freshwater

Article

Providing Scientifically Robust Tools for Global Water Security

Understanding the state of global water and implications for U.S. national security requires strategic coordination of the best available science and technical capabilities across the U.S. Government. Spurred by the call for greater interagency collaboration to help address global water security challenges, the Interagency Water Working Group Science and Applications Team (ISAT) was formed by NASA, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE-ERDC), and U.S.

Article

Community-Based Efforts to Contain Trash and Protect Waterways

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked with Panama, Jamaica, and Peru, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and Peace Corps, to reduce their land-based sources of trash pollution in waterways. EPA’s Trash Free Waters (TFW) approach is a stakeholder-based strategy to reduce land-based sources of marine litter through better management of trash pollution in inland waterways and coastal waters. These practices focus on community-based efforts that prevent and reduce trash in waterways and, ultimately, the oceans.

Report

The Convergence Factor: Lessons from Integrating Freshwater Conservation and WASH

Most of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is under pressure from increasing population growth, urbanization, and consumption, as well as poorly-planned infrastructure development. All these factors are negatively impacting the quality and availability of freshwater resources. By linking freshwater conservation and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) partners expect that reduced watershed degradation and pollution will help increase the health of watershed ecosystems and species. 

Water Currents

Water Currents: WASH and Freshwater Conservation

Watershed conservation contributes to the long-term sustainability of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Protecting watersheds and free-flowing river systems, lakes, streams, intact wetlands, and groundwater recharge areas not only bolsters ecosystem resilience, but also helps protect WASH infrastructure from the impacts of natural disasters.

Activity

Indonesian Forest and Climate Support Project

Indonesia is home to some of the world’s largest tropical rainforests and peatlands. Their stature is such that they are often referred to as the “lungs of the world.” These areas sustain rich biodiversity and are the habitat of many keystone species including the orangutan, the Sumatran tiger, and the clouded leopard, to name a few. Approximately 30 million culturally diverse people live in and around these forests. They are reliant on the forests both for their livelihood and for the ecosystem services they provide.

Focus Area Topic

Water Resources Management

Water resources management encompasses the efforts of stakeholders to protect freshwater ecosystems that provide drinking water.

Why it Matters