1How Does WASH Intersect with Conservation?Dennis B. WarnerSenior Advisor – Millennium Water AllianceWashington, DCWILD10: 10th World Wilderness CongressSalamanca, Spain10 October 2013Nature Strategy for Sustainable Coalitions WorkshopsNSS-VI: Nature for Health Workshop

What is WASH?WASH = water supply, sanitation and hygiene at the household and community levels.Main Emphasis: Health – activities contribute to improved health of households and communities.Impacts of WASH projects:Community healthEconomic productivityEnvironmental sustainability2

Core WASH ActivitiesCommunity and household water suppliesdrinking watercooking bathing laundrygeneral cleaningHousehold sanitationexcreta disposal trash disposal drainageHygiene promotionawareness raisingbehavior changes in personal and household hygiene practicesKey ConcernsPublic health Water qualityWater source protectionDrainageVector control3

4Water Collection at a Protected SpringDRCWASH ApplicationsWell with Hand PumpMadagascarSchool with Rainwater Harvesting HondurasSchool Latrines and HandwashingGuatemala

Associated WASH ActivitiesWater for Productive UsesEmphasis: Livelihoods – activities contribute to strengthening livelihoods of project beneficiariesWater for Environmental ProtectionEmphasis: Natural resources sustainability – activities contribute to the sustainability of water resources in the watershed5

Water for Productive UsesAgricultural UsesSmall scale irrigationHome gardensAnimal husbandryFish farmingSmall industrial UsesBrickmakingFood processingHandicraftsKey ConcernsSeasonalityAccessQuantity6

Productive Uses of Water7Off-season vegetable productionsFish productionDairyRice paddies

Water for Environmental ProtectionWatershed Management ApplicationsWater source protectionSurface empondmentsGroundwater rechargeRainwater channelingTerracing and contour shapingClimate change adaptationKey ConcernsPollution controlErosion controlDeforestationOvergrazingBiodiversity conservation8

Watershed Management To prevent degradation of soils and water To use the natural infrastructure of the watershed. To restore productivity of land (trees, soils, crops, animals) To recharge groundwater aquifers To increase biodiversity of plants and animals To improve health and well-being of the human population9Rainwater Harvesting Pits (chauka), IndiaRainwater Harvesting and TopsoilCollection, India

Barriers to Integrating WASH and ConservationPerception BarriersWASH and Conservation professionals have little in common (education, experience, attitudes)Institutional BarriersInstitutions generally promote either WASH or Conservation, but not both.Donors generally fund either WASH or Conservation, but not both.WASH and Conservation are supported by different government ministries.Operational BarriersWASH and Conservation objectives often conflict.Field programs rarely include both WASH and Conservation.Little field experience of WASH and Conservation integration.Monitoring indicators do not show benefits of integration.10

Enhancing WASH - Conservation Linkages Promotion of natural infrastructure. Establishment of common objectives to guide projects.Inclusion of Conservation in WASH projects.Inclusion of WASH in Conservation projects.Adoption of Innovative WASH-Conservation partnership models.11

Opportunities for IntegrationIWRM/IWM/NRMFund raisingInitial planningCommunity mobilizationProject designProject implementationMonitoring and evaluation12