News

By Alex Fernandez Poulussen & Erika Zarate

[English translation of the article that appeared in the iagua magazine, April 2015, http://issuu.com/iagua/docs/iagua_magazine_6/36?e=9940341/12439965]

While the concept of Water Footprint was introduced by Prof. Arjen Hoekstra[1] about 12 years ago, Good Stuff International has been supporting the application of the water footprint in different countries and contexts for over seven years now[2]. We have taken the concept from theory to practice, moving the water footprint from an academic context to the environmental, social and economic realities in different parts of the world.

 

The government of Colombia is the first national government to publish a complete multi-sectoral water footprint assessment of all watersheds in its territory. The study was realised by a partnership of the Embassy of Switzerland - Agency of Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Good Stuff International Latin America and the Caribbean (GSI-LAC) and Centro of Science and Techology of  Antioquia –CTA.

From 20-23 May 2015, we organise The Global Water Footprint Standard Training course together with the Centro de Technología de Antiochia CTA) and the Water Footprint Network. The course takes place in Medellin, Colombia and addressses all aspects of the Water Footprint Assessment as defined by the Global Water Footprint Assessment Standard.

  1. Nailing down the links between water, agriculture, landuse and people’s needs in Latin America
  2. Urban Farming creates healthy, green, more social cities
  3. Solid water data helps small holder farmers increase their productivity and water security
  4. Tenmile basin (USA) - Use the water footprint to assess watershed vulnerability