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For a Sustainable Future “The Water InnovationCentre demonstrates
Sustainable Development= Good Business.”
– Dr. Henry (Hank) David Venema, Director of IISD Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Water Innovation Centre
www.waterinnovationhub.orgwww.IIDisBridgingTheGap.org
The Water InnovationCentre is a naturalevolution of the workIISD has donesafeguarding our planet’s resources since the Institute was created in 1990Since Canada is home to IISD-the ecology, economics,geography and timing of the establishment of the WaterInnovation Centre are as fitting as they are vital. Since 2005,IISD has conducted seminal analyses of Prairie Water issues,identifying the Lake Winnipeg Watershed as a major priority.
The Institute’s work in ecosystem service analyses andcommunity management assessments, and pioneering effortsin ecological engineering approaches to Lake WinnipegStewardship-paved the way for the Centre.
As a key example of the kind of innovations encouraged atthe Centre, staff will explore the links between sustainableagriculture and Lake Winnipeg stewardship.
“The Lake WinnipegBasin is huge – stretchingfrom the edge of LakeSuperior to the Rocky
Mountains. This is why itis a real management
challenge.” ”– Dr. Henry (Hank) David Venema, Director of IISD Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Water Innovation Centre
“There are no alternatives to water.
It is the next liquid gold and soon will be
more precious than oil.” – Richard Coombe, Regional Chief, US Natural Resources Conservation
The Water Innovation Centre is a Global Knowledge Hub for Water Management Water is essential for all life on earth.Yet it remains a critically-stressed globalresource. Prime causes: overconsumption,excess nutrient loading from municipaland agricultural sources, and from theimpacts of climate change. Effectivewater management, meanwhile, promoteshuman well-being, environmentalsustainability and economic development.Just as society is learning to put limits oncarbon emissions through carbon taxing,the International Institute for SustainableDevelopment (IISD) is showing howsociety can use market mechanisms topreserve and protect water.
Today, the Institute is bridging this gapas it links markets and environmentaltechnologies with community-based,watershed management through theWater Innovation Centre (WIC).
Our Vision: to protect and preserve the world’smost precious resource: WATER.
Our Aim: to promote Sustainable Developmentapproaches for Water worldwide.
WIC is located at IISD‘s head office in Winnipeg, Canada. Its Mission is as follows:
• Research, analysis and design of market-based instruments such as microfinancing and water quality trading to enable sustainable watershedmanagement and governance,
• Ecological engineering analysis and assessment to determine appropriateapplications for community-based, integrated watershed management,
• Community outreach and education, communications and networking, and
• To harness integrated water resources management as a platform forpeace-building and human security.
IISD takes the Science of Water Management and turns it into Policy
The WIC team uses Best Practiceapproaches to harness the power ofmarkets for the good of communitiesand the environment—the central goalof Sustainable Development
Globally, ecological goods and services are measured in billions ofdollars. However, this is not yet the case when it comes to the world’swatersheds and basins. Bringing this kind of market power to watershedmanagement provides a great opportunity for business, governments,community development, research and the environment. IISD knowswhat makes for successful integrated water resources management.That’s why the WIC team addresses these key problems:
• Facilitation and use of decision support systems• Local learning institutions imbued with convening power• Multi-stakeholder participation and• Iterative decision-making, informed by monitoring and adaptivemanagement
The Centre showcases integrated approaches to water managementto harness the power of markets and technology that will ultimatelyand sustainably finance decentralized watershed management.
“As natural resources become scarcer,leaders are realizing that the best
economic solutions are environmentalsolutions—and that environmentalproblems can be solved throughinnovative market mechanisms.”
– Michael Jenkins, CEO, Forest Trends
For more information about the Water Innovation Centre, visit
www.waterinnovationhub.orgFor more information about IISD’s Capital Campaign, visit
www.IIDisBridgingTheGap.org
The Centre’s Inaugural Project:Canada’s #1 Water Hot Spot—the Lake Winnipeg Basin
The Lake Winnipeg Basin or watershed affects thelives of 7 million people and 17 million livestock,covers 90 per cent of the agricultural land in WesternCanada—Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba andOntario—PLUS the US states of North Dakota,South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana.
Lake Winnipeg, itself, is the most environmentallydamaged large lake in the world. Especially vulnerableto climate change due to its shallow depth, it is hometo the largest freshwater fishery in Western Canada. Italso provides over $100 million in annual economicbenefits.
Now in Western Canada and the US, many agenciestarget a wide range of water issues within certainspecific boundaries, including:
• Manitoba Water Stewardship
• Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board
• International Joint Commission
• Environment Canada and Agriculture Canada
• Ducks Unlimited Canada and Delta Waterfowl
• Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg WaterResearch Projects
• Red River Basin Commission
IISD has excellent relationships with all these andmore. Credible and technically proficient, it is notconstrained by jurisdictional boundaries or limitedmandates—which is why the WIC team is hard atwork on an integrated basin-wide strategy for thebenefit of all.
Today, WIC serves as a neutral, central coordinator for all these effortsThe WIC team provides technical, logistical, and policysupport to local and regional community groups andmunicipalities. Soon, these collaborations will producepublic health, economic, and climate changeadaptation benefits plus opportunities such as morereliable runoff for hydro power production, reducedflooding impacts, resilience to drought, even improvedrecreation and tourism.
The Lake Winnipeg Basin is WIC’s natural laboratory.IISD is showing how areas like these can reap therewards of the integration of markets, governance andeco-technology. Ultimately, lessons learned here can beadapted and shared worldwide—from ChesapeakeBay and the Gulf of Mexico in North America toLake Chad and Lake Victoria in Africa and fromLake Balaton in Europe to Lake Taihu in China.
“There are no political andjurisdictional
boundaries to ourenvironment, and there is ecological
interdependence among provinces and nations.” – Manitoba Hydro policy manual
Lake Winnipeg Basin
The International Institute for SustainableDevelopment (IISD) actively promotes changetowards sustainable development. Ranked bysustainability experts as the most effectiveresearch organization of its kind in the world,our work protects and restores ecologicalsystems as it enhances the well-being ofpeople and improves economic efficiency.The Institute engages decision-makers in business, governmentand non-government organizations (NGOs) and other sectors bycreating and implementing policies to benefit the globaleconomy, environment and social well-being. Through ourdynamic and diverse portfolio of programs and projects, IISD haspartnered with over 200 organizations worldwide.
Established in 1990, IISD is a non-partisan, charitable organizationspecializing in research, analysis and information exchange.Through our offices in Winnipeg, Ottawa, New York and Geneva,we apply human ingenuity to improve the well-being of theworld’s environment, economy and society.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
SUE BARKMAN, Director of Fund Development & Community RelationsInternational Institute for Sustainable Development161 Portage Avenue East, 6th FloorWinnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4T: (204) 958-7738 | F: (204) 958-7710 E: [email protected]
The International Institute forSustainable Development (IISD)champions sustainable developmentaround the world through innovation,partnerships, research andcommunications. Ranked bysustainability experts as one of themost effective research organizationin the world, our work protects andrestores ecological systems as itenhances the well-being of peopleand improves economic efficiency.Established in 1990, IISD is a non-partisan, charitableorganization specializing in research, analysis andinformation exchange. Through our head office inWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and our branches inOttawa, New York and Geneva, we apply humaningenuity to improve the well-being of the world’senvironment, economy and society.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WATERINNOVATION CENTRE, VISITwww.waterinnovationhub.orgOr email us at [email protected]
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE IISD CAPITALCAMPAIGN, CONTACT:Director of Development & Community RelationsInternational Institute for Sustainable Development161 Portage Avenue East, 6th FloorWinnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4T: (204) 958-7738 | F: (204) 958-7710E: [email protected] | www.IISDisBridgingTheGap.org
“Manitoba Hydro is proud topartner with IISD in establishingthe Water Innovation Centre.
We share its vision to protect andpreserve Water in Manitoba,across Canada and worldwide. If you care about the sustainablefuture of Water—our mostprecious natural resource—Iencourage you to join us as a
donor, today.” – Bob Brennan, President & CEO, Manitoba Hydro
To contribute online, please visit www.IISDisBridgingTheGap.org
Support for the Water Innovation Centre comes under IISD’sBridging the Gap between Knowing and Doing Capital Campaign
Special thanks to the generous support of
