Think dams, think people
Marseille, 14 March 2012 - When building large dams, benefits to local communities can go hand in hand with broader national development objectives, shows a study launched today by 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development) at the World Water Forum in Marseille.
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Sharing the water, sharing the benefits examines six dams built in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, looking into how they affected local people鈥檚 lives and development opportunities. It shows that securing access to local development benefits can be achieved by involving communities in the planning and construction of dams.
鈥淚n the construction of large dams, national objectives to provide electricity, reduce the country鈥檚 dependence on imported energy and improve food security often override the potential for local or regional growth,鈥 says J茅r么me Koundouno, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播鈥檚 Global Water Initiative-Dams Project Coordinator. 鈥淎s a result, local people tend to be marginalized in the construction process 鈥 they don鈥檛 receive full compensation for the impact the new dam has on their lives, including environmental damage, and rarely enjoy the full benefits it brings.鈥
Although people who lost their land due to the construction of the S茅lingu茅 dam in Mali were given irrigated plots as compensation, they received little support in mastering the new agricultural techniques that those plots required. Faced with disastrous harvests, many villagers abandoned their plots or had them taken away for failing to farm them properly.
Preliminary studies incorrectly assessed the area that would be affected by the construction of the Niandouba dam in Senegal and the Kompienga dam in Burkina Faso. As a result, some villages were not compensated for the losses they suffered, leading to local people鈥檚 frustration.
The Moussodougou dam in Burkina Faso created a new resource of fish for local communities. But in the absence of sound management, fish yields were low and productivity declined due to over-exploitation. Tension also arose among local people over access to the resource.
鈥淩egardless of the initial national objective of dams, construction always affects the areas where they鈥檙e built,鈥 says Jean-Marc Garreau, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 West Africa Programme Coordinator. 鈥淭hey change the environment and can completely transform local traditional societies. Ways to avoid or correct these problems need to be taken into account throughout the construction process.鈥
The study identifies ways that can help address these challenges. These include involving local people in the discussions related to construction, including investment, compensation and relocation issues. The book also suggests introducing policies that help local people adapt to changes brought by dams, sustainably use their land and resources and gain preferential access to dams-related benefits, such as irrigation and electricity.
鈥淒evelopers need to work with local people and not see them as an obstacle to national progress,鈥 says Jamie Skinner, principal researcher, IIED. 鈥淓ngaging local people and giving them a stake in a dam does not need to be costly or difficlut. It is clearly something that can benefit all parties involved.鈥
Issues involving dams and water management will be discussed further at 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播鈥檚 World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Republic of Korea, 5-15 September 2012.
Spokespeople:
Jean-Marc Garreau, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 West Africa Programme Coordinator, [email protected]
J茅r么me Koundouno, Global Water Initiative-Dams Project Coordinator, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播, [email protected]
Jamie Skinner, principal researcher, IIED, [email protected]
For more information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
鈥 Ewa Magiera, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Media Relations, m +41 79 856 76 26, e [email protected]
鈥 In Marseille: Brian Thomson, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Media Relations, m +41 79 721 8326, e [email protected]
Claire Warmenbol, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Water Programme Communications Officer: m +41 79 404 1973, e [email protected]
Live studio quality audio interviews are available for broadcasters via our ISDN line (APTX/G722).
Please call +41 22 999 0346 to book an interview slot.
Notes to editors:
Sharing the water, sharing the benefits was published by the Global Water Initiative (GWI) supported by the Howard G. Buffet Foundation. GWI addresses the declining state of the world's supply of fresh water and the lack of access to clean water services by the world's poorest people. It brings together the talents and experiences of seven leading international organizations鈥擜ction Against Hunger鈥擴SA, CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), International Union for Conservation of Nature (香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播), International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Oxfam America and SOS Sahel UK鈥攖o work out effective solutions.