and the requirements of the Yala Fishery Management Area, off the coast. The analysis shows that it is important to develop economic dimension of environmental flows, if water allocation decision making process is to be strengthened, if the information base for such decisions is to be improved and if the risk of incurring untenable future costs and unnecessary expenditure is to be avoided. Read More   </ Jul 31, 2008 In a world of waste, be thankful for the excess A report to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development links this waste in Western countries to problems in feeding the world's poor and needy. The report, from Stockholm International Water Institute, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN and the International Water Management Institute, says "tremendous" quantities of food are discarded in processing, transport, supermarkets and people's kitchens. It urges governments to halve the waste by 2025.